Taubman Mall Project Faces Legal Setback

OYSTER BAY, NY-Seven months after the New York State Supreme Court ordered the town to issue a special use permit on the $500-million Mall at Oyster Bay, the court’s appellate division has reversed the decision. The court also upheld the town board’s demand for a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for a 750,000-square-foot mall. The developer, Bloomfield Hills, MI-based Taubman Centers, says it plans to appeal immediately.

“We are disappointed that the mall will continue to be delayed, especially during theseeconomic times when jobs are scarce and tax revenue is so desperately needed,” saysSteve Kieras, Taubman’s SVP of development, in a release. “All of the prior court decisions have affirmed that our environmental impact statement does not provide the Town with a legitimate basis for denying our application. We firmly believe that after years of having our position affirmed in the lower courts, this is clearly a flawed legal decision and we plan to promptly appeal this ruling to the New York State Court of Appeals.”

Attorney Joseph Giaimo, who represented the town board before the appellate court, tells GlobeSt.com, “We’re very pleased with the decision. It has finally been determined by the court that the town has been right all along.”