Town of Huntington, NY - News Details

At its May 29 meeting, the Huntington Town Board approved the purchase of a lot to add 71 parking spots to Huntington village, accepted payment to restore Larkfield Road, scheduled public hearings, among other Town business.

The Town Board approved the purchase, in an amount not to exceed $3,050,000, of the property at 295 New York Avenue, Huntington, at the corner of Gerard Street, where the Town’s conceptual design adds approximately 71 new parking spaces to downtown Huntington village, including 3 handicapped parking spots.

The Town Board approved the acceptance of payment from National Grid in the amount of $121,000 for the restoration and repaving of Larkfield Road, where the utility has been performing work over the past several months.

The Town Board passed a measure urging the New York State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to enact financial protections for taxpayers in the Town of Huntington in the event of an adverse judgment in the LIPA lawsuit. The Board also approved the release of a report exploring the legality and feasibility of the potential condemnation of Northport Power Plant Property through the use of eminent domain.

The Town also established new wireless telecommunication permit application fees for wireless macro and small cell sites, distributed antenna system (DAS) nodes (outdoor and in-building), and commercial wi-fi nodes. In addition to the new fees, the Town also established a requirement for wireless antenna and colocation applicants to deposit fees to pay the Town’s new wireless technology consultant, the Center for Municipal Solutions (CMS), for all costs incurred to provide expert evaluation and recommendations on each application, to help ensure applicants take no shortcuts in their process installing cellular antennas.

“CMS is working for the Town on behalf of the interests of our residents in the name of public safety and community aesthetics,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who sponsored the resolution creating the escrow account and accompanying fees, which are paid solely by the applicant, not the taxpayer, to ensure every wireless antenna is vetted by CMS and deployed responsibly by the applicants as they address and close gaps in cellular coverage across the Town.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, June 18, 2019 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM:

• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 198 Zoning, Article XX (Accessory Dwelling Units), prohibiting accessory dwelling units in basements/cellars unless a valid accessory dwelling unit permit already exists or is pending with an already-filed application.
• To consider authorizing various actions be taken upon certain properties designated as blighted in accordance with Chapter 156, Article VII, §156-60 (Blighted Property).
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 198 (Zoning), Article VI (Historic Landmarks and Districts), §198-42 (Designation of Sites and Buildings), to designate as an Historic Landmark the buildings and property known as the Blagden House, 472 Woodbury Road, Cold Spring Harbor, SCTM #0400-090-07-003.
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 91 (Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs and Amusement Events), clarifying definitions, revising permit filing requirements, insurance requirements, fees and creating a late fee.
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 108 (Film Permits), §108-2 (Definitions) and §108-8 (Fees), establishing a late fee.
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 160 (Registration and Permitting of Property), Article IV (Short Term Rentals), changing the term “accessory apartment permit” to “accessory dwelling unit permit” for purposes of consistency within the Town Code.
• To consider executing an agreement with the Incorporated Village of Northport to furnish Fire Protection Services for the Town of Huntington Fire Protection District No. 1, nunc pro tunc.
• To consider amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 2, Article IV, §2-7, Schedule G, adding a Stop Sign on Ackerman Place in Huntington, for eastbound traffic at the intersection of Anderson Place.
• To consider amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 3, Article II, §3-3, Schedule J, adding No Parking restrictions on Harmon Drive in Huntington, from 195 feet north of Cuba Hill Road to 345 feet north of Cuba Hill Road between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
• To consider amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 3, Article II, §3-3, Schedule J, reducing No Parking restrictions on Mercer Court in Huntington Station from the 105 feet north of Jericho Turnpike to the 55 feet north of Jericho Turnpike.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, August 6, 2019 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM:

• To consider zone change application #2019-ZM-440, Benchmark Senior Living at Dix Hills, to change the zoning from R-40 Residence District to R-HS Residential Health Services District for the property located on the northeast corner of Half Hollow Road and North Service Road, Melville, to build an assisted living facility with 115 units on 5.63 acres, appearing as two stories from the front on Half Hollow Road and three stories from the rear along Homewood Lane.
• To consider amending Local Law No. 11-2011 so as to revoke all of the Covenants and Restrictions previously recorded as part of zone change application #2006-ZM-363, Triangle Equities, and reestablishing covenants and restrictions for property located on the south side of Jericho Turnpike, east of Plainview Road, West Hills, i.e. Kensington Estates, allowing the removal of a conditional restriction placed on the prior zone change approval, which prohibited the housing units to be owned as condominium or cooperative units, ensuring that the Town did not receive reduced property tax revenue from the development. The developer is requesting the removal of this condition, which requires a public hearing.

In other action, the Town Board:

• Increased the amount payable to the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corporation (CVAC) to provide emergency medical and ambulance services for the Commack Ambulance District by $28,560, plus increasing the scheduled users fees by slightly more than 10%, for 2019.
• Increased the amount payable to the Huntington Community First Aid Squad (HDFAS) to provide emergency medical and ambulance services for the Huntington Community Ambulance District by increasing the scheduled users fees by slightly more than 10%, for 2019.
• Urged the State Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to oppose pending legislation (S.5206/A.7133) amending State Law with respect to the qualifications for service as a Fire Chief in any Fire Department, Fire District or Fire Protection District.
• Reappointed Elissa Kyle to the Historic Preservation Commission to a term expiring 5/31/2022.
• Accepted a $1,300 donation from Long Island Disc Golf Inc. to approve the execution of an agreement with Dan Doyle for the design of the Town’s first disc golf course at Dix Hills Park.
• Authorized the Supervisor to apply for a $10 million New York State grant for downtown revitalization in Huntington Station.
• Approved a measure applying for grant funding from the State to finish improvements and provide handicap lift access to Veterans Plaza.
• Approved the execution of an agreement with Nelson & Pope Engineers Architects Surveyors to provide professional engineering services for the exterior restoration of the Heckscher Park Museum of Art Centennial in 2020.
• Approved a measure allowing the Town of Huntington Department of Planning and Environment to apply to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s 2019 Long Island Sound Futures Fund Program for a grant in the amount of $106,980 o pay for 55% of a “bioswale” rain garden at Crab Meadow Golf Course, the match being provided by the Town EOSPA Park Improvement fund, decreasing stormwater runoff carrying suspended solids, animal wastes, and nutrients into the adjacent Jerome Ambro Memorial Wetlands Preserve.
• Authorized up to $300,000 from the EOSPA Park Improvement fund for a boundary survey and the replacement of a chain link perimeter fence with new estate steel picket fencing on Main Street, Madison Street and Prime Avenue for the Heckscher Park Museum of Art Centennial in 2020.
• Authorized up to $19,000 from the EOSPA Neighborhood Enhancement fund for the refurbishment of 35 historic markers throughout the Town.
• Accepted the donation of 312 square feet of land from the Cedar Plat subdivision along the northeast corner of Cedar Road and Larkfield Road in East Northport for a roadway widening project.
• Declared July 20, 2019 “Coltrane Day,” approving the use of Hechscker Park by Friends of the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills for the presentation of Coltrane Day activities during the Huntington Summer Arts Festival “Huntington Jazz Week” performances.
• Accepted a donation of 10 pizza pies from Southdown Kitchen Pizza to the Town of Huntington Youth Council at its annual Youth Forum on April 15, 2019.
• Acting as board members of the Community Development Agency:

o   Adopted various policies, reports and authorizing committee appointments pursuant to the Public Authorities Accountability Act of 2005: Appointed Brcue grant, Contracting Officer; Audit Finance Committee: Chairman Chad A. Lupinacci, Members: Mark Cuthbertson, Brian Orange, Jim Kaden,James Kelly; Governance Committee: Mark Cuthbertson, Eugene Cook, Joan Cergol.

o   Approved and adopted the 2018 Financial Statements and Independent Auditors’ Report of the Town of Huntington Community Development Agency, pursuant to the Public Authorities Accountability Act of 2005

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