Race track to include day care

Real Estate Weekly, Feb 6, 2002

The law firm of Sahn & Ward has successfully represented a non-profit organization in obtaining zoning approvals from the Town of Hempstead that have cleared the way for construction to begin on a child care center to be built at Belmont Race Track.

Sahn & Ward was retained to handle the zoning application for the facility which will provide child care for the "backstretch workers," track employees who care for the horses. These stablehands, grooms, exercisers and other personnel work long days caring for the horses, and the facility will offer affordable, high quality childcare to match their schedules.

Obtaining the zoning approvals required negotiating a series of conditions. The Center will be located on a site that is zoned for residential and business uses. Important issues concerned hours of operation, parking, and what roads may be used to access the building. Final approvals were obtained only after months of consultations and planning to situate the facility at the most appropriate location at the racetrack. With support from The New York Racing Association and prominent racehorse owners, and The Belmont Child Care Association, this will be the first child care center at a race track of this size, operating year-round.