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April 30th Smart Growth Implementation Worksession

In a follow up to March’s worksession with New York State’s Department of Transportation, Wednesday’s Smart Growth Implementation worksession was much tamer, despite some residual anger. A larger group of elected officials, civic and not for profit organizations, community activists, local businesses, environmentalists, and an indomitable group from the DOT gathered again to discuss the impediments to Smart Growth on Long Island and strategies to overcome them. In addition to the usual leaders, Paul Beyer, Director of the New York State Smart Growth Cabinet; Peter Fleischer, Executive Director of the newly created Empire State Future; and Michael Harrison of Governor Paterson’s office, brought their experience and statewide initiatives to the table. What could have been a disheartening repeat of March’s meeting turned into a hopeful strategy session that was buoyed by action from the Governor’s office and dynamic leadership radiating throughout New York State in support of Smart Growth.  “The wind is out of our faces but not our backs,” said Peter Fleischer.

At the morning session, participants discussed their success stories and areas of opportunity for downtown revitalization. Best practices that were shared included reaching out to civics first, emphasizing well designed density, and the importance of fostering a synergy between the public and private sectors. Challenges to achieving success included the lack of infrastructure, economic effects of shopping malls, the lengthy regulatory process and, when compared to states like New Jersey and Maryland, a disinterested and detached attitude from state government agencies.

During a working lunch session, Paul Beyer and Peter Fleischer offered opportunities for Smart Growth to combat these challenges in New York State. A combination of burgeoning programs and initiatives from the Department of Environment Conservation, the Smart Growth Cabinet, and other agencies and programs throughout the state provided a nutritional lunch of resources, incentives, and aid for community leaders. Paul Beyer outlined a TOD incentives package, created by the MTA and the State Smart Growth Cabinet to promote transit-oriented development within the MTA’s service area. The DEC is linking infrastructure to land use by incorporating Smart Growth principles into the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Load Funds. With Empire State Future, Smart Growth will have advocates in Albany and develop a state-wide strategy to improve collaboration between regions and municipalities.

And this time around, the DOT wore padding for the afternoon’s strategy session for reform.  They identified some steps toward improvement, such as forging a partnership with this “Coalition of Reform” and expanding their role to include land use. The DOT would also strengthen their public outreach efforts, with the aid of the Coalition, to identify key stakeholders and successfully involve communities in a public process. In an effort to improve communications, a Regional Public Development Coordinator would facilitate projects and identify best practices with the communities.

Overall, the DOT took the second step forward to recovery and asked for help. Now they just have to attend the meetings, stand up, and say, “Hi. I’m the DOT and I was a department of highways.”

Rocky Point Fights Wal-Mart, Shows "High Cost of Low Price"

After all the work that Rocky Point has done towards revitalization, allowing a Wal-Mart to come in would be effectively shooting themselves in the foot. According to Grant Parpan’s article in the North Shore Sun from March 7th, the owners of the site, where the former drive-in movie theater resided, are requesting to build a Wal-Mart on the 18-acre property. The current property owner, Lerner-Heidenberg Properties, is also suing the Town to develop the site as it would have been prior to the Town Board’s zoning change from regular business to commercial recreation.

Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, has directed the developers' attorney, Mitchell Pally, to the Rocky Point Civic Association’s land use committee. According to the article, Councilwoman Bonner will not meet with anyone regarding the project until they’ve engaged the civic group. “If the civic’s on board, I’m on board. But as I’ve said all along, you have to first approach the civics. I will not support a project unless the civic thinks it’s what’s best for the community.” Drew Martin, President of the Civic Association, acknowledged that the land use committee will be meeting with the attorney this week to hear the proposal.

“Once again, the quality of life that we fought so hard for in the Rocky Point community is being challenged by outside interests of corporate America and the developers who represent them,” Councilwoman Jane Bonner said. “Rocky Point’s small business owners have greatly contributed to the revitalization of our downtown area and have helped make this community a great place to live and work.”

The documentary features personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to survive in a Wal-Mart world. It uncovers the retail giant’s effects on families and American values and looks at communities struggling to fight back. It examines Wal-Mart’s detrimental physical impact on towns and main streets all across America.

On Friday, March 28th, a hundred people, including Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, civic and business leaders, and local Union 1500 UFCW, gathered at the VFW Hall in downtown Rocky Point to see "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price."

For more information, contact Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242, Rocky Point Civic Association's Drew Martin at 631-946-0092, or Councilwoman Bonner’s office at 631-451-6964. See also articles from Newsday, the North Shore Sun, and the Village Beacon Record.

State Smart Growth Cabinet Head Visits Long Island

An introduction to Governor Spitzer’s Smart Growth Cabinet was given at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on February 19th.

The event was hosted in part with the Long Island Regional Planning Board and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. Michael White, Executive Director of the Long Island Regional Planning Board began the morning by introducing Michael Harrison, the Long Island Director for Governor Spitzer’s office.

Supported by an enthusiastic audience from a broad range of backgrounds, Mr. Harrison noted that such well attended meetings confirmed the potential for Smart Growth, saying that, “There is a critical mass of Long Islanders who are ready and willing… looking to help just as we are looking to be helped.”

Read the full story in the newsletter here.

Mineola Nine-Story Building Approved with Support of Community and Local Government

In a stunning sweep for Smart Growth, Mineola Mayor Jack Martins and the Village Board voted 5-0 to approve the nine-story condominium development that Polimeni International proposed for Old Country Road.  According to David Winzelberg’s column in the Long Island Business News, the Winston, which will have 285 market-rate condos and will include the renovation of an adjacent office building, was supported overwhelmingly by the community. Winzelberg noted that “the vote received a standing ovation from those in attendance at the Village Hall meeting.”

The project’s success thus far illustrates that higher density, when designed well, can be strongly supported by the community. According to the article, Mayor Martins said that “the site of the Polimeni plan is an appropriate location for this type of density.” The condos are surrounded by office buildings of similar height and traffic will not be an issue as the plan features underground parking and is about one block from Mineola’s LIRR station. The project will also have a 20% affordable component for seniors in the Village. Additionally, this project will bring more pedestrian activity, and thus new life and vitality to downtown Mineola beyond the business day.

More information can be found on Polimeni International's website.

Vintage Square Proposal Approved by Riverhead Town Board

The Vintage Group's proposal for an entertainment complex in downtown Riverhead moved a step closer to reality earlier this week when the Riverhead Town Board unanimously approved a resolution that declared the Group a qualified and eligible sponsor for the redevelopment of the Railroad Avenue Urban Renewal Corridor.

The resolution also authorizes Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale to complete the paperwork for the actual sale of the property, which is currently owned by the Town, that sits between the State Supreme Court and the LIRR station.

The proposal, which has been met with both praise and criticism since it was first submitted in the summer of 2005, boasts a 10-screen movie theater, commercial space, and multi-level parking for downtown shoppers, as well as for the State Supreme Court buildings and the area's new Culinary Arts School.

Once completed, the Railroad Avenue Urban Renewal Corridor will be the largest revitalization project in Riverhead's history and will be a significant gain for transit-oriented development advocates, as it connects the downtown with links to the LIRR, bus, and a local trolley.

More information is available on Vintage Square's website or in a recent article from Long Island Business News.

 

Rauch Foundation Releases 2008 LI Index

Rauch has formally released LI fifth indicators report, the Long Island Index 2008. A survey funded by the Rauch Foundation and conducted by Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research titled "Long Island Looks to the Future:  Housing Alternatives and Downtown Development" was also released.

The survey reports the willingness of LIers to live, work, and shop downtown. It also found that solid majorities support inclusionary housing, increased density, height increases, compact design, and more rental apartments in downtown areas. 

Long Island has yet to fully utilize and invest in its more than 100 downtowns. These are among our most valuable assets. Somehow, most village mayors and town supervisors have failed to embrace this much needed vertical shift. Long Island needs more progressive and bold leaders to take action. Greenport, Patchogue and Mineola are among those starting to 'get it'.

Check out our coverage in Smart Talk

Read the Long Island Index 2008 here.

 

Nominate Now: 2008 Smart Growth Awards!!