The workmen were dismantling the dome of the Cityspire, a 72-story building 11 feet taller than its special zoning permit allowed.

National Helicopter's lease lapsed last week - and the heliport's last zoning permit expired in 1976.

At present stores exceeding 10,000 square feet require special zoning permits.

North Hempstead includes 31 villages, some of which provide their own services, like garbage collection and issuing building and zoning permits.

Following the process of getting zoning permits and fundraising, groundbreaking for the new synagogue building was started in May 2006.

The building is 11 feet taller than allowed by a special zoning permit.

The biggest change stipulates that houses of 4,000 square feet or larger proposed within the 30,000-acre Gateway Zone be allowed only with a special zoning permit.

He added that because the area was zoned residential, a special zoning permit would probably be needed regardless of the building's use.

Mr. Schrager said he expected to develop it without seeking any special zoning permits or variances.

One of the reasons they are not being torn down is because they have more square footage than the current zoning permits.