13th Annual Smart Growth Awards Celebrates Long Island's Progress, Leadership

Over 800 community, business and government leaders gather to celebrate Smart Growth individuals and projects through past 12 months

The 13th annual Smart Growth Awards is taking place Friday, June 13 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The new venue has an even larger capacity with more than 800 people attending the 2013 Awards.

After a dozen years of awards, almost 45 nominees were considered for the 12 awards up for grabs this year.

Emcee and Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander introduced the honorees, followed by a short film of each honored person or project and a brief speech by the honorees.

“The hundreds of honorees we’ve had over the past 13 years have connected to the public and can now demonstrate successful projects,” he said of the Smart Growth Award honorees. “At this event we show the positive examples of Smart Growth driven by the local community.”

This year’s Regional Leadership award was presented to two recipients. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano received the honor for securing Bay Park Sewage Plant infrastructure funding, passage of Complete Streets legislation and promoting Transit-Oriented Development. Mangano accepted the award via cell phone from a last-minute meeting about funding for a Bay Park ocean outflow pipe. H2M Senior Vice President Robert Scheiner received the award for his years of service in municipal government, advancement of community and infrastructure projects and corporate citizenship.

"My administration has worked closely with Vision Island to plan and build safer roadways, greenways and new transit-oriented housing options in Nassau County,” Mangano said. “I am honored to receive Vision Long Island's Regional Leadership Award and thank them for recognizing my efforts in securing funding for Bay Park Wastewater Treatment Plant repairs, implementing a Complete Streets initiative and for achieving transit-oriented development in our downtowns."

“It is a great honor to be recognized alongside such influential and extraordinary people. I look forward to continuing to work with Vision Long Island to develop the infrastructure necessary to make Long Island more affordable, more exciting and easier to navigate,” Scheiner said.

The other honorees this year were Long Island Green Markets Director Bernadette Martin for managing farmers’ markets in downtowns across the island; Operation SPLASH for keeping area waters free of pollutants and advocacy at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant; the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District for their state-of-the-art 5.3-million gallon daily capacity plant; Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman for finding a way to fund Sunday busses; Greenview Properties for building mixed-use properties as part of the ongoing revitalization of Bay Shore; Coram Civic Association, Town of Brookhaven, Conifer Realty, Community Development Corporation of Long Island for creating a main street development out of a blighted property; Downtown on Main for adding mixed-use development in Smithtown; Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Babylon, the 11518, East Rockway and Sandy Support, Massapequa Style for local efforts in rebuilding the South Shore post-Sandy; Envision Valley Stream and Valley Stream for working towards a healthy downtown business district; and the Watchcase project for preserving a historic building while creating distinctive downtown housing choices.



Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone also spoke about Smart Growth at the ceremony. The region needs sustainable economic growth to have a vibrant future, he said, referencing the brain drain and need for walkable communities. The county executive joined Alexander and others at a national planning conference in Buffalo earlier this month.

“If you look at the number of people in attendance at this award ceremony it is clear that there are good things happening in Long Island and more good things coming,” Bellone said.



As the 11518, Sandy Support, Massapequa Style and Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Babylon received their awards to wrap up the afternoon, other Friends of Long Island volunteers joined them on stage. With dozens standing behind the dais, Southwest Airlines and Vision Long Island surprised them with flight vouchers as a show of gratitude. Southwest's Jill Simonson presented the gift to 50 Sandy volunteers.



Past honoree and 2014 lead sponsor Michael Puntillo, from The Jobco Organization, joined Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello during lunch to announce the groundbreaking of the Glen Cove Piazza. 

The Smart Growth Awards honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives. The event highlights the efforts of leaders in government, private sector and the community that exemplify Smart Growth principles in such areas as transportation, mix of land uses, housing options, open space preservation, clean energy, compact design, revitalization, sense of place and planning.

Since the first Smart Growth Awards in 2002, more than 100 have been bestowed to people, projects and policies across the island. The City of Glen Cove has received the most with six, with Riverhead and Bay Shore each earning five, and Huntington, Patchogue, Mineola and Great Neck earning four.

Smart Growth policies favor mixed-use, mixed-income development that is attractive and strategically-designed to enhance the greater area. Smart Growth reduces traffic by making transit, walking, and biking realistic and pleasant options, thereby contributing to community health, safety and vitality. It embraces clean energy and sustainability by design. It focuses on infill, redevelopment and open space preservation in order to create more livable places conducive to a variety of transit options.

Thank You To All Of Our Event Sponsors:

A Special Thanks To Our Filmmakers:

THEM Media Inc. is a multi-disciplinary integrated media company producing content for television networks, advertising agencies, film studios and record labels. THEM was founded by Executive Producer Tony Harding in 2006 as a 21st-Century production company set to address the changes, challenges and overlaps in the advertising arena, television programming and new media landscapes. Tony Harding’s vision was to merge exceptional talent from diverse media backgrounds to become, together, a powerful multi faceted production boutique. THEM offers an innovative blend of creative production, development, new media and programming. THEM’s diverse portfolio of media projects includes television programs, commercials, music videos, feature films, branded entertainment and branded content for the web and mobile devices.

THEM Media’s company culture is to challenge conventional thought, provide clients with innovative concepts in a collaborative and inclusive environment and aggressively deliver cutting edge solutions. The company’s versatile think tank talent roster is comprised of accomplished directors, ad savvy creatives and seasoned producers, who embrace Harding’s “can do” philosophy and always find innovative ways to enable clients to achieve their objectives.

Congratulations To This Year's Distinguished Honorees:

Sense of Place: Bay Shore Revitalization,
Greenview Properties 

Bay Shore has had new stores and restaurants moving in to the downtown, and new mixed-use development provides a new demographic of residents. Greenview Properties is the force behind three of these new projects, and the recipient of the 2014 Sense of Place award.

Around the turn of the last century, Bay Shore was prosperous. But the opening of the South Shore Mall and closure of local mental
health facilities sent the community spiraling downward. Retail moved away from Main Street, residents lost their jobs and patients were dumped into various Long Island communities without any support. Rock bottom came in the 1990s when half of the storefronts
were empty, and many of those that weren’t were churches or laundry facilities.

The neighborhood is now on the upswing. Alleyways between storefronts and parking were designed to be wide, well-lit and decorated. In some parts of town, community members and business owners pooled their money and bought some of the problem buildings in town. The current Second Avenue Firehouse Gallery was saved from demolition and rebuilt to reflect its image as the community’s first firehouse and Jewish temple. Derelict buildings were razed to expose canals and other water abutting Main Street; the site of the former Paradise bar is now the waterfront home of Bay Shore’s gazebo.

A resident of Bay Shore, Greenview Properties President Larry Gargano and his company acquired their first Bay Shore property in the late 1980s. At that point, the community was struggling with commercial vacancies. He’s seen steady slow improvement in 15 years, with a surge of restaurants, businesses and offices opening.

Greenview has made significant progress on a trio of mixed-use projects in downtown Bay Shore. The first is the company’s new headquarters on Shore Lane. Known as the 5 Shore Lofts, the building is home to 11 studio and one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors with company’s offices on the ground floor. Located across from the Long Island Railroad station, Chelsea Place is part of the gateway to Bay Shore. The mixed-use development was constructed in 2008; it houses 28 duplex apartments and a small amount of retail space. Even the smallest units - a one-bedroom unit priced over $1,000, are still built on two floors to create an intimate sense of home. Cobblestone curbs around the neighborhood, garages hidden in the back of the buildings, and colorful flowers and black fences in front give the community a traditional feel compared. Meanwhile, Greenview’s Village Place development is still under construction. Once complete, it will offer studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom duplex apartments in a walkable distance from Main Street. Commercial and retail will return to the site on the first floor, with housing on the top two floors.

Gargano has emphasized infill projects, redeveloping existing downtown buildings for quality rental housing. He credited the Town of Islip with being receptive to mixed-use and multi-family developments. The neighborhood, he added, also supports his projects since a thriving downtown boosts property values for single-family homeowners.

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Compact Building Design: Watchcase

Once a symbol of nineteenth century industrialization, a former watch factory was an eyesore in the heart of Sag Harbor. It had spent years in various industrial uses, but spent 25 years falling into disrepair.

The site, however, will once again be a major component of the village in its new life as Watchcase. The team behind this multi-family development - developer Cape Advisor, engineers Racanelli Construction and architects Baldassano Architecture - is receiving the 2014 award for Compact Building Design.

Measuring 2.29 acres and sandwiched between Division, Sage and Church Streets, the site has a rich history appropriate for the East End village. The property was first developed in 1881, becoming a steam cotton mill in the 1850s. The mill fell victim to the end of the whaling industry in Sag Harbor in 1871.

Fahys Watch Case Company relocated from New Jersey and opened a new brick factory on the site. The factory produced jobs, especially countless immigrant workers from Ellis Island. By the turn of that century, they were producing more than 12,000 watch cases every day. Employees worked by light streaming through oversized windows.

But fire consumed most of the factory in 1925 and the company succumbed to the Great Depression in 1931. The building sat vacant for six years before Bulova began operations. They signed a 10-year lease in 1937 before buying the property outright. Manufacturing continued through World War II before the plant closed in 1980. The building sustained damage from water penetration and moisture.

Cape Advisors purchased the site in 2005, but legal hurdles and the recession stalled development. Progress didn’t resume again until 2010. In a walkable community, Badalamenti said the Watchcase development offered a chance to revitalize downtown Sag Harbor. Residents of the project’s 64 condos and townhouses will support local merchants. But that location and the historic nature of the building, he added, requires extra care.

Once complete, Watchcase will house 47 lofts within the factory and 17 units of housing in adjacent townhouses and bungalows. It’ll also hold a pool and outdoor patio, pavilion and fitness center, new sidewalks, landscaping and
an underground parking garage for 100 cars.

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Housing Choices: Wincoram Commons

At best, Coram lacked a community hub to define its character. At worst, stretches of Middle Country Road were blighted.

But after the turn of the millennium, members of the neighborhood took action. The Coram Civic Association and Town of Brookhaven joined Conifer Realty and the CDC of Long Island to create Wincoram Commons. This project has netted all four the 2014 Housing Choices award.

Once completed, Wincoram Commons will create 176 units of workforce housing and 13,300 square feet of commercial space. A backhoe could be seen ripping up the remains of a deserted UA movie theater on the 17.65-acre site in March, symbolizing progress
on the $55 million mixed-use development. About 7,300 square feet of commercial will be built into the first floor of three-story residential buildings, with another 6,000 square feet in a commercial building along Route 112. Plans also call for a clubhouse housing a leasing office, fitness center and community space across from the offi ce building. All of these structures are intended to frame a pedestrian-friendly plaza.

Coram Civic President Erma Gluck said residents are excited about having a downtown, which will both create a sense of place and support local business by locating stores near homes. The name of the project hails from a native American chief who once oversaw the region; residents picked the name.

The development is also creating 145 temporary construction jobs and 34 new permanent jobs. In addition, it also includes infrastructure expansion, like a connection to a nearby sewer treatment plant and a connector road from Route 112 to Middle Country Road to prevent congestion north of the site. A sidewalk between the development and nearby Avalon Bay at Charles Pond luxury apartment complex is also in the plans.

The Wincoram project began as an intensive planning process led by Vision Long Island and the town in 2002. Residents met with
planners and traffi c engineers during focus groups, presentations and discussion groups to create plans for land use and a network of roadways in Coram and Middle Island.

Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert, president of the Middle Island Civic Association before being elected to the town board in
2005, was anxious to ditch strip-zoning. Mixed-use development and walkability are important for creating a sense of identity, she
said. The town’s land use plan was adopted in 2006, identifying the blighted UA theater as a potential mixed-use site.

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Sustainability: Great Neck Water Pollution
Control District

What began as mandates to reduce nitrogen pollution in the Long Island Sound transformed into the 2014 Sustainability award for the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District. Federal and state environmental agencies are requiring sewage treatment plants tied to the Sound to reduce their nitrogen output by 58.5 percent from 1990 levels. Located along the border of Nassau County and New York City, the Village of Great Neck and the water district each had their own plants. District Superintendent Chris Murphy said the solution was consolidation.

The district operated a plant with a daily capacity of 3.8 million gallons and the village maintained a plant that could process 1.5 million gallons every day. In 2010, the sewer district began a $60-million expansion to their facility while village officials began preparing to demolish their plant. The improved facility opened in January 2013 with a daily capacity of 5.3 million gallons. And this past December, they began treating all of Great Neck’s sewage. In total, the plant is processing just about 3.6 million gallons every day.

Having the additional capacity, Murphy said, creates more opportunities and benefits. District officials are contacting businesses and other municipalities in hopes of selling them on hooking up to the plant. Comparing the system to a bus with varying number of riders, Murphy said residents will see lower taxes if the costs can be divided among more customers. He also said processing more flow at the plant means less goes into septic systems.

“A well-maintained septic system may do an acceptable job, but it doesn’t have the same treatment as a technologically advanced
system like ours,” he said.

Meanwhile, the expanded plant removes significantly more nitrogen than required and treats more sewage at a lower price than both plants combined. Some of this is possible from using an asset management system. Typically found in larger sewage plants, the Great Neck system became more efficient when computers keep track of maintenance schedules and automatically dispatch staff.

Murphy said they also built the expanded facility with the environment in mind. About 30 percent of the electricity necessary to run the plant is generated through green means on site. Stationary solar panels generate about 10 kilowatts every hour, although district staff are redesigning flat roof space so additional solar panels can be installed down the road. Sewage plants produce methane gas, which is typically used to run a boiler or just burned and released. At the Great Neck plant, methane turns microturbines, creating 130 kilowatts of power. They also have a rain garden on site, which collects stormwater from the parking lot and runs it through a garden of indigenous plants that excel in removing phosphorus and nitrogen before it goes into Manhasset Bay.

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Creating a Mix of Uses: Envision Valley Stream and Village of Valley Stream

For their efforts in 2013, this year’s Mixed-Use award goes to Envision Valley Stream and the Village of Valley Stream.

Envision Valley Stream is a nonprofit designed to grow Valley Stream through residents, business, education, houses of
worship and other facets of the town. Created in 2009, their goal is to enable communication and cooperation to improve the community.

Founder David Sabatino said he’d like to see the new York State Department of Transportation implement pedestrian islands and signal timers for pedestrians. Customers, he added, routinely complain about how dangerous crossing the highway is.

Walkability and participation, Sabatino added, are essential for a thriving downtown. He’s also hoping to see some multifamily housing to help stop the brain drain. Mixed-use development can be a major piece of the solution, attracting more residents, shops, customers and professionals. As a local business owner, mixed-use development increases his local customer base.

In 2013, village officials amended zoning code to allow mixed-use developments and were named by the Long Island Railroad
to a study that will explore promoting development around LIRR stations. The Sun Valley Towers project last year and will include
13,000 square feet of retail and parking on the first floor and 72 apartments on the top four floors.

Also in 2013, the Valley Stream Village Board approved Complete Streets legislation. Complete Streets policies are designed to make roads safer for all users by painting narrower lanes, adding bicycle lanes, improving intersections and lowering traffic speeds. The mayor said they are investigating the best locations to implement the new policies and improve walkability and safety on the roads.

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Strengthening Existing Communities: Downtown
On Main, Smithtown

Across from Smithtown Town Hall and sitting along Main Street, a former lumber yard sat abandoned for so long vines and shrubs
were growing inside.

To describe the former Nassau-Suffolk Lumber and Supply Corp. as a blighted property is akin to calling Smart Growth an interesting idea. But contractor Zucaro Construction and developer DC5 Properties are breathing new life into the property, earning them the Strengthening Existing Communities award.

Once a lumber yard, the 3-acre property sat untouched for several years since someone last tried developing the land in 2009. The town dropped taxes to benefit owners North Fork Management & Maintenance, but later issued a stop-work order after they demolished more buildings than they were permitted. Meanwhile, graffiti covered the building, plywood replaced a broken window, pieces of the storefront began collapsing and plants grew inside.

Last fall, Smithtown Town Board voted to remove zoning restrictions on the property once plans for Downtown on Main were filed. Town officials placed a restrictive covenant on the site during a 1987 zoning change, limiting 0.9 acres strictly for lumber use. In exchange for relaxing the zoning, North Fork agreed to have demolition complete by April 1.

Once complete, the Downtown on Main project will house 56 apartments and up to 15,000 square feet of retail in four buildings on the lot. That would include three, three-story residential buildings with 12 apartments in each, plus a 11,149-square foot mixed-use building with another 20 units. In addition, 20 apartments have been set aside for workforce housing.

Construction boss Andrew Zucaro and DC5’s Jared DeLew said the building will feature a turn-of-the-century appearance. After consulting with experts, they planned on using a brick or stone exterior. But what it looks like is nothing compared to what they hope it will do for downtown Smithtown. DeLew said there’s a movement on Long Island to eschew suburban sprawl in favor of community living. They hope the former lumber yard can help create a sense of place.

Demolition occurred earlier this spring with construction underway. Once complete, Zucaro said it will improve the local tax base since small businesses will see increased customers.

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Revitalizing Communities: Bernadette Martin, Friends & Farmers

The 2014 Community Revitalization award is bestowed to Bernadette Martin for her work in supporting both the local economy and well-being through farmers’ markets.

Martin is the director of Long Island Greenmarket, an organization that manages five markets and promotes open space preservation.

She founded both market management organization Friends & Farmers and the Long Beach farmers’ markets in 2008. Martin contacted Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford (D-Long Beach), although city officials were already considering a market before the new resident touched base. She filed paperwork with the state, convinced some of her vendors from the city market to take the risk and opened the market that July.

The Long Beach market is open Wednesdays and Saturdays. The weekend hours attract musicians and artists, adding to the sense of community. But even the weekday hours draw large crowds.

These days, Long Island Greenmarket also manages farmers’ markets in Amityville, Kings Park, Nesconset and Spinney Hill - in Great Neck. They also perform live cooking demonstrations and distribute recipes, distribute vouchers for fresh produce to senior citizens from New York State and accepts food stamps at their markets.

Farmers’ markets, the director said, offer substantially different choices than supermarkets. Produce grown for the latter are designed for aesthetics and lengthy transportation, while locally grown fruits and vegetables are more about taste. Markets also serve a role in supporting small businesses. Local farms can participate with very little overhead, only needing to purchase insurance and rent a tent. At the same time, downtown merchants benefit from the extra traffic and restaurants can use the local food.

Agriculture is also a major part of Long Island’s economy; Suffolk County is the largest source of production in the state. And although development is consuming farmland, Martin said it’s easily worse in other parts of the country. Farming is also gaining interest with young people, Martin said.

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Transportation Choices: Legislator Jay Schneiderman, Sunday Bus Service

The 2014 award for Transportation Choices goes to Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) for his work with the Suffolk County Transit system.

Suffolk County measures 86 miles wide and home to nearly 1.5 million people. Some sections of the county are more densely populated, while others like the Town of Brookhaven have more empty space.

In the 2nd Legislative District, Schneiderman said the rich and famous flock to the waterfront during the summer, but very poor residents also live in the area. It’s an unusual situation where two people are living in a 20-bedroom house within half a mile as 20 people living in a two-bedroom house. To make matters worse, the area lacks clinics, public transportation and other support services. Schneiderman said he routinely battles with other legislators for public resources despite the Hamptons’ reputation.

The problem extends beyond the borders of Brookhaven. Alternative transportation is very limited throughout the county, a region
that is growing older. The population in Suffolk is aging, and there is a lack of housing, transportation and resources available to them. Busses would be a strong option for them, as well as young professionals and residents who can’t afford to own a car.

The legislator championed the cause beginning in 2007, but his focus stretched across all 86 miles of Suffolk. According to a study,
24 of the county’s 50 bus routes needed Sunday routes. He proposed a pilot program, bumping bus fare from $1.50 to $2 to cover buses on Sundays and holidays between Memorial Day and October. A casual poll of riders by Schneiderman found riders supported the initiative, although former County Executive Steve Levy tried to sabotage the plan. He issued a formal poll, but was surprised at the results again in favor of the more expensive fare.

The additional service was added to 10 routes throughout the county this past January, and has already been reported as an overwhelming success. Since those additions, 3,000 people are riding every Sunday.

Now, Schneiderman is focused on adding Sunday service for the other 14 lines, adding expanded evening service and otherwise growing the Suffolk County Transit system. Public transportation supports small businesses and downtowns, with the latter growing in popularity across Suffolk. Busses not only get shoppers to reduce air pollution, but they add sales tax revenue to the county by delivering shoppers to local stores.

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Environment: Operation SPLASH

The award for Environmental and Historic Preservation goes to Operation SPLASH for their efforts in protecting Long
Island’s waterways and shorelines.

Based out of Freeport, Operation SPLASH is a nonprofit that cleans garbage from the water and advocates for marine life. President Rob Weltner said polluting the area’s ecosystem for decades has cost Long Island precious resources.

A Freeport native, Weltner grew up fishing and clamming with his father. But when it came time for his children to enjoy the water, years of pollution eliminated many maritime opportunities. More than 65 million gallons sewage are dumped along Long Island’s bays and shorelines every day, while storm drains route oil and other waste directly into the water.

Operation SPLASH was founded in 1990 with a beat up old boat and a handful of volunteers to pick debris out of the water. Fast-forward to 2014, and the organization now features 3,500 volunteers and six boats docked at the Town of Hempstead’s Guy Lombardo Marina in Freeport, Nassau County’s Wantagh Park Marina and East Rockaway’s Town Marina. Captains go out once a day, taking volunteers from all walks of life wherever they feel there is the most garbage.

Every year Operation SPLASH removes about 125,000 pounds of debris. They’ve rescued more than a million pounds of plastic bags, plastic bottles and bottle caps, juice boxes, styrofoam cups and food containers, BBQ grills, hot water heaters, flat screen TVs, engine blocks and coconuts. But after Superstorm Sandy, the nonprofit picked up more than 300,000 pounds of debris in 2013.

The storm also crippled the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant with nine feet of storm surge. The plant serves 550,000 Nassau County residents and processes about 50 million gallons of sewage daily. Weltner has joined the contingent calling for an ocean outfall pipe at the plant. Reynolds Channel is too stagnant to handle normal release of treated sewage without increasing nitrogen
levels, but the ocean can easily dilute the effluent.Weltner said the outfall project had originally been discussed 36 years ago, but was put on hold. Not only would the upgrades protect water for Nassau County, but he also said it would create temporary jobs for Long Island workers.

When the federal government created the “Rebuild by Design” contest for tri-state areas to win additional Sandy relief funds, the nonprofit worked with the team representing Long Island. They hosted boat and bus tours to proposed project sites in Nassau County.

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Regional Leadership: H2M Senior Vice President
Bob Scheiner

This 2014 Regional Leadership award goes to Robert Scheiner for advancing Long Island’s infrastructure from behind the scenes.

Now a senior vice president with H2M Architects + Engineers, Scheiner began his career with the Town of Riverhead in 1976. He spent a decade directing all phases of architectural, planning and structural engineering projects, including designing comprehensive master plans, coordinating public works projects and providing architectural designs and supervision on all architecture projects. He served as director of Community Development & Planning before becoming deputy supervisor and assuming all oversight for construction projects, and water and sewer districts.

While H2M began as water and sewage specialists in 1933, Scheiner came on board in 1986 to start their architectural division. The company currently employs more than 50 architects. Now a senior VP and chief marketing officer, he still steers the firm along
Smart Growth currents. H2M is working on the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, and Scheiner believes downtown development is
not possible without proper sewer and water systems.

In fact, he believes Long Island is at a crossroads with a need for more transportation and housing opportunities. He supports downtown development, open space preservation and Complete Streets transportation policies as a board member with Vision Long Island.

“There’s a positive change we can all see,” Scheiner said.

By the same token, he’s interested in making the region more hospitable to young professionals. Transit-oriented development would create affordable housing and lower taxes, both of which are desperately needed to retain the talent pool with which to attract employers to Long Island. That mindset also benefits his employees. Scheiner said the average H2M employee is in their young 30s.

But his concern for the community doesn’t end at 5 p.m. Scheiner has a history of philanthropy and volunteering in leadership roles.
As vice chairman of the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, he participates on the Executive, Government Relations,
Green/Sustainable, and Huntington Village Parking Improvements committees. He’s also a board member for the Community Development Coalition of Long Island and former chair of the Leadership Huntington Foundation. A former Rotarian in both Riverhead and Huntington, Scheiner received the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Huntington Station Rotary. The Huntington Chamber awarded the Commack resident its John Klaber Memorial Award last fall for his devotion to the community and leadership roles throughout the town.

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Regional Leadership: Nassau County Executive
Ed Mangano

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano is a recipient of this year’s Regional Leadership award. He accepted the award via cell phone, away at a last-minute with the U.S. EPA to secure additional unding for the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant.

His foray into politics began with an election to the Nassau County Legislature in 2002. During his seven-year tenure, Mangano represented the 17th Legislative District and was honored by the League of Conservation Voters for championing open space and ground water. But his campaign changed to cutting wasteful spending, fixing the assessment system and limiting debt just to pay expenses in 2009 when he successfully ran for the county executive title.

These days, Mangano is heavily focused on economic development, especially on Main Street. Of all jobs in Nassau, he said, 60 percent come from small businesses. These merchants tend to be the most generous in supporting their community through youth sports, PTAs and schools.

The solution to the brain drain, he believes, is a combination of downtown entertainment, housing and transportation. It’s called transit-oriented development and it combines commercial and residential uses in a walkable environment with transit solutions nearby. In the Village of Farmingdale, construction is underway for Jefferson Plaza. Once complete, the two-building development will house 154 apartments and 19,200 square feet of retail neighboring the LIRR station. Over in Mineola, The Winston and The Churchill incorporate 275 units of housing and 36 units of senior housing near the LIRR station and bus terminal. In Great Neck Plaza, Plaza Landmark offers 93 units of housing.

While the county executive said fewer youth are leaving these days, he announced the creation of the Nassau 200 program during his State of the County address in March. This includes a panel of 200 residents born between 1979-1995 to determine what neighborhoods young people want and how likely they will be to set up a business in Nassau.

Mangano and his economic development team have helped create and retain more than 19,000 private sector jobs in Nassau County. Nassau has also attracted new homeland security jobs, high-tech jobs, as well as film and television industry jobs to the former Grumman-Navy property in Nassau. In 2013, the state Department of Labor reported that Nassau County leads the State of New York in terms of job growth and employment.

The county executive also emphasized maintaining and improving the county’s infrastructure, especially the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant. Badly in need of updates before Sandy, the plant “was basically destroyed” by nine feet of saltwater flooding. Millions of untreated and partially-treated sewage flowed through the plant and into local waters before emergency repairs were made. Temporary measures kept the plant up and running again for months after Sandy, but emergency generators cost taxpayers $1 million every month and generated noise and odor complaints from neighbors. More than $830 million was allocated from county and state coffers to fund repairs by the end of 2013.

Complete Streets Legislation as proposed by Mangano, was passed by the County Legislature earlier this year. The county executive said the purpose for this legislation is to “set forth standards and guidelines to help us better plan road projects to make Nassau’s roads the safest they can be at all time for pedestrians,bicyclists, and drivers alike.”

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Community Leadership: the 11518, Neighbors Supporting Neighbors and Sandy Support, Massapequa Style

When Superstorm Sandy ravaged the Eastern Seaboard in 2012, communities along Long Island’s South Shore joined New Jersey and parts of New York City in bearing the brunt of the damage. But amid the carnage, individuals put aside their own problems and came to the aid of their neighbors. These groups of volunteers eventually united, along with Vision Long Island, under the banner of Friends of Long island.

The situation was especially bad in the Rockaways where nine feet of saltwater inundated the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant. Responsible for treating wastewater from 550,000 Nassau County residents, the plant had been sorely in need of renovation before Sandy knocked it offline. Millions of untreated and partially-treated sewage flowed through the plant, local waters and nearby communities before emergency repairs were made two days later.

Community Leadership award recipient the 11518 was formed in April 2013 as a resource for residents to stay informed. President Dan Caracciolo said they were plagued by seven feet of flood water, flooding half the town. Initially the plan was to provide information and survey the community about unmet needs, but results revealed residents were tackling a variety of issues. Some were waiting for contracts, others needed legal aid and some were trying to bridge the fiscal gap between insurance and FEMA. The group’s monthly meetings began a support group with support for each unique situation. They distributed goods around the community and began to tackle unmet needs.

The 11518 also banded volunteers together to accomplish “little wins” for the Rockaways. They assist homeowners with ripping out
some damaged homes and light repair work. The goal is remind residents why they chose to live in East Rockaway and Bay Park.

Executive Director Kim Skillen and President Theresa DiPietto-Roesler founded Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Babylon. Skillen and DiPietto-Roesler went to work, collecting clothing and household goods, and distributing them from the First Presbyterian Church in Babylon Village. They filled the church just 24 hours after Community Leadership posting on Facebook, along with fi ve classrooms and a gym after 48 hours. They helped hundreds of people working out of the church for two weeks. They moved into the field and began cooking outside of the Fred Shores Beach Club. As residents began to clean up and rebuild, volunteers provided a hot meal. Barbecues began to include information with FEMA, AmeriCorps and local agencies on hand.

These days, the organization continues to inform, facilitate and feed. Skillen admitted she may not know how to sheetrock like other Friends of Long Island members, but she knows just who to call when a homeowner asks. They organized a holiday party for 200 in 2012, giving gifts to every child and more than $6,000 in a gift card raffle for parents. Neighbors Supporting Neighbors also played a role in educating the community about NY Rising when that was born last year. More than 500 people attended one of their Q&A session with NY Rising boss Jon Kaiman.

They’ve also become a COAD (Community Organization Active in Disaster). While confusion about getting immediate help and later financial support reigned, COADs are trained to serve as a go-between for those in need and sources of aid. Information and guidance for insurance matters turned out to be almost as important as the clothing, shelters and food volunteers distributed.

Another member of the Friends of Long Island is Sandy Support, Massapequa Style. This Community Leadership winner works very closely with another nonprofit, Adopt A House. The community organization was founded in January 2013 to disseminate information about everything and anything.

The group began making welcome baskets for neighbors who could return home. But it was April 2013 when Sandy Support, Massapequa Style and Adopt A House first worked together to celebrate children who survived Sandy and the storm’s aftermath. These days, Sandy Support, Massapequa Style continues to serve as a source of information and resources. They helped encourage homeowners to apply for NY Rising funds before the April 11, 2014 deadline. Members went door-to-door disseminating fliers.

Families on the organization’s list have also received various aid, including grants valued at $1,000, as well as 500 trees and shrubs.
This month, Sandy Support will invite families to refurnish kids’ bedrooms with the help of a $1,000 Ikea grant. All five top leaders have been Sandy victims themselves and bring a unique prespective and understanding to their community rebuilding approach.

Watch the FILM herE

Here Are Some Supporting Remarks From The Event:

Vision Long Island Co-Chair Bob Fonti
“I am so proud to be in the company of such great business and community leaders honored at this year's Vision Long Island Awards luncheon. Leadership starts from the top build upon passion and dignity from the bottom up. Congratulation to all that are here today as your presence and hard work continue to make a difference.”

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
“I thank Vision Long Island for continuing to promote and support smart growth initiatives. The work of the organization continues to ensure the economic vitality of the Long Island region in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.  The continued challenge by Vision Long Island placed before government, planners and developers serves as an impetus to all to create and support projects that which advance smart growth principles.  Congratulations to all 2014 Smart Growth Award recipients.”

Long Island Green Markets Director Bernadette Martin
“It is with gratitude that I accept Vision Long Island’s Smart Growth award for community revitalization. I am very passionate about my work to promote regional food producers and creating positive community events, so it's amazing to be recognized for my work from such a great organization.”

Greenview Properties President Larry Gargano
“We’re very happy to be recognized by Vision Long Island. We believe that the Smart Growth initiative that is taking hold on Long Island will have a very positive impact for the communities and residents.”

Operation SPLASH President Rob Weltner
“We’re very grateful. All of the people getting awards, that means they’re doing something good for our island.”

Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert
"Wincoram is truly a win not only for Coram but for the region as a whole. Wincoram is a sustainable, mixed-use, walkable project which will provide housing options for our young people as well as empty nesters. It is the type of project we should be building more of on Long Island. Congratulations to the Coram Civic Association and thank you to Vision Long Island."

Coram Civic Association President Erma Gluck
“After 10 long years, it’s so exciting to receive an award for this project. The Coram Civic Association worked really hard for this dream to come true. This project will jumpstart the heart of Coram. We are grateful that CDC-LI and Conifer Realty asked us what we envisioned for this parcel.”

Zucaro Construction Founder Andy Zucaro
"Long Island has always been a magnificent place to live and work. The Smithtown Main Street project is a perfect Smart Growth model that is sure to take our wonderful island to heights that were previously unimaginable."

Envision Valley Stream President David Sabatino
“Our organization is honored to be among grassroots efforts and examples of good government being recognized at Vision Long Island's Smart Growth Awards. Collectively we are working to make our communities and Long Island a better place to live, work and play.”

Village of Valley Stream Mayor Edwin Fare
“I am proud of the work that my administration has done in fostering smart-growth in Valley Stream through visionary mixed use development to support our burgeoning downtown, and the small businesses that are so vital to our village.”

Baldassano Architecture Principal Alex Badalamenti
“On behalf of the extended Watchcase Factory team, we thank Vision Long Island for this award and your great work with our Long Island communities.”

Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Executive Director Kim Skillen
“Neighbors Supporting Neighbors is humbled by this award. We are grateful that Vision Long Island and Friends of Long Island are partners in recovery with us. The past 20 months is unlike anything we have lived before and will live again.”

Sandy Support, Massapequa Style President Kelly Harris
“Sandy Support, Massapequa Style is the advocacy group for all people affected by Hurricane Sandy. Its founder and 7 key members were all affected and 6 remain displaced as of today. We truly understand the needs of everyone affected since day 1. We remain committed to advocating for changes to policy that will not only help sandy survivors, but will also be fair and reasonable. We are committed until everyone is home, since there really is ‘no place like home.’"

the 11518 President Dan Caracciolo
“We appreciate this award for community development. We are continuing to assist our residents as they recovery from Hurricane Sandy.”

Public Officials In Attendance:

NYS
NYS Senator Jack Martins
NYS Assemblyman Ed Hennessey
NYS Assemblyman Ed Ra
NYS Special Advisor on Superstorm Sandy Relief Jon Kaiman
Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Scott Martella
Former NYS EDC Chairman Charles Gargano

Nassau County
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano
Nassau Legislator David Denenberg
Nassau Legislator Laura Curran
Nassau Legislator Selia Bynoe
Nassau Legislator Michael Venditto
Nassau Legislator Laura Schafer
Nassau Planning Commission Chair Jeff Greenfield

Suffolk County
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
Suffolk Legislator Jay Schneiderman
Suffolk Legislator Rob Trotta
Suffolk Planning Commission Chair David Calone
Suffolk County Water Authority Chair James Gaughran

Town of Babylon
Supervisor Richie Schaffer

Town of Brookhaven
Supervisor Ed Romaine
Councilwoman Connie Kepert
Councilman Kevin Lavalle
Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro

Town of Hempstead
Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby

Town of Huntington
Supervisor Frank Petrone
Councilman Mark Cuthbertson
Councilwoman Susan Berland

Town of Islip
Councilman Steve Flotteron 

Town of N. Hempstead
Councilwoman Dina DeGiorgio
Councilwoman Viviana Russell

Town of Oyster Bay
Councilman Anthony Macagnone

Cities & Villages
City of Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello
Deputy Mayor Barbara Peebles
City of Long Beach Jack Schnirman
Nassau County Village Officials Association Warren Tackenberg
Suffolk Village Officials Association & Babylon Mayor Ralph Sciordino
Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender
Village of Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Eckstrand
Village of Freeport Deputy Mayor William White
Village of Freeport Trustee Jorge Martinez
Village of Island Park Mayor Mike McGinty
Village of Valley Stream Tom McAleer
Village of Westbury Mayor, Peter Cavallaro
Village of Westbury Deputy Mayor William Wise

Check Out Our Event And Media Links:

The event journal is available online here.

View this article on Smart Growth Awards winner Valley Stream and Envision Valley Stream in the Valley Stream Herald.

View the article on Smart Growth Award winner Bob Scheiner in Patch.

View this Long Islander News article on Smart Growth Award winner Bob Scheiner.

View this Long Island Business News op/ed piece on Long Island overcoming obstacles.

View this lilocalnews story on Smart Growth Award winner Ed Mangano.

View The Corridor for stories about Smart Growth and Vision Long Island board member Veronica Vanterpool

Here Are Some Of The Photos From The 2014 Smart Growth Awards:

Save the Date for the 13th Annual Smart Growth Summit on Friday, Nov. 21!

Register today! Sponsorships are available!

[ ] Visionary ($15,000) [ ] Leader ($10,000) [ ] Gold Sponsor ($5,000) [ ] Sponsor ($2,000) [ ] ___ seats ($125/person)
Method of Payment: [ ] Check enclosed [ ] Check sent (faxed replies only) [ ] Pay at the door [ ] Credit Card

Attendee Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Affiliation:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________City, State, Zip: ___________________________________

Email: _______________________________________ Phone: ____________________________ Fax: ________________________

Credit Card: [ ] Visa [ ] MasterCard [ ] American Express Name, as it appears on card: ____________________________________

Credit Card Number: __________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________________________

To RSVP or for more information please contact 631-261-0242, info@visionlongisland.org or fax 631-754-4452.

In Closing...

We are pleased to report the 13th Annual Smart Growth Awards was a special event for all of us working to maintain and create great places on Long Island.  The attendance was the largest we have ever had and the energy in the room was spectacular.
The stage full of Sandy volunteers or the tributes to the many leaders and projects were all highlights.

We would like to thank all of the communities, businesses, public officials and sponsors who made the event a success but more importantly thanks for all you do each day to advance Smart Growth on LI.