January

Newly inaugurated Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Deputy County Executive Rob Walker sat down with key organizations on Monday, February 11th. Vision Long Island, along with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless, EOC of Nassau County and the Long Island Business Council had an open discussion with the County Executive about a plethora of issues that he will face in office.

Topics covered ranged from the Lighthouse project to revitalization in Hicksville, Nassau County's Master Plan, LI Bus cuts, green energy programs, sewer investments, homeless services, community and youth services and small business concerns. The County Executive seemed eager to listen to the leaders and organizations in the room We look forward to a successful partnership with the County Executive's team to implement many of the discussed projects and policies.

See the original article here.

2010 Long Island Index released: "Places to Grow"

This week, the Rauch Foundation officially released its annual Long Island Index study. This year's report takes a timely look at "Places to Grow: An analysis of the potential for transit-accessible housing and jobs in Long Island's downtowns and station areas." The report, prepared by Regional Plan Association, speaks to the opportunities for growth near our train stations and in existing downtowns. The report was released as part of a dynamic presentation Thursday morning at Adelphi University. Speakers included Nancy Rauch Douzinas, President of the Rauch Foundation; Ann Golob, Director of the LI Index; and Galina Tahchieva, partner at the well-known New Urbanist planning group Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company and member of the Congress for the New Urbanism.

This year, the Index seeks to take a more proactive approach to the results of the study. Beginning in early March, the organization will announce the rules for a contest called Build a Better Burb, or B3. There will be categories for professionals, the public and kids to redesign one of the targeted downtown growth areas as laid out in the report. The grand prize is $10,000.

See the original article here.

Pedestrian Safety Report released, Long Island roads worst in the region

This week, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign released its annual report, “Most Dangerous Roads for Walking: And How States Can Make Them Safer.” The report uses three years of federal data, from 2006-2008, to pinpoint the exact location of pedestrian fatalities in the tri-state region. For the first time this year, Tri-State created a Google Map image to graphically demonstrate exactly where those pedestrian deaths occurred.

Once again, Long Island roads top the list for most pedestrian deaths in the region. Hempstead Turnpike in Nassau came in first with 13 deaths in the three year period. Sunrise Highway in Suffolk came in second with 11 deaths, and Middle Country Road in Suffolk tied for third place with 9 deaths. The report finds that more than 1,200 pedestrians have been killed by car collisions in the three year period. It also found that over 60% of these deaths occur on multi-lane arterial roads. The report stresses the importance of pedestrian safety projects, as they offer inexpensive ways to reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries.

See the original article here.

Artspace Lofts in Patchogue celebrate groundbreaking 

On Friday, January 22nd, the Village of Patchogue held a groundbreaking ceremony to herald the start of construction of the new Artspace Patchogue Lofts. Located in the heart of downtown Patchogue on what was previously a parking lot at 20 Terry Street, the project will be a five-story building containing two commercial units on the ground floor and 45 units of affordable live/work housing for artists and their families. The project has been in the works since 2005 and, after some persistent nagging from Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and some strong partnerships with various levels of government, the project is finally underway. It is scheduled for completion in December 2010. 

Artspace Patchogue Lofts is part of an economic development initiative designed to revitalize downtown Patchogue. While providing hundreds of construction-related jobs as well as much-needed affordable housing for the creative community, the project will dovetail with existing investments and initiatives such as the Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts, the Patchogue Arts Council, Alive After Five programming, and Tritec's New Village project. Taken together, the Village will not only serve as a destination for thousands of tourists each year, it will contribute to a more stabilized and increasingly competitive creative sector on Long Island. 

See the original article here.

Smithtown secures safety improvements in cooperation with NYS DOT

The stretch of road in Smithtown that has proved a dangerous accident zone received a commitment from the State DOT to undergo safety improvements on Tuesday. Last week, the State met with Smithtown officials to discuss ways to make Main Street safer. The Town brought in several suggestions that were derived from residents, while the DOT brought in some of their own ideas. Fortunately, there was a lot of common ground on the two lists.

Agreed upon improvements include barriers along Main Street's south curb, better signage, wider sidewalks, and upgrading buttons on crosswalks to allow more time for pedestrians to cross. "I'm pleased that they at least took our suggestions and are using them," said Smithtown Supervisor Pat Vecchio. "I certainly think that the barriers will be an additional help in preventing jaywalking." State Senator John Flanagan said, "A lot of these things can be done relatively quickly and ... because you're not talking about major cost, that makes it easier to get some of this stuff done."

See the original article here.

MTA proposes eliminating LIRR service to East End

Lately, it seems like we're seeing failure after failure from the MTA. This time, our regional transit agency is targeting the East End of Long Island. The MTA has proposed to close its budget gap by cutting all train service between Ronkonkoma and Greenport, except on summer weekends. Stations affected include Ronkonkoma, Medford, Yaphank, Riverhead, Mattituck, Southold and Greenport.

Over 50 East End elected officials, business leaders, unions, civics, and transit riders attended a press conference on Monday, January 25th to protest these outrageous cuts. Speakers included NYS Assemblyman Marc Alessi, Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine, Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter and Council Members Jodi Giglio and Jim Wooten, Southold Supervisor Scott Russell, Brookhaven Councilwoman Kathy Walsh, and Vision's Eric Alexander.

See the original article here.

February

Long Island Leadership convenes in Albany for second annual LI Lobby Day

On Tuesday, February 9th, 50 Long Island leaders traveled up in a bus to Albany for the second annual Long Island Lobby Day. The LI Lobby Day Coalition met with over a dozen Senators, Assembly members, senior staff and agencies to remind leaders that Long Island priorities cannot be ignored. There was an overall positive tone throughout the day and the group successfully delivered our message of a vital Long Island agenda.

The Long Island Lobby Day Coalition formed in 2009 in response to political chaos in Albany that put politics first and public service second. The groups in the growing coalition represent over 30 Long Island businesses, environmental groups, civics, human services, Smart Growth planners, labor groups and transportation advocates. The coalition developed a substantive platform for the day that will help Long Island. It includes five key issues: Transportation, Energy and Environment, Human Services, Small Business, Jobs and Economic Development and Sewer Infrastructure. Also included are key pieces of state legislation.

The day began with a press conference where the group introduced these issues and the themes for the day. Despite the political chaos that seems to have gripped Albany in the past year, Long Island wants and deserves strong leadership. It is possible for lawmakers to deal with their internal issues and make policy at the same time. There has been some good statewide progress over the past few years, such as the Smart Growth Cabinet, but as a whole, we need to refocus politics to the grassroots now. The group emphasized that these are not Republican or Democrat issues, but are universal to all Long Islanders. The proposed action items are all common sense and budget-neutral, as they already exist in some form.

See the original eblast here.

Hicksville residents unite over revitalization efforts near train station

On Saturday January 23rd, nearly 200 enthusiastic Hicksville residents, civic leaders and property owners met to discuss the future of downtown Hicksville.  Hicksville has a lot of history and is home to one of the largest and busiest railroad stations on Long Island.  Currently, the area finds itself at a crossroads:  the shops and stores surrounding the train station are in dire need of an update and there is an increasing vacancy rate.  The area surrounding the train station should be a place where both residents and commuters want to relax with a cup of coffee, grab a drink after work, take the family out to dinner or just walk around and enjoy the scenery. There is so much potential for this part of Hicksville to become a vibrant, economic asset to the community.

The meeting covered issues taking place not just in Hicksville, but across all of Long Island, from young people leaving at an alarming rate to a diminishing tax base to a lack of job opportunities and senior and next generation housing.  Residents at the meeting were able to address exactly what they want and do not want to come out of this project. While still in its early stages, the project holds a lot of potential.  The community is rallying around the initial proposals and while this meeting was only a very small step, it was certainly in the right direction for a community seeking change.

See the original article here.

Riverhead Supervisor holds "Downtown Summit"

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter and the Town of Riverhead held a “Downtown Summit” on Friday morning, February 5th at 121 East Main Street, Riverhead. Over 100 developers, property owners and community members attended the event. The past few years have seen Riverhead’s downtown fall onto hard times with the vacancy rate sitting at approximately 70 percent. A longtime “Master Developer” agreement with Apollo Enterprises was recently cancelled by the Town with a number of projects slated to be built in Riverhead stagnating since then.

“The longest journey begins with the first step," said Town Supervisor Walter, "I have organized this ‘summit’ as a first step to bring capital sources, potential tenants, business owners, landlords, developers and governmental agencies together to talk, meet and discuss the future of downtown Riverhead. The Summit will be the first step in a new way of doing business in Riverhead. No longer will we complain or cry about downtown. Today we will roll up our sleeves and get to work. Today we begin the process of renewing our downtown.”

See the original article here.

Long Island Smart Growth Working Group meets on transportation funding for our region

The Long Island Smart Growth Working Group met on Thursday, February 11th at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College and, despite school closings and over a foot of snow, 50 Long Island leaders showed up to give and hear Smart Growth updates from across the Island. Keynote presentations came from NYMTC’s Gerry Bogacz on the Regional Transportation Plan, Preservation League of New York State’s Daniel Mackay on historic preservation tax credit legislation, Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Ryan Lynch and PCAC’s Ellyn Shannon on the DOT and MTA Capital Plans and budget woes and various Town elected officials on current Smart Growth projects and policies in their municipalities.

Gerry Bogacz from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) opened the meeting by explaining the recently passed 2010-2035 Regional Transportation Plan: A Shared Vision for a Shared Future. As the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, such a long-term plan is required by federal law every four years in order to receive transportation funding. Bogacz explained, in depth, how this plan differs from past plans along with some of the challenges and opportunities for Long Island over the next 25 years. The plan is a result of over 20 community outreach sessions and a great deal of regional collaboration, though the main point of contact on Long Island comes from the two Counties. Bogacz admitted that he would like to strengthen the relationship with the local towns and villages and that education on this plan is important. 

See the original article here.

March

Dowling College hosts first Long Island Youth Summit for high school students

Last Friday, March 5th, Dowling College hosted the first ever Long Island Youth Summit for high school students. Nearly 150 students participated, proving that young Long Islanders are eager to learn about the region's issues and find intelligent solutions. The students were selected from hundreds of applicants based on the essays, videos, and photography projects they submitted.

The Youth Summit was featured on the front page of Monday's Newsday with the title: "Students on LI's Future: If You Won't Fix It, We Will." Joye Brown's column quoted Eric Alexander speaking casually after the event, "These kids are in high school and they get it...They don't have the technical language, but they get it." Brown writes, "Ah, youth. It's a time when things are up or down, in or out, right or wrong. Ambiguity doesn't come until later. And neither does fear, inertia and a stubborn resistance to change. But Long Island needs to accept--and take charge of--needed change, or risk letting one of the most livable places in the nation wither up and die."

See the original article here.

Vision co-hosts first LEED®-ND conference

This past Tuesday, March 23rd, Vision Long Island co-sponsored not only Long Island's, but the possibly the country's first ever LEED®-ND Conference, along with the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College (where the conference took place), the US Green Building Council Long Island Chapter, and the Congress for the New Urbanism New York Chapter.. The conference drew nearly 100 attendees from various sectors in the region and beyond.

The full day conference reviewed, in detail, all credits for the new program, recently approved by the CNU, USGBC and Natural Resources Defense Council after a successful pilot program. LEED®-ND stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Neighborhood Development. Accreditation is based on a point scale from different categories, prerequisites and credits. There are a total of 110 points, 10 of which are bonus points. The levels for certification are: Certified: 40-49 points; Silver: 50-59 points; Gold: 60-79 points; and Platinum: 80 points and above. There are three major categories, each of which was covered by a different panel. Moving forward, the panelists and attendees were hopeful that LEED-ND will become the new building trend throughout the country! We will need strong partnerships between municipalities, the private sector, and not for profit sectors. 

See the original article here.

Huntington Station residents hail AvalonBay project

Last Tuesday, March 9th, the Huntington Town Board meeting featured a special hearing on the AvalonBay project in Huntington Station. The hearing was on a proposed zoning change for the 26.6 acre property, located about a half mile away from the Huntington train station on the north side of East Fifth Street. Currently, the property is zoned for 109 single family houses, but the zone change to a "Huntington Station Transit Oriented District" would allow for developers AvalonBay Communities to install 530 housing units. The housing units would include 424 rentals and 109 for-sale townhouses. 132 units, about 25% would be affordable (rentals starting at $890 a month and for-sale units at $150,000-$160,000). Even with the additional units, the project would add fewer school-aged children to the Huntington School District than the single-family home option.

About 50 people spoke at the hearing, including Vision's Tawaun Weber. A good 75% of attendees supported the project, calling it Smart Growth and hailing the transit-oriented development concept and the concentration of next-generation housing. Several homeowners gave testimony on how their kids have left the Town, and that they would still be there if this project existed. People liked the project because it is a much-needed improvement to what is there now.

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone characterized the hearing as "the most productive in his 16-year tenure," according to the Times Beacon Record. Vision Long Island supports the project and hopes to see it move forward quickly.

See the original article here.

Town Board approves Gordon Heights Community Center with bi-partisan support

On Tuesday evening, a heated Brookhaven Town Board meeting finally led to the approval of a new community center for Gordon Heights. The controversy came over funding for the project, as the cashapped Town also voted to cut the capital budget by over $10 million. Councilwoman Connie Kepert, who represents Gordon Heights, said in a press release, "While we are making these cuts it’s our responsibility to take advantage of Recovery Zone Bonds to stimulate our local economies and revitalize our communities.”

Over 70 Gordon Heights residents showed up to the Town Board meeting to support their future community center. The project will be built on the east side of Granny Road Park and will include state-of-the-art indoor athletic facilities. Vision's Eric Alexander came out in support of the project: “The Gordon Heights community planned a community/athletic center as the number one priority from their multi-year visioning process. These low interest public bonds allow a very important community need and capital project to be met in a financially responsible manner.” Greater Gordon Heights Civic Association President and Vision Long Island Director of Special Projects Tawaun Weber added, “With over 50 sex offenders in the community, our kids need somewhere safe to play year-round and not be forced to participate in activities outside of the community. We hope the process moves ahead expeditiously and continues to get the support it needs."

See the original article here.

Transportation advocacy on the Hill

On February 24th and 25th, Vision's Eric Alexander traveled to Washington DC for some good old fashioned Congressional advocacy. There were two major components to the trip. The first was with a group called Go21, a Virginia-based organization that is dedicated to finding solutions to our nation's increasing freight transportation needs (or, Growth Options for the 21st Century). Hundreds of rail advocates descended upon Washington on "American Railroad Day," though Eric was the only Long Islander to be seen! The main agenda item of the group was to push for tax incentive legislation for businesses that meet their freight needs through rail. This action item would improve job development in an important field that promotes environmental sustainability as well as livable communities. The second agenda was a Long Island-specific one, with similar legislative items to the ones covered at the statewide Long Island Lobby Day last month. We covered transportation, sewers, and Smart Growth projects.

Over the two days, Eric met with Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Steve Israel, Congressman Tim Bishop, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, Congressman Gary Ackerman, staff for Congressman Peter King and Congressman Jerrold Nadler. There was an overall receptive tone from the lawmakers, as well as some agreements to co-sponsor some of the bills we presented. We are hopeful that there will be transportation and sewer investments in the near future.

See the original article here.

April

“Complete Streets Week” surveys Long Island roadways: collaboration between AARP, Vision Long Island and local groups

On Monday, April 19th, several Long Island community organizations, planning and advocacy groups, and government representatives joined together in New Hyde Park and Patchogue to participate in “Complete Streets Week: Making New York Walkable for All Generations.” The events were part of a week-long effort by AARP’s “Create The Good” campaign to survey 300 dangerous intersections throughout the state. The goal is to use the findings to demonstrate to state policymakers the need for state Complete Streets legislation that would create an approach to road design that balances the needs of all people. The two Long Island events were hosted by the collaborated efforts of groups including AARP, Vision Long Island, Tri-State Transportation Campaign and the American Cancer Society.

Complete Streets is a policy that ensures all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on and across all roads. Designing roadways from a Complete Streets perspective will create safer and healthier environments for all users, as well as promote cycling and walking as viable forms of transportation. One study found that residents are 65% more likely to walk in a neighborhood with sidewalks. Complete Streets are critical to building more livable, Smart Growth-friendly communities.

See the original eblast here.

Meet me at the blackjack table?

This week, a breaking news story was released that the Shinnecock Indians are in talks with Nassau County to bring a casino to the Nassau Coliseum property, where the Lighthouse project is currently proposed. To say that most people were surprised by the announcement would be an understatement. According to Newsday, County Executive Ed Mangano "has been in discussions with Shinnecock leaders since January about creating an 'entertainment-sports resort' on the 77-acre Coliseum site that would include a minor-league baseball stadium, a convention center and new hotels.

See the original article here.

Long Island Lobby Coalition gets first bill passed: Pesticide ban signed into law!

The LI Lobby Day Coalition went to Albany in February with over 30 organizations seeking to pass a comprehensive legislative agenda addressing five key issues: transportation, economic development, environment and energy, sewer and infrastructure and human services). Since the LI Lobby Day, coalition members have been diligent in reaching out to legislators to ensure progress on a number of our legislative items. As we speak, five bills have passed significant committees or are very much alive this session in Albany. We are pleased to have our first bill passed and signed by the Governor this Wednesday.

Advocates for safer school grounds won a victory on May 18th when Governor Paterson signed the Safe School Grounds bill into law. The bill seeks to severely limit children’s exposure to hazardous toxins by banning the use of almost all types of chemical pesticides on school and day care center playgrounds, turf and athletic or playing fields. The ban allows use of pesticides in cases of health emergencies or the protection of children from imminent threat of being bitten or stung by venomous pests.

Calverton rail spur groundbreaking

Last week, we brought you news that the Calverton Rail Access Rehabilitation project celebrated its groundbreaking on Friday, May 7th. The Riverhead Town Board led the event, accompanied by a large coalition of rail supporters including US Senator Chuck Schumer, public officials, local businesses and participating agencies. The Town received several grants for the project: $75,000 from a NYSERDA/NYSDOT Sustainable Transportation Systems Program grant; $650,000 from a NYS Empire State Development Downstate Revitalization grant; and $4.4MM from NYSDOT American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money. The project has received NYSDOT's GreenLITES Gold Certification.

The Town is calling the project "Smart Growth central." Rehabilitation of one of the longest existing rail spurs off the Long Island Rail Road will increase and improve rail service on the existing rail network to respond to area needs. It will significantly improve capacity, service levels, and access to freight rail for Eastern Long Island. The project features the adaptive reuse of a former Navy weapons industrial reserve plant. In fact, the 2900 acre EPCAL property was transferred to the Town of Riverhead in 1998 specifically for economic redevelopment to replace economic losses from the facility. The plant is currently active with close to one million square feet of private industrial space, and an expansion is planned for another two million square feet of industrial use.

See the original article here.

Newsday's Future of LI section highlights "Smart Growth solutions" and "LI's transportation future"

In the second installation of its Future of Long Island series, Newsday looked at "Main Streets, Long Island: Why we need them now" this past Sunday. The opening story looked at several issues, including the debate over increased density and the need to make changes to keep young adults from moving away. Various downtowns got feature articles in the 20-page section, including Patchogue, Greenport, Riverhead and Wyandanch, among others. The section also looked at the Lighthouse ("Project mired in a political minefield") and Heartland ("How much is too much?"). It looked at revitalizations in three communities outside of Long Island, including Mashpee Commons in Cape Cod, Rochester, Michigan and the Liberty Harbor development in Jersey City.
Vision's Eric Alexander got a few quotes in the article, talking about Patchogue ("They are fixing the sins of the past...The sins of the past were redeveloping outside of the downtown center.") and Heartland ("The density is not a problem: in fact we need it."). The section also cites "7 Steps to a better Downtown," which include affordable housing, mass transit and sewers, more parking, tax incentives, public spaces, mix of retail shops, and streets for walking.

In a segment called The Future of Long Island, Newsday collects ideas from the public on how to plan for LI's future. Sunday's paper featured a cover story, 14-page special section on transportation. The story begins by outlining three major transportation solutions for Long Island: "The Long Island Rail Road pushes more people west--into the city--and more people east, beyond Ronkonkoma. The bus system lays down strong north-south links to fill the gaps left by the trains. And trucks are taken off the clogged LIE by freight rail yards, where trains deliver shipping containers for final delivery by trucks on local roads." It continues, "Most broadly, [transportation experts] suggest that decreasing vehicle traffic volume on Long Island requires no less than a fundamental cultural change. Cars and the construction of new single-family homes--two fundamentals of the Long Island postwar rise--must be de-emphasized."

Vision's Eric Alexander was quoted in the article: "What happened in the suburban pattern is that you just make roads and then development follows the roads. We need to reverse-engineer the thinking. It's land use first, and the transportation planning second."

See the original article here.

June

2010 Smart Growth Awards welcome 600 Long Island leaders, honor outstanding projects, people and plans

Friday's Smart Growth luncheon Long Island's strongest yet

The 2010 Smart Growth Awards took place on Friday afternoon, June 18th at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY. The event hosted 600 attendees from diverse sectors including business, labor, civic, government, advocacy and more.

Richie Kessel, CEO of the NY Power Authority and former Smart Growth Award recipient, gave a spirited start to the program by introducing all the elected officials in the room. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano spoke as a special guest. State Senator Brian X. Foley was scheduled to attend, but was needed for votes in Albany that day. However, the Senator gave the crowd a great treat when he called in during the program to announce, via speakerphone, the Senate's overwhelming passage of the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act. U.S. Representative Tim Bishop was the keynote speaker and his speech demonstrated how he lives up to his Award for Regional Leadership. Dr. Nathalia Rogers of Dowling College introduced West Islip High School senior Kelly Douglas, a vocal member of March 2010 Long Island Youth Summit who is ready to take the reins and lead the next generation of Smart Growth advocates.

See the full eblast here.

Glen Cove-Manhattan ferry breaks ground

On Tuesday, June 1st, Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi, joined by developers from RXR Glen Isle and local elected officials, headed the official groundbreaking for the Glen Cove ferry terminal and boat basin, as part of the broader waterfront revitalization plan. The ferry, expected to carry some 1,600 passengers a day and reduce vehicle miles traveled by 48,000 between Glen Cove and lower Manhattan, embraces green building principle, opens the door for new tourist, entertainment and recreational opportunities for the region and brings the promise of an economic boost for the downtown, new jobs and improved transportation options.

Mayor Suozzi said, “I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked with us throughout the process of securing funding and planning for this project, especially United States Senator Charles Schumer, United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and United States Congressman Peter King.” He also acknowledged that the project recieved a Smart Growth Award from Vision Long Island in 2008.

See the original article here.

Long Island Business Council tackles energy issues

The Long Island Business Council, an organization of business owners from across the region, met for the third time on Tuesday, June 23rd to discuss plans for the summer as well as to hear from guest speaker Richie Kessel, NYPA’s CEO. With representatives from local chambers of commerce, school boards and various civic organizations, the LIBC reported on new platform initiatives as well as discussed where the summer will take them.  Plans included meeting with local IDAs to push office space for downtowns, working to repeal the MTA payroll tax and calling for LIPA’s Board of Trustees to be returned to elected positions.

Richie Kessel spoke on the future of energy policy in New York State and on the importance of renewable energy for the future as well as the startling lack of an energy plan for the country and how it has contributed to the tragedy currently taking place in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Kessel also stressed the need for wind energy and gave high marks to the federal government for working with state governments to foster renewable energy as a source of power for the future.  The newly approved wind farm for the coast of Cape Cod was discussed as well as the steps New York has and will be taking to actively strive towards becoming a national leader in clean energy.

See the original article here.

July

From bad to worse: MTA considers cutting ALL funding to LI Bus

The MTA has brainstormed a series of preliminary ideas to plug its out-of-control budget deficit for 2011 and one of the proposals is to pull 100% of the MTA's financial contribution to Long Island Bus. The LI Bus annual operating budget is $133 million, of which the MTA contributes $40 million. Other contributions come from Nassau County ($9.1 million), New York State ($44 million), and fares. Cutting 30% of the budget could completely decimate LI Bus, one of the nation's largest suburban bus systems. Ryan Lynch of Tri-State Transportation Campaign told Newsday that under this plan, LI Bus "would literally be obliterated to almost nothing...It really raises the question as to whether Nassau County is even going to have a bus system anymore."

Eric Alexander, Executive Director of Vision Long Island said "Brainstorming can be a useful tool. However, some ideas have unintended consequences for the health and economic well being of working Nassau County residents. This is one idea the MTA should scratch from their list."

See the original eblast now.

Town of Hempstead unveils alternative plan for Coliseum site

The Town of Hempstead has announced their zoning plans for the 77 acres of land owned by Nassau County located adjacent to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The plan, created after consulting with engineering firm Frederick P. Clark Associates, challenges the original density and design of the Lighthouse Project.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said, "We are taking proactive steps that can bring about meaningful development, along with all of the associated benefits, to the hub of Nassau County. Creating a zone that encourages reasonable development is key to supporting our tax base, offering construction and long term jobs, stimulating the region's economy and facilitating a renovated Coliseum which would help keep the Islanders hockey team here where they belong."

Vision Long Island had the opportunity to preview the zoning plan with the Supervisor and Town’s consultants and we are pleased to see a proposal that is intended to help jumpstart negotiations. The alternative proposal, while still incorporating many principles of Smart Growth, has the possibility of limiting the area’s economic potential. Vision was quoted in Newsday: "all the elements of the puzzle are there, but in order for it to work properly, you're going to need to add additional density and add additional infrastructure."

See the original eblast here.

Safer Streets coming to the Town of Babylon

The Town of Babylon announced this week that they have adopted a “complete streets” policy that aims at making roadways more pedestrian-, cyclist- and handicap- friendly. Babylon is the first municipality on Long Island and only the third statewide to adapt this type of legislation.

The policy ensures that road projects starting in 2011 incorporate designs that are advantageous to all travelers- whether it be by bicycle, automobile, wheelchair or foot. The complete streets policy calls for wider sidewalks, curb cuts and crosswalks. The streets will also be more environmentally sustainable with goals of keeping storm runoff to a minimum, having tree cover and utilizing more streetscaping.

See the original article here.

Hicksville Farmers Market opens to huge crowd- open this Sunday, July 4th from 9am-2pm

The Hicksville Farmers Market opened last Sunday and was an overwhelming success! A sea of people descended on the booths, and by 11am several of the vendors had sold out and had to pack up and go home. Booths featured a variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, juices & preserves, fresh flowers, eggs, honey, cheese, LI potatoes, NY State wine, specialty olive oils, pickles, various dairy items, baked goods, fish and poultry. Everyone seemed excited to be shopping in their downtown, meeting up with their neighbors and chatting with the vendors. Many said they would be back next week!

The Farmers Market is the first project to come out of the Hicksville Downtown Revitalization, a joint effort between Vision Long Island, the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce and the Hicksville Community Council. Other critical agencies have been involved throughout the process including the Town of Oyster Bay, local elected officials, the LIRR, DOT and others. The group held a small press conference at 10am, thanking those who helped make themarket possible and encouraging residents to get involved in ongoing revitalization efforts.

Remember, the Farmers Market will be open every Sunday through November 21st, 9am-2pm, right next to the Hicksville train station between Jerusalem Ave. and Broadway. Stop by and support local agriculture and the Hicksville community!

See the original eblast here.

Bay Shore Marina opens spray park; 2,000 kids enjoy Islip Beach Blast

This past Saturday, the Town of Islip celebrated the grand opening of the spray park at the Bay Shore Marina. "Shipwreck Cove" drew over 2,000 children from across the Town of Islip and Long Island to celebrate and enjoy the new wading pool, water slides and fun in the sun. The park, located at the Bay Shore Marina on South Clinton Avenue, opened its doors with a summer festival, the Islip Beach Blast, featuring live music, games and a fireworks show by Grucci Fireworks. Town of Islip elected officials led the event, including Supervisor Phil Nolan and Councilmen Steve Flotteron, John Edwards and Gene Parrington.

The unveiling of the spray park is just one component of the revitalization of the Bay Shore Marina that resulted from the visioning process undertaken by the Town and Vision Long Island in 2007. Prior improvements include new bulk headings, a new boardwalk with benches, swings, a winter ice rink, a refurbished bathhouse and concession stand and increased and improved parking. The Marina plan won a 2009 Smart Growth Award.

See the original eblast here.

August

Gov. Paterson signs Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act

In a huge victory for Smart Growth in New York State, the Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act was signed Monday night by NYS Governor David A. Paterson. This legislation is a big win for the Smart Growth movement in New York State, that will help prioritize infrastructure investments in town centers and existing downtowns.

The Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Priority Act (A8011B/S5560B) instructs State agencies, authorities and public corporations to align their spending on infrastructure with stated Smart Growth criteria. Many of these agencies must form advisory committees that include environmental and community stakeholders in order to advise them on public infrastructure investments in accordance with Smart Growth principles. The agencies are further instructed to issue written Smart Growth Impact Statements in regard to their project choices, which includes providing justifications for projects deemed vital that do not meet Smart Growth criteria. It “requires such infrastructure investments, to the extent practicable, to meet the criteria.”

See the original eblast here.

U.S. Sen. Schumer hosts meeting to connect Long Island’s Main Streets to Washington

Nearly 20 Long Island municipalities present downtown plans to four Federal Agencies to “cut the red tape,” bring infrastructure support for Long Island.

On Monday, August 9th, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer held a meeting with members of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities (a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)) and Long Island leaders to discuss and better assist in the issues facing Long Island's re-emerging walkable downtowns.

Nearly twenty LI Town’s and Villages presented 25 revitalization and infrastructure projects to members of high-level federal leadership, including the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. In addition to the municipalities, many local business groups, civic associations and government officials also attended. In total, there were over 350 representatives in the room at Briarcliff College in downtown Patchogue.

“Long Island is the oldest suburb in the nation and it the perfect place for this first of its kind meeting to take place. Today’s meeting is putting Long Island’s downtown needs on the federal radar screen. We need to revitalize our downtown areas so that they thrive with new economic development, create jobs, and provide better transit options for commuters,” Schumer said. “These agencies should be commended for starting this Partnership, but there is much work to do in cutting through red tape and identifying a regional federal investment strategy. That is why this public meeting with the EPA, DOT, HUD and residents of Long Island is so essential.”

See the original eblast here.

Route 347 Greenway groundbreaking

Wednesday, August 18th marked the groundbreaking of NYSDOT's $26.8 million Route 347 Safety, Mobility and Environmental Improvement Project. It is the first in a series of improvements planned to provide safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians while also reducing travel delays and incorporating inter-modal transportation enhancement efforts. Transforming 347 into a modified boulevard and a suburban greenway between the Northern State Parkway and Route 25A is just the beginning of enhancement efforts that will continue to expand over the course of construction.

The ceremony took place outside of the Region 10 NYS Department of Transportation office in Hauppauge. Featured speakers included: NYSDOT Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee; NYSDOT Regional Director Subi Chakraborti; Congressman Tim Bishop; Congressman Steve Israel; Senator Brian Foley; Senator John Flanagan; Senator Kenneth LaValle; Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick; Assemblyman Steve Englebright; and Suffolk County Legislator John Kennedy. Vision's Eric Alexander also spoke at the event. Vision commends the New York State Department of Transportation Region 10 for their effort and leadership in urging the implementation of the Green Route 347 plan.

See the original article here.

September

Sandy Hills proposal in Middle Island approved

On August 17th, Vision joined numerous community leaders and gave testimony to the Brookhaven Town Board on the Sandy Hills mixed-use development in Middle Island. Soon thereafter, the project was approved! The 40-acre project contains 134 units of townhouses, 20% of which will be affordable, 18 acres of open space including the purchase of Pine Barrens credits, walkable streets and an additional boulevard to ease traffic. There is a commercial component to the project, as well as a sewage treatment plant that will allow access to two adjacent properties.

This plan is in accordance with the Middle Country Road Land Use Plan, which was created with significant community input. Construction could start by the end of the year. LI Business News wrote, "Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert said the developer has kept up his end of the deal by redesigning the original proposal that would have put single-family homes on the property. 'We didn’t want to see sprawl-type development there.'"

See the original article here.

Paramount Theatre coming to Huntington

When downtown Huntington's IMAC Theater closed its doors after 26 years of live shows a little over one year ago, it left a cultural and economic void in the heart of Huntington Village. The loss of the theater has had a profound negative effect on the Village and the greater Town of Huntington. Arts, culture and live music in particular are a critical part of the success of a downtown and a critical element of Smart Growth planning. These destinations have proven time and time again to lead to a successful rebirth of a downtown area.

Thankfully, The Paramount Theatre, LLC has acquired the historic theater and has offered to reopen its doors while upping the ante. They have proposed $5 million in renovations along with increasing seating capacity from 700 to 1665 seats. This will elevate the former IMAC Theater to an unprecedented level: the new Paramount Theatre could become Long Island's premier live venue, on par with some of the best theaters in the country. The Paramount hopes to attract national acts and have the potential of bringing upwards of 5,000 visitors per week to Huntington Village. Vision gave testimony in support of the project this summer. The Paramount Theatre represents a great opportunity to turn the corner economically and culturally in an important downtown area. Stay tuned!

See the original article here.

Complete Streets bill passes in Town of Islip

On August 17th, the Town of Islip adopted Complete Streets policies- just weeks after the Town of Babylon passed similar legislation. For both towns, the policy will help accommodate pedestrians and cyclists and encourage public transportation, helping to reduce automobile traffic and congestion while providing safety for commuters. Future planning, design, construction and maintenance operations will be viewed as opportunities to improve safety mobility and access for alternative transportation modes.

See the original article here.

LI Business Council discusses downtown revitalization and the future of high-tech companies

On Wednesday morning, September 22nd, the Long Island Business Council met at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College to discuss issues surrounding tech industries and downtown revitalization. Over 50 LI business leaders and elected officials attended. Vision's Eric Alexander, Nassau LIBC chair Richard Bivone and Suffolk chair Robert Fonti, who called in from out of town led the meeting to get CEOs of businesses and emerging industries in contact with those involved with downtown revitalization and to hear from tech companies as to what are they looking for in terms of growth.

The panel discussion was on technology and revitalization and was led by Peter Goldsmith, President of LISTnet; Jack Pellman, CEO of Mednet; Tyler Roye, SEO of mindSHIFT; Dennis Labriola, CEO of Impact; Lionel Chitty of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce; Francine Koehler of the Glen Cove Downtown BID; Peter Sloggart of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce, and Yves Michel, Suffolk County Commissioner of Economic Development. The speakers discussed how many tech companies are relatively small and it would be easy to be located in a downtown. Staff would prefer this type of environment, where they can hang out outside of the office easily. They also focused on the need to draw in these tech companies, both by revitalizing aspects of the community, such as improving parking and by connecting landlords and real estate opportunities with those businesses.

See the original article here.

October

Long Island leaders gather in Hicksville to discuss future of transit-oriented development

On Wednesday, September 15th, 300 Long Islanders gathered at Antun’s in Hicksville for Long Island's first “Planning for Transit-Oriented Development” conference. Attendees included elected officials, developers, advocacy groups, business leaders, civic associations and many others. The event was organized by Vision Long Island, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, the LIRR Commuter Council, the Long Island Section of the American Planning Association and Tri-State Transportation Campaign.

Featured speakers included MTA/LIRR President Helena Williams, NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Joe Galante and John Stouffer from the Comptroller's Office, Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone, Place Making Group/Parsons Brickerhoff’s G.B. Arrington, NJ TRANSIT’s Vivian Baker, One Region Fund’s John McNally, Village of Mineola Mayor Jack Martins, Hicksville Chamber of Commerce President Lionel Chitty, VHB’s Bob Eschbacher, Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s Ryan Lynch, LIRR’s Elisa Picca and NYS Senator Craig Johnson. Introductory speakers and moderators included APA-LI’s David Berg, PCAC’s Dr. Jan Wells and Vision Long Island’s Eric Alexander.

See the full eblast here.

Local groups mourn “death” of LI Bus

This past Wednesday, October 6th, dozens of local groups, including the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, New York Communities for Change, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Sustainable Long Island, New York Public Interest Group, Transport Workers Union Local 252, the Long Island Federation of Labor-AFL/CIO, the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island, along with students from Nassau Community College worried about losing transportation to and from classes, gathered at the Intermodal Facility in Mineola to eulogize Long Island Bus.  The service was immediately followed by a funeral procession to the steps of the County Legislature, where there were further calls for the County Executive and Legislators to come to the aid of the beleaguered public bus system.

“It is a dark day for LI Bus riders and Long Island small businesses that rely on this important service to get to work and other services,” said Eric Alexander, Vision’s Executive Director. “Government leaders on all levels should focus on continuing this important service and look deep into their budgets and reprioritize funding.  Clearly, there are offsets in the Nassau County budget and we will be calling on the Federal and State to assist in the next budget cycle.”

See the original article here.

Winston in Mineola changes from condos to rentals

The Winston in Mineola took a step forward last week, when the Mineola Village Board heard new details on the project, now to be classified as rentals, rather than condos. This change satisfies objections, primarily from neighboring Village of Garden City officials, that the project was too dense. Built as rentals, Garden City will no longer have a say in the project's approval process. The Village Board has not yet approved the final project, as they still want to review the new design and amenities, but things look very promising. In addressing the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Jack Martins said, “if we can get somebody to build, in this case, $60 or $70 million worth of work and commit into our downtown, it means jobs and eventually it means an increased tax base, it means relief to a lot of our retail establishments in our downtowns and throughout Mineola."

Developer Polimeni Associates won a 2008 Smart Growth Award for the project, which encouraging walkability, due to its proximity to the Mineola train station. Under the new configuration, the building will be reduced from 9 to 6 stories and will feature a total of 275 apartments (down from 285), including 165 one-bedroom and 110 two-bedroom apartments. Costs will range from $2,100 to $2,800 a month. Vision Board of Directors member Maria Rigopoulos of Mill Creek Residential Trust spoke at the Village Board meeting about the changes to the project, which now will include a pool. Some of the parking will also be reconfigured.

See the original article here.

Town of Brookhaven adopts Complete Streets policy

Brookhaven became the third Long Island community to officially adopt a complete streets policy, when lawmakers enacted a bill this week.

In an effort led by Councilwoman Connie Kepert, Brookhaven followed in the footsteps of Babylon and Islip by adopting policy that “establishes a Sustainable Complete Streets policy which shall, where context appropriate, provide for the needs of drivers, public transportation vehicles and patrons, bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.”  This includes “all street projects deemed context appropriate by the Commissioner of Planning” and will be guided by the American Planning Association's  Complete Streets: Best Policy and Implementation Practices.

See the original article here.

November

2010 Smart Growth Summit

100 speakers and 950 regional, community, business leaders and youth present solutions, best practices to LI’s land use and infrastructure issues

The 9th Annual Smart Growth Summit took place on Friday, November 19th at the Melville Marriott. With 950 attendees and over 100 speakers, including elected officials, chambers of commerce, civic leaders, developers, architects, planners, not-for-profits and concerned citizens, this year's event was the best yet. The presence of so many diverse Long Islanders demonstrated a united front in support of a bright future for Smart Growth in our region.

The luncheon began with a short video, produced by THEM media, on Vision and the importance of partnerships to move things forward on Long Island. Members of the Youth Summit from West Islip High School, Lori Interlicchio and Kelly Douglas relayed some of the morning’s findings, emphasizing transit and affordable housing. Michael Harrison, Long Island Regional Director for the Office of Governor David A. Paterson, presented members of the Long Island Lobby Day Coalition with a special pen certificate, in recognition of the significant efforts by the group to pass the NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act.

Keynote speaker, Former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato, said, “I’m pleased and proud to join the panel members, special guests and Vision Long Island team members to support this important event. Smart Growth is an incredibly innovative concept and I can’t stress enough its importance to future growth and preservation on Long Island.”

See the full eblast here.

Wellington Park Villas open in Amityville

This past Saturday saw the opening of the Wellington Park Villas in Amityville. Designed as an affordable community of discounted condos, Wellington Park is part of Amityville’s push to provide affordable, transit-oriented development for its citizens. Located within easy walking distance from the train station and immediately adjacent to Pinehurst Park, the entire community was built to energy star standards, providing a reduction in heating and cooling costs.

Vision Long Island’s Assistant Director Tawaun Weber also spoke at the event, remarking that “it is important to see developers and communities on Long Island coming together to provide housing and transportation for those who need it most.”

See the original article here.

Wyandanch breaks ground on sewer project

As part of its Wyandanch Rising vision plan that began in 2003, the Town of Babylon broke ground on its sewer project on Saturday, October 30th at Commonwealth Ave. and Straight Path in Wyandanch. The sewers will allow for increased growth in the downtown, especially for new housing developments and business expansion.

Town of Babylon Supervisor Steve Bellone said, “this is an historic achievement for Wyandanch that will pave the way for the development of a real downtown, new jobs, affordable housing and a better environment. This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible work of Senator Schumer, Congressman Israel, Assemblyman Sweeney and our other partners.”

See the full article here.

Nassau County Comptroller Maragos releases report on LI Bus funding options

Vision launches iPhone application

Free app will be companion to SmartTalk

Earlier this month, Vision Long Island proudly launched their first iPhone application, available for free at the iTunes store here. The SmartTalk app, a companion to our weekly e-newsletter, is just the next step in Vision's quest to remain on the cutting edge of technology. The mobile application is updated to reflect all of the best features of the newsletter and website - the latest community, regional, and national news; upcoming events; and much more. Download the free app here!

See the original eblast here.

December

Long Island Smart Growth Working Group discusses implementation of Public Infrastructure Act

On Wednesday, December 15th, the Smart Growth Working Group met to discuss implementation of the recently passed NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Act, the landmark legislation requiring all future development in the State to take Smart Growth policies into account during the approval process. Over 80 people gathered to discuss the future for development and various State departments.

Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo outlined his support for the NYS Smart Growth Public Infrastructure Policy Act in his transition agenda, "The New NY Agenda for a Cleaner, Greener New York." Passage of the law is just the first step, however; strong leadership is needed to effectively implement these Smart Growth principles in our State's policies," said Cuomo.

The discussion panel featured NYS Assemblyman Steve Englebright, NYS Senator-elect Jack Martins, Michael Posillico of Posillico, Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Subimal Chakraborti of NYS DOT Region 10, Vincent Palmer from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Greg Watson from the NYS Department of Homes and Community Renewal, Bob Paley of the MTA, Ronnie Epstein of NYPA and Laura Shabe of the Port Authority of NY & NJ. Peter Fleischer of Empire State Future was moderator. Paul Beyer from the NYS Smart Growth Cabinet also called in to speak about implementation of the Act.

See the original article here.

Long Island Business Council discusses NYS' fiscal reality and Long Island’s economic future

On Tuesday morning, December 14th, the Long Island Business Council met at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College to discuss New York State’s fiscal mess and promoting economic growth on Long Island. Nassau LIBC Chairman Richard Bivone, Suffolk Chair Bob Fonti and NYS Senator Carl Marcellino led a dynamic discussion on how Long Island business and government leaders can promote regional job growth and economic development.

Senator Marcellino led the panel with a discussion on how New York State can solve its budget woes and create new jobs on Long Island. He expressed concern for the major budget gaps, citing the impossibility of taxing Indian tobacco sales, spiraling state employee salaries and pensions and out of control Medicaid expenses. Although he wants no new taxes, he has asked for large cuts and painful sacrifices across the board in order for the State to regain its fiscal health. “One way or another,” he warned, “pain’s going to have to go out.”

See the original article here.

Downtown Farmingdale to get hotel near train station

Farmingdale is set to receive an 85-room Hilton Home2Suites Hotel right next to the Long Island Railroad station. The hotel, designed by Bartone Properties with the John Danzi Hotel Group, will be downtown Farmingdale’s only hotel and the first in over forty years, when the community had six. Construction is set to begin in April.

The hotel serves as the first half of a $57 million redevelopment plan for the area. On an adjacent parcel, there are plans for a 3 ½ story mixed-use building, which will feature 102 condominiums above 20,000 square feet of ground-level retail. According to LI Business News, “Though the hotel is an allowed use under the village’s zoning and has already been greenlit, approvals for the mixed-use project are still under consideration, according to Farmingdale Mayor George Starkie.”

The hotel comes out of a visioning process that Vision helped complete in the downtown several years ago, and Anthony Bartone of Bartone Properties spoke about the hotel project at the recent Smart Growth Summit.

See the original article here.

Vision and Nassau County Exec discuss future of LI Bus

Vision Long Island, along with Tri-State Transportation Campaign, sat down with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to discuss the questionable future of LI Bus this month. A series of unfortunate events have surrounded the bus system this year. The MTA decided to pull almost all its subsidy to the system and designated state funding seems to have disappeared. The MTA has said that it is required to give 60 days’ notice before shutting down the system.

However, after talking with the County Executive, it seems that the end of the bus may not be as imminent as some dread. Nassau County and the MTA are talking seriously now to reach an agreement, and Mangano is committed to continuing this vital service.

Stay tuned as the story develops in the coming months.