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This week, we are calling on our readership to take twenty minutes out of your day to send in your nominations for the 2008 Smart Growth Awards. The deadline is fast approaching and a few applications have already made their way to us. We want to cast a wide net of deserving mixed-use projects and community leaders who work hard to transform Long Island. Nominations can be sent to our office. Call us at 631-261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org for more details or with any questions. |
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VISION's 2007 Supporters We would like to recognize those people and organizations that helped us throughout 2007. A full list is available on our website here. Be a Smart Growth News or Smart Talk Visionary
Archives of Smart Talk and Smart Growth News Weekly are available on our website. For more information on this chance to be at the forefront of Long Island’s Smart Growth Movement, call Vision Long Island, 631-261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org. |
We invite you to strengthen and sustain VISION's e-news publications by becoming a Smart Talk Visionary. For $500, you can sponsor Smart Growth News, our weekly publication. In recognition, your firm’s logo and a short description of your work will be featured in every issue. For $1,000, your organization can sponsor Smart Talk. This monthly news resource will include your firm’s logo and feature revolving articles on the organizations helping inform Long Island.
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NOminations Being Accepted for 2008 Smart Growth Awards
Last year, over 500 people came out to honor projects from across the Island in fields such as mixed-use development, green building, and regional leadership. See more on last year's event here. The deadline for nominations is February 29th, 2008. Nomination forms and other materials can be mailed to our office at 24 Woodbine Ave., Suite One, Northport, NY 11768, sent by fax to 631-754-4452, or emailed to info@visionlongisland.org. Sponsorship packages are available. Reserve your seats today. Click here for the nomination form or here for the registration form.
Village of Islandia Discusses Revised Village Center Proposal
According to David Winzelberg's article in January 25th’s online edition of the Long Island Business News, the public hearing held on January 29th was to consider this scaled-down version of the plan that originally called for a fourteen-story high rise. In addition to considering these alterations, the Village of Islandia must also consider changing the zoning of the property to a special Main Street Planned Development District to accommodate the proposed development district. Congestion Pricing Plan Approved by State Commission
According to the New York Times, “The plan, which passed the commission by a vote of 13 to 2 [with one abstention], is intended to reduce traffic in Manhattan and other parts of the city, cut pollution and generate an estimated $491 million a year in revenue that would be dedicated to expanding and modernizing the region’s mass transportation system. Supporters of the plan said that its success hinged on showing the public and legislators exactly how that money would be spent.”
The plan has seen the strongest opposition in Queens, Brooklyn and suburban communities, where many of the drivers and businesses who would pay the congestion fee are located. State Assembly members from those areas have also been among the most vocal critics of the plan. Newsday quoted New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester), a commission member, who blasted the alternative plan yesterday as a "regressive tax on the middle class," in their coverage of the State panel’s decision. "The commission took a bad plan and made it worse," Brodsky said in an interview. "It reduces the burden for people who live in Manhattan and increases it for people outside."
In order to improve the regional transit system, funds must be allocated to the LIRR and the MTA’s capital improvement plan for Long Island’s buses and other transit options. The plan is not expected to face as much opposition in the State Senate. Gov. Eliot Spitzer said the new capital plan would benefit those surrounding areas. “There will be significant investments in Queens and Brooklyn, Staten Island, up into Westchester and north,” Mr. Spitzer said, “to show that this is going to be a much more developed, much more efficient transportation system that will benefit all taxpayers.” He called congestion pricing “essential to the future of New York City.” Click here to watch a clip from News12 on the issue. Citzen's Call for Density Instead of Sprawl Highlights Rising Trend
Long Island has been fiercely resistant to high density apartments and rentals for many years. As Ms. Vitale states, "It seems they are afraid of setting a precedent that will result in overdevelopment and threat to suburban lifestyle.” Yet this preservation of the suburban lifestyle has resulted in the symptoms of sprawl that we know and recognize all too well: the loss of open space, horrendous traffic congestion, ever increasing taxes, loss of jobs and young professionals, unaffordable housing, and an overall degradation of the environment and our quality of life. Ms. Vitale’s proposal for strategic TOD at the West Hempstead LIRR station further illustrates the importance for Long Island to redevelop and reinvest in their downtowns, which are chocked full of potential and existing assets primed for revitalization.
Transit-Oriented Development is not the enemy of the suburban lifestyle; it is an integral part of the solution that Ms. Vitale and many others surveyed by the LI Index have come to recognize. Hopefully, if ordinary citizens of Long Island continue to actively voice their desire for high density, their elected officials will hear them.
Two of the waitresses, a pair of sisters, worked at the diner as their first jobs when they were younger and are happy to return. The Middle Island Diner, open every day, is located at 276 Middle Country Rd. and can be reached at 631-696-4260. More details on the restaurant are available here. Levittown Goes Green with Energy Efficiency
Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, has been enlisted to help with community outreach. According to Canvas’ article, she will be organizing canvassers to go door to door in Levittown. They will be making energy-saving recommendations, offering home energy audits, and presenting special offers on energy-efficient equipment, appliances and products.
Even if you don’t reside in Levittown, you can find more information at www.greenlevittown.com and get some ideas for your own home. |
Nominations are now being accepted for Vision Long Island's 2008 Smart Growth Awards, to be held on Thursday, June 12th, from 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. 
The Village of Islandia is in the midst of the many stages of revisions in the planning process for the proposed mixed-use development called the “Islandia Village Center.” Located on the West side of Route 454 and the South side of CR 67, the 12.66 acres site consists of a variety of uses. The proposal includes one eight-story residential building with 150 condominium units, one three-story hotel with 100 rooms, one seven-story hotel with 174 rooms, two one-story restaurant buildings, a combined retail and office use building, a .59 acre village green, and associate parking and access facilities. 
A state traffic commission voted on Thursday, January 3 to recommend that New York City charge drivers with an E-ZPass $8 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those drivers would also receive a credit for bridge or tunnel tolls they paid on the same day. Drivers without an E-ZPass would pay $9 and would not receive credit for tolls. 
In 
In light of the results of the 2008 Long Island Index, this Op-ed submitted to the 
The Middle Island Diner has reopened, according to long-time Middle Island Civic Association member Pola Griegio. The new owners were former partners of Selden's Campus Hero's "Breakfast Nook" and many of the waitstaff are former employees of Mike's Sports Bar, which closed late last year. 
Starting in January, Nassau is launching a program called 
The article states, “Nassau officials stress that the program, which they believe promotes “easy environmentalism” since it does not require residents to make major changes in their energy-consumption behaviors, is funded entirely by participating companies at no cost to Nassau County taxpayers.” If this program proves popular with residents and profitable with participating companies, it could prove to be a valuable strategy for promoting energy efficient incentives. Companies participating in Levittown’s pilot program include Alure Home Improvements, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Earthkind Energy, Intellidyne Inc., Lazard Ltd., Long Island Power Authority, National Grid and Tragar Oil Co., and Satco Products Inc.|
"Have a Heart for the Homeless" Candlelight Vigil to Be Held on February 13th
Organizers are asking attendees to wear red to this event. In addition, they have gathered a Candlelight Vigil Kit, which can be downloaded here. The kit includes an extensive list items that can be brought to the vigil, including unused baby items, diapers, formula, unopened toiletries, and non-perishable foods. For more information, contact the Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless on their website, by phone at 516-742-7770, or through email at gguarton@nsch.org. |
The Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless is holding their annual "Have a Heart for the Homeless" Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday, February 13th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Farmingdale State College. The vigil will take place on the Great Lawn and the Multi-Purpose Room at 2350 Broadhollow Rd. and will feature a candle lighting ceremony, guest speakers, and music by Miles to Dayton.|
NPR Covers Innovative Traffic Management Plan
According to the NPR “Weekend Edition Saturday” story from January 19th, advocates of this traffic-management philosophy, called Shared Space, say it works. Ben Hamilton-Baillie, a leading Shared Space advocate based in Bristol, England, explained, “If you're faced with a traffic signal, you don't have to think anymore. Whether you go depends on whether the light is red or green," he says. "In the absence of such things, we're perfectly capable of reading and understanding the situation so that if grandma's in the road ahead of you, you don't run her over."
The concept of Shared Space is emerging across Europe. According to their website, “it encapsulates a new philosophy and set of principles for the design, management and maintenance of streets and public spaces, based on the integration of traffic with other forms of human activity.” It is an innovative approach to the process of planning, designing and decision-making. The program offers a basis for addressing safety issues, walkability, traffic congestion, and for enhancing economic vitality in streets and public spaces. While Europeans have made great advances in reclaiming the streets and public places for people, America still lags behind. This article is illustrative of how man, as a user of public space, has been reduced to the bottom rungs of sector-related (traffic) notions. Read the article from NPR here or click here to visit Shared Space's website. California: Simi Valley Plans Mixed-Use COmmunity
Read more on SmartGrowth.org, or read the article from the Ventura County Star here. Arizona: Transit Enters Spotlight
The state faces the prospect of doubling its population over the next few decades and the administration wants to ensure that new transportation options are put into the spotlight, including what they call a 'robust rail element.' The address also suggested carbon emission reductions, switching to renewable energy sources, and enforcing energy-efficiency construction standards. Read the State of the State here or click here to see the article. |
In the small German municipality of Bohmte, city officials have taken a drastic approach to traffic management. In an effort to make the streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists and to decrease its traffic accident rate, the town has removed the street curbs, lights, signs, and sidewalks. Common sense and courtesy, as well as drivers feeling more a part of the space they're moving through, is supposed to cut down on accidents.
The program has seen many successes. In particular, the article points to Drachten, Netherlands. The Shared Space municipality removed nearly all of its stop lights and street signs and at few big intersections used traffic circles to slow down cars. City officials say that accidents have fallen by 50% since the program started.
A Simi Valley, California site that has been vacant since the 1994 earthquake will soon turn into a mixed-use, walkable development. It is said to include townhouses, senior apartments, market-rate and affordable units, along with businesses. This push for affordable and convenient housing comes from the soaring home costs in the surrounding area and the long commute facing workers who can no longer afford to live close by.
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano recently laid out grand ideas regarding transit in her recent State of the State address, saying that ''Arizonans need relief from the 'time tax','' that they ''need to get from work to home, to their places of worship, to the store, and to school to pick up their children, without constantly having to sit, breathing bad air, stuck in a traffic jam.''|
Society for Marketing Professional Services Hosts Transit-Oriented Development Event on February 13th
The Society for Marketing Professional Services is hosting an event on Smart Growth and Transit-Oriented Development on Wednesday, February 13th from 8:00am to 10:00am at the Milleridge Inn in Jericho. Following in the footsteps of places like downtown Mineola, which has crafted a Master Plan that embraces walkability near their LIRR station, the discussion will emphasize the importance of incorporating the design of such projects into transit centers. Eric Alexander will moderate the discussion with panelists that include Charles Bartha, P.E., Associate Partner, Bowne AE&T Group; Alexander D. Latham, III, Owner and Principal, ADL III Architecture; Honorable Jack M. Martins, Mayor, Village of Mineola; Mitchell H. Pally, MTA Board Member; and Vincent Polimeni, Founder and CEO, The Polimeni Organization, LLC.
Tickets to the event are $30 for members and $95 for non-members. The Milleridge Inn is located at 585 North Broadway, Jericho. For more information, click here. Sierra Club To Hold Downtown Redevelopment Seminar on February 16th
Reinvesting in walkable downtowns decreases traffic, reduces emissions, and protects open space from housing pressures. VISION's own Eric Alexander will be there to explain how community visioning and Smart Growth principles can redirect development to revitalize our neglected downtown areas. For more information, visit lisierraclub.org. Organic Turf Trade Show Coming February 26th
Last year saw over 250 attendees, from landscapers to horticulturists, golf course & parks employees, and gardeners from around the region, along with school facilities managers, public officials, and non-profit groups coming together to learn about state of the art advances in organic turf care. For more information, visit the Neighborhood Network here or contact Beth Fiteni at 631-963-5454. March Forth on March 4th for Veterans' Mental Health
Registration for this event is free. Please RSVP by email to olitgmp@omh.state.ny.us if you are interested in attending. The VFW is located at 259 Dougty Blvd. in Inwood. Cold Spring Harbor Library Event on March 18th
Visit the Cold Spring Harbor Library's website for more information. Long Island Progressive Coalition Celebrating 29th Anniversary on March 29th
Tickets are $65 each, with a discount for 2 at $110 and a table of 12 for $600. Sponsorship and journal advertisement opportunities are also available. For more information, visit the LIPC's website. |
Transit-Oriented Development is one of the key elements to the long-term success of Smart Growth on Long Island. 
On Saturday, February 16th from 2pm to 4pm, the Long Island Sierra Club will be holding a seminar about downtown redevelopment at the Neighborhood House in Setauket. 
The 9th Annual Organic Turf Trade Show will be held on Tuesday, February 26th at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration Reception Center from 8am to 4pm. Presented by the Neighborhood Network, the Trade Show features displays from vendors of 100% organic turf care products, as well as workshops on the latest in caring for turf without toxic chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. 
The Veterans' Mental Health Alliance invites you to a training session on March 4th at the VFW Post 1582 in Inwood from 10:00am to 3:00pm, with registration beginning at 9:30am. Come learn about the scope of need for our nation's veterans in classes such as Military 101 and Best Practices. There will be a continental breakfast, but please bring a bag lunch if you attend.
The Cold Spring Harbor Library will be hosting an event on March 18th to bring awareness to the community about Smart Growth, Energy, and the Environment. This interactive discussion brings together members of Vision Long Island, the North Shore Land Alliance, and the Neighborhood Network and takes place from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
REP-LI is holding a luncheon to celebrate 29 years of the Long Island Progressive Coalition on Saturday, March 29th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, at the Timber Point Country Club in Great River. Honorees at the luncheon, celebrating the fight for social and human dignity, include RWDSU/Local 338 President John Durso, Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander, New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Reach Out America's Barbara Zeller, South Fork LIPC's Helen Fitzgerald, the AQE Youth Committee, and Volunteer of the Year Barbara Buehring.|
Sen. Schumer's Long Island Regional Office Seeks Assistant Regional Representative
"This is a great opportunity to join an exciting fast-paced office and interact with key organizations and Long Island leaders of every type. We seek candidates committed to public service who possess excellent interpersonal, verbal, written communication skills. The Assistant Regional Representative’s main responsibilities are to staff the Senior Senator at frequent community events, organize media events, supervise and implement all administrative office tasks, assist the Regional Representative with projects and issues, respond to all constituent concerns, recruit, and oversee the intern staff. Salary is in the mid-twenties. A college degree is required." To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to: U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer Long Island Office, Attention: Matt Cohen. 145 Pinelawn Road, Suite 300N Melville, NY 11747. Fax: 631-753-0997 or Email: Kristen_Walsh@schumer.senate.gov. For more information, call (631) 753-0978. Oyster Bay Main Street Association Seeks New Executive DIrector
A qualified candidate will manage the Association's downtown office. They will effectively lead volunteer committees for downtown design/planning, economic restructuring, promotion, and organization as well as working with residents, businesses, and other cultural and educational non-profit organizations in the community to promote Oyster Bay as a historic destination. This involves beautification and participation in a year-round calendar of events known as the "Passport to Historic Oyster Bay." The Executive Director will be responsible for seeking and writing grants for the historic preservation and economic development of the downtown and to promote cultural tourism. Additionally, they will be able to prepare materials for the Board of Directors, contributors, and members and manage the relationship with the press to publicize the work of the association as well as with government and community leaders. Candidates should have a college degree and educational or professional experience in one or more of the following areas: historic preservation, planning, economic development, retailing, marketing, design, volunteer management, non-profit management, and/or small business development. They must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well organized, and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential. Flexible hours are available; with some evening and weekend work required. The salary is competitive in the field and commensurate with experience. The Executive Director will be sent to the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Meeting for Main Street Network Members March 30 - April 2, 2008 in Philadelphia to receive introduction to the Main Street 4-point approach and meet leaders from downtowns across the United States. Resumes or inquires may be sent to the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, P.O. Box 116, Oyster Bay, NY 11771 or emailed to obmsa@optonline.net. City of Yonkers Seeking Environmental and Sustainable Development Manager
The Manager will be responsible for reviewing development plans and proposals; recommending implementation of sustainable design elements; reviewing environmental impact statements; managing the City’s Brownfield program; recommending programs to reduce the City’s environmental impact and improve quality of life; managing the environmental review process; conducting field studies and surveys relating to development applications and associated environmental impact statements; applying for grants to help improve environmental management; assisting in the implementation of projects and policies; acting as a department liaison to local environmental committees; and recommending environmental policy. Qualified candidates will have: graduated from a regionally accredited or New York State registered graduate school with a Master's Degree and two (2) years of experience in planning, engineering, architecture, real estate, economic development, or a related field that involved working on environmental and/or sustainable development programs; or have graduated a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college or university with a Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years of experience as described above; or graduated from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two year college or university with an Associate's Degree and six (6) years of experience as described above. More information is available online here. Please send resumes and questions to Edna Colombos in the Department of Human Resources, City Hall, 40 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701, by fax to 914-377-6897 or by email to edna.colombos@cityofyonkers.com. |
The Long Island Regional Office for US Senator Charles Schumer is seeking an Assistant Regional Representative for a full-time position. The notice issued by the Senator's Long Island office states: 
The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is seeking a new Executive Director. The Association, which received a Smart Growth Award in 2006 for its work with the Town of Oyster Bay, is a non-profit organization with a mission of "creating and promoting a healthy economy and an attractive hamlet while maintaining historic character and integrity."
The City of Yonkers is seeking an Environmental and Sustainable Development Manager for their Planning and Development Department. The Planning and Development Department is responsible for supporting the promotion and coordination of development activities within the City of Yonkers. The department leads the development initiative in a city that has more development per capita than any other locality in New York State.|
There is no charge, but guests are asked to make a donation to the Family Service League of Long Island. This event will be simulcast on B103 FM radio. More information is available on News12's website.
Donations of $15 are requested at the door. The exhibit runs through the end of February for the $4 admission fee. The Walt Whitman Birthplace is located at 246 Old Walt Whitman Rd. in Huntington Station. More information is available at the Walt Whitman Birthplace's website, by phone at 631-427-5240, or on ExploreLI.com. |
The 9th Annual Long Island Chowder Contest will be held at the Snapper Inn Waterfront Restaurant in Oakdale. Past winning restaurants include: Riverbay, H20 Seafood Grill, Snapper Inn and the Jolly Fisherman. This year's judges include Frank Prial, of the New York Times, and Carl LoBue, of the Nature Conservancy. The judging starts at 1:00 PM and the public is welcome to sample the chowders from some of Long Island's finest seafood restaurants. 
What better way to spend an evening out than admiring chocolate as art at Walt Whitman's birthplace. Join Lee Perrotta, a chocolatier from Bellmore, at the art show called "Chocolate Passion-Chocolate Magic;" the opening reception this Saturday evening, from 8:00pm to 10:00pm features a brief lecture by Perrotta, along with a chocolate buffet and wine tasting.|
Eye Sore of the Month This month, Vision Long Island staff is in an optimist mood and has not picked an eye sore in the region. Please help us spolight future sites in the future by emailing them to us at info@visionlongisland.org. Sight for Sore Eyes- Eisenhower Park, Nassau COunty
At 930 acres, it is larger than Central Park, with much of the acreage devoted to three 18-hole golf courses. The county acquired the land during the Depression and in 1944, Nassau County Park at Salisbury was established as part of then-County Executive J. Russell Sprague's vision to create a park that "one day will be to Nassau County what Central Park is today to New York City." On October 13, 1969, the park was rededicated as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Park. The park features athletic facilities, three golf courses, tennis courts, baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields, a basketball court, a batting cage, and the world-class Nassau County Aquatic Center. In the summer of 2007, the park introduced a two-mile Fitness Trail that provides a jogging or walking path with 20 fitness stations.
As part of the proposed plan for the Nassau Hub, there would be a “green ribbon” that would provide pedestrian access from Eisenhower Park to employment, residential, and other recreational centers in the area. With more accessibility and availability to all residents, via improved public transit and safer pedestrian routes, Eisenhower Park will be able to reinforce its ties to the surrounding community. |
Part of the County Park system since 1944, 
There are many attractions for children and families, such as an 18-hole miniature golf course near the Nassau County Aquatic Center, three playground areas and numerous picnic areas. In addition, numerous community events are held in Eisenhower Park throughout the year.|
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein |
SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.
For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |
