The Huntington Town Board held its August 11, 2021 meeting, where they joined onto a lawsuit against the State of New York for terminating the Town’s lawsuits seeking to recover damages related to the opioid crisis, scheduled public hearings on measures affecting quality of life, and approved an updated parking garage feasibility study for Huntington Village.
“Quality of life and economic opportunity are central to our role in serving the public and this summer we have seen a return to fully-patronaged restaurants and merchants,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. “Now that we have limited the size and scope of apartment development in Huntington Village, we can look at moving forward with expanding our parking capacity to serve our business community and those residents and visitors who deserve to enjoy their downtown Huntington experience, whether it be shopping, dining or entertainment.”
The Town Board accepted a $5,000 donation from the Town of Huntington Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to fund an update to the July 2018 parking garage feasibility study in Huntington Village, to be conducted by Level G Associates, including a functional plan of the proposed 528-space parking garage to be situated between Main Street, New Street, West Carver Street and Green Street, financing models and revenue projections.
The Town signed onto a lawsuit, at no cost to the Town, commenced by Tate Grossman Kelly & Iaccarino, LLP against the State of New York for settling its action against opioid manufacturers, distributors and promoters to establish an opioid settlement fund, which may have effectively terminated lawsuits filed by municipalities seeking to recover damages incurred in relation to the opioid crisis, including lawsuits commenced by the Town in federal court in November 2019 against opioid manufacturers, distributors, promoters and sellers and a companion case commenced by the Town in December 2019 in Suffolk County Supreme Court.
New York State established the settlement fund without notice to or consent of the Town of Huntington. The Town previously retained Tate Grossman Kelly & Iaccarino, LLP in its November and December 2019 lawsuits to recover damages from the opioid crisis.
The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, September 14, 2021 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 Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 50 (Public Nuisances) and Chapter 135 (Loitering, Parking and Congregating); designating buildings and properties used for illegal activities as public nuisances and amplifying the procedures and remedies available to abate them.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 91 (Carnivals, Circuses, Fairs and Amusement Events); to clarify terms, add concerts to the definition of amusement event (excluding the Huntington Arts Council's Huntington Summer Arts Festival), and exempt fairs on church or school property.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 198 (Zoning) Article IV (Commercial Districts) §198-26. (C-5 Planned Shopping Center District); to eliminate the prohibition of amusement events in the C5 Zoning District.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 137 (Marine Conservation and Regulation of Marine Structures), Article I (General Provisions), Article VIII (Anchoring and Mooring of Vessels and Floats within 1,500 feet of the Shorelines of the Incorporated Villages), and Article IX (Administration and Enforcement); as per the terms of the settlement agreement reached between the Town and the Villages of Huntington Bay and Lloyd Harbor.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 120 (Harbors and Waterways), Article I (Regulations and Restrictions); to make consistent with Chapter 137.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 149 (Peddlers and Solicitors); codifying current practice allowing peddlers with sound permits to emit sounds.
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 132 (Landscaping); requiring vehicles being utilized for commercial landscaping purposes to display registration decals issued by the Town Clerk.
- (In their role as the Board of Trustees,) the granting of a variance, the issuance of a special use permit and the execution of a license agreement pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137 for the construction of a residential fixed pier and floating dock assembly. Applicant: John Paci IIILocation: 11 Beach Road, Huntington Bay, NY S.C.T.M. #0402-003.00-01.00-003.000.
The Town Board scheduled a public hearing for the Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM to consider adopting Local Law Introductory Number 55-2021, considering Zone Change Application #2021-ZM-455, Equestrian Estates of Melville, to change the zoning from R-80 Residence District to Special Equestrian Center Overlay District for the property located on the east side of Round Swamp Road, south of Northern State Parkway, Melville SCTM#0400-228-02-(002, 003, 015.001).
In other action, the Town Board:
- At the request of the Sammis Street residents, the Town Board expanded the Sammis Street Historic District in Huntington Village to include all of the properties and trees along the road to preserve the neighborhood's historic charm and architecture.
- Co-sponsored a special guided meditation and teaching on love and compassion with the Kadampa Meditation Center of Long Island at Heckscher Park on Saturday, September 11th at 8:30 AM as part of the Town's 2-day 20th Anniversary commemoration of 9/11.
- Approved an Audubon New York educational event at Hobart Beach to aid in the conservation of threatened beach-nesting birds on August 29, 2021 from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
- Approved up to $2,000 in Environmental Open Space and Park Improvement Funding to replace a damaged 6-foot decorative cast bench at Heron Park in Centerport, as recommended by the EOSPA Committee.
- Designated September 25th to be known as the “Bald Eagles of Centerport Day.”
- Accepted a donation from the Greater Yacht and Boating Club, Captain James Schneider and Councilman Mark Cuthbertson for their combined donation of $567.96 for a plaque depicting the names of the Captain and Crew of the James Joseph II that participated in the largest boat lift in history on 9/11/2001.
- Accepted a donation from Sharon and John Richmond of 54 flags, poles and brackets to be displayed through National Recovery Month.
- Adopted the recommendations of the CBA Advisory Committee for the allocation of funds in support of certain community programs and approving the funding. (Suffolk County Police 2nd Precinct ($2,000), Summer Reading Program ($1,000), Depot Road Lending Library ($1,000), Family Service League ($500) and Gordon Music Program ($500))
- Established Chapter 96 (Collateral Loan Brokers), enabling the Town Clerk to issue licenses to collateral loan brokers as required by General Business Law.
- Vote to prohibit commercial vehicle traffic on West 18th Street in Huntington Station (between West Hills Road and New York Avenue), initiated at the request of residents.
- Creating a fee schedule for the removal/towing and storage of junk vehicles to offset costs to the Town and its taxpayers.
- Accepted the donation of a Little Free Library from Kelly Barracca to the Town of Huntington.
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