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Residents urge delay as Fairview Park leaders consider buying 22100 Mastic Road for service garage
Summary
Residents packed council chambers to oppose a proposed purchase of 22100 Mastic Road to house the city service garage, citing noise, property‑value and health concerns; Mayor Schneider apologized for lack of outreach and the law director said the purchase is contingent on council approval.
Fairview Park City Council heard extended public opposition Monday night to a proposed purchase of 22100 Mastic Road, a 2.6‑acre commercial parcel the administration has identified as a possible new site for the city service garage.
Mayor Bill Schneider opened the discussion by acknowledging residents’ anger and apologizing for rushing the proposal, saying, “I should have done a better job reaching out to residents.” He described three high‑level options under consideration — build at 22100 Mastic, relocate and rebuild the senior center to free space for the service department, or buy property outside the city for municipal services — and asked council for direction on how to proceed.
At least a dozen residents — including Laura Manning, Ken Liven and Jessica Thompson — told council they felt blindsided by the proposal and urged a pause so the city can commission noise, traffic and property‑value studies and explore alternatives. “I respectfully ask you to vote no on the purchase and protect the property of our neighborhood,” Jessica Thompson said, identifying herself as a homeowner whose backyard borders the parcel.
Law Director Depper told the chamber the administration structured the seller arrangement as a purchase option that is contingent on council approval: if council votes against the purchase, “there will be no purchase agreement” and the sale will not proceed. Residents asked council to table final action scheduled for March 23 and to form a task force to research alternate sites and conduct impact analyses.
The administration emphasized the operational need: finance committee materials and presentations from Assistant Development Director Megan Otter and Service Director Brian Hitch highlighted a cramped service garage at City Hall (built in 1950 with later additions), limited indoor vehicle storage and equipment kept in the elements. Council did not take a final vote on the purchase at Monday’s meeting; the ordinance authorizing a purchase agreement (Ordinance 26‑18) was on 2nd reading and returned to the finance committee.
