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February 23, 2004

Huntington station zoning overlay

What’s The Hurry?

The stage was set for a contentious hearing at Huntington Town Hall where
members of the town board were to hear public input on a proposed change to
the town’s zoning code and another proposal to create a special zoning “overlay”
district for Huntington Station.

Both hearings were well attended by a somewhat predictable crowd. Among
those interested were members of the Huntington Station Revitalization
Committee and others interested in making things happen to improve the
Huntington Station area. The downtown region in the area of the Huntington
Railroad Station — at one time a thriving downtown — was bulldozed under the
federal urban renewal programs of the 1960s. The feds promised a better
Huntington Station, but never followed through on the deal and left the
community to deal with a neighborhood that had had its heart ripped out.

In many ways, that’s when it all began for Huntington Station, and the efforts of
the town board to correct those problems are just under way. They include the
creation of the overlay district to allow for redevelopment of critical areas.

However, the town board acted unwisely in holding the hearing alongside another
to consider a revision to the town code concerning the development of rental
apartments over commercial properties townwide. The code change is
necessary, according to town officials, to clarify some language in the existing
code. However, the change comes at a time when school districts are struggling
with growing student populations, as well as their constant money issues, and
from the sounds of their arguments, the school district advocates have reason to
be concerned that the town board’s actions could result in more kids going to
their schools.

On the other side of the coin were the affordable housing advocates who can be
counted on to support any initiative that will create more housing in the Town of
Huntington.

With so many sides arguing their points, it was difficult to keep track of who was
talking on what, and exactly what impact the town’s proposals would have.
Concerning the creation of apartments over retail and commercial spaces,
Councilwoman Susan Berland argued that the proposed change is not really a
change, but necessary to sew up the loopholes in the existing law. From the
public’s point of view, no change would not require enactment of a resolution,
period. So there must be something changing — right? Not according to the town.

Supervisor Frank Petrone — pressed for an answer on how many apartments the
town expects could be created as a result of the new law — that is not a change
— admittedly did not know.

If the town board feels these two pieces of legislation are necessary — whether
for public benefit townwide or specifically for Huntington Station, it did a poor job
of explaining its position. As to the many who questioned why do anything when
the town is in the beginning stages of rewriting its master plan, we can only
agree. Unless there’s an urgent need — and if there is the town needs to explain
it — the town board should sit tight on these proposals until planners explore it in
the new master plan. Otherwise, their successors could find themselves in the
same boat 40 years from now, trying to fix a botched revitalization effort.

2004 Feb 19
Long Islander Newspapers

Posted by dc at February 23, 2004 11:33 PM

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