Town of Huntington, NY - News Details

The Huntington Town Board held its September 15, 2020 meeting remotely and broadcast meeting audio and video live, where they recommitted to the preservation of Huntington’s history, including measures securing funding to preserve the Town’s African American history, and scheduled various public hearings for future meetings. 

“We have officially established a volunteer program, based on residents’ requests, to help care for and preserve the 56 historic cemeteries we have throughout the Town, just as we do for our parks with the Volunteer Park Stewardship program,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who sponsored the resolution to establish a Volunteer Cemetery Maintenance and Cleanup Program led by the Town Historian, Robert Hughes. 

The Town Board reestablished the Town of Huntington African-American Task Force. Supervisor Lupinacci, who sponsored the measure, stated, “While we have the African American Historic Designation Council, which advises the Town Board on the preservation of sites and all things central to Huntington’s African American history, we are looking to strengthen the voice of the African American community in Town affairs and have an advisory board that assists the Town in addressing the community’s needs and the reestablishment of the African-American Task Force will help us achieve just that.” 

The Town Board also took steps to preserve the historic Peter Crippen House, which is in dangerous disrepair and is set to be demolished, as the site is integral to Huntington’s African American history. The board accepted an $8,500 donation from the Manes Peace Prize Foundation to conduct an archaeological study, and  applied for $4,000 in Preservation League of New York State grant funding for a structural assessment of the house.  

Supervisor Lupinacci, sponsor of both measures, stated: “We are delighted to have secured this generous donation from the Manes Peace Prize Foundation for an archaeological dig at the Peter Crippen House -- we are excited to see what is unearthed at this important piece of land. My office has been working closely with the Town Historian, our Engineering Department and the African American Historic Designation Council to ensure that the house, which is in severe disrepair, can be properly preserved and we hope the Preservation League sees the value of assessing the structure to preserve and recover what can be preserved.” 

“As one of the first African American property owners in the Town of Huntington, Peter Crippen serves as a vital link to our past,” said Councilwoman Joan Cergol. “The fact that his home, which dates back to 1657, is one of the oldest industrial buildings in the country only adds to the importance of conducting an archeological study of  the site.” 

The Town Board authorized up to $9,900 EOPSA Open Space funding for a study to determine the feasibility of a green energy project for solar and geothermal energy, at the Conte Community Center in Huntington Station and up to $26,000 in Neighborhood Enhancements on Central Street in Greenlawn. Up to $240,000 in EOSPA Open Space Neighborhood Enhancement funding was also approved to construct concrete sidewalks, curbs, accessible sidewalk ramps, aprons, drainage, and realign the intersection of West Hills Road and W. 19th Street at Lockwood Avenue in Huntington Station to create safe community access and calm traffic flow. 

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Town Board meeting at 2:00 PM to consider: 

• Authorizing various actions be taken upon certain properties designated as blighted in accordance with Chapter 156, Article VII, §156-60 (Blighted Property). 
• Amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 2, Article IV, §2-7, Schedule G  Re: Berryfield Court, Cloverfield Court, Country View Lane, Fieldstone Court, Sunnyfield Court  - Greenlawn – Stop Signs. 
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 188 (Trespassing); to strengthen the Town's ability to enforce and prohibit encroachments upon Town lands and rights-of-way on land and under water. 
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 198 (Zoning), Article XX (Accessory Dwelling Units); to extend the renewal period from one year to two years. 
• Simultaneous public hearings considering Issuing a certificate of approval and considering zone change application #2020-ZM-450, BG1090 Historic Overlay, to apply the Historic Building Overlay District to property located on the east side (#1090) New York Avenue (NYS Rte. 110), 120.31’ south of Northridge Street, Huntington Station, SCTM #0400.00-147.00-02.00-03.001; to convert an existing mixed-use building to all residential units, and to allow for a new mixed-use structure with first-floor retail and 16 residential units on the site of the Town's historic landmark, the Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Teich House. Variances will be required but no parking variance is required. 
• Considering zone change application #2016-ZM-424, Franklin 131 Realty LLC, to change the zoning from R-7 Residence District to C-6 General Business District for property located to the west of Commack Road, south of Dorothea Street, Commack (SCTM #0400-224-03-165.001); to convert a house located behind a shopping center, with no road access other than behind the shopping center on Commack Road, into a contractor's office and yard. 
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 198 (Zoning), Article IV (Commercial Districts); clarifying language in keeping with the intended changes of the C-6 measures passed in July 2020, making it clear the Huntington Station Overlay District is exempt from the newly increased parking requirements for all other areas zoned C-6 across the Town. 
  
   
  
  The Town Board adjourned, to October 20, 2020 at 2:00 PM, the public hearing to consider amending the Local Law No.: 17-2015 so as to rescind the Covenants and Restrictions in their entirety for the property located on the west side of East Gate Drive, north of Colonial Drive, West Hills, (Oheka Property) identified on the Suffolk County Tax Map by Number 0400-188-01-025.001, rescinding the approval for a residential development thereon, and pursuant to §198-42.1 authorizing an additional use of the property for the construction and maintenance of a 90-unit residential condominium pursuant to §198-42.1 of the Huntington Town Code. 
  
   
  
  The Town Board adjourned, to November 4, 2020 at 7:00 PM, the Public Hearing to consider adopting Local Law Introductory Number 8-2020, considering zone change application #2019-ZM-444, Equestrian Estates of Melville, to change the zoning from R-80 Residence  District to R-20 Residence District for the property located on the east side of Round Swamp Road, south of Northern State Parkway, Melville, New York, at the request of the applicant. 
  
   

The Town Board scheduled a public hearing for the Tuesday, December 15, 2020 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM for the community to consider zone change application #2020-ZM-447, Seasons at East Northport, to change the zoning from R-10 Residence District and I-1 Light Industry District to R-3M Garden Apartment Special District for property located on the east side of Daly Road, 71.45 Feet south of Ellendale Court, Elwood, SCTM #0400-215-02-055.001; for an application proposing 190 units of senior residential housing on  14.3 acres of currently split-zoned land. The applicant requested time to reach out to the community on this proposal before holding the public hearing. 

In other action, the Town Board: 

• Renewed the extension to pay 2021 property taxes for seniors granted the Senior Citizen Tax Exemption and Enhanced Star Exemption to Friday, June 4th, 2021. Also approved was a measure to prevent fraud and ensure accurate and fair property tax assessments. 
• Reappointed existing member Dominick P. Feeney, Jr. to the Board of Assessment Review to a term expiring September 30, 2025. 
• Appointed Centerport resident Robert J. Bontempi, Jr. to the Town of Huntington Planning Board to a term expiring December 31, 2025; Mr. Bontempi serves as Vice Chairman of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, a Board member on the Long Island Business Council, and Advisory Board Member for the Splashes of Hope charity. 
• Appointed Huntington Station resident and civic leader Alvin W. White as an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; Mr. White is Co-Founder and CEO of Porter-Trejo Action Network, President of Gateway Gardens Civic Association, sits on the Board of Directors member for the Pan African Coalition, Housing Help, Inc., and the Youth Development Association, and is a volunteer for many community organizations. 
  
   

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