Town of Huntington, NY - News Details

At its July 16 meeting, the Huntington Town Board approved significant accessory apartment code changes designed to make living in the Town of Huntington more affordable without building new housing.

The most significant accessory apartment code change allows the property owner to live in the accessory dwelling unit of their primary residence; a measure that will help offset the cost of living for many residents by allowing the rental of their home’s main dwelling unit. The code changes also reduced the minimum lot size requirement from 7,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet and reduced the lot frontage requirement for an accessory apartment from 75 linear feet to 50 linear feet, helping more property owners qualify for an accessory apartment on their property.

The accessory apartment code changes were enacted July 16, cosponsored by Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci and Councilwoman Joan Cergol, after the Town Board held a public hearing on the resolution May 29.

Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated: “These measures are good for property rights, families just starting out and those on fixed incomes; it opens up the affordable apartment rental supply, as accessory apartments tend to be offered at lower prices than the apartments created as part of new construction. In order to keep generations together on Long Island, the availability of affordable housing and the ability to live affordably are key. The Town’s greatest role in the creation of affordable housing is one of a facilitator. As we assess our options to increase the availability of affordable housing, we need to consider alternatives to the options that would add to an unsustainable burden on our infrastructure and find creative ways to tap into our existing housing supply to fulfill the housing needs for those who feel they can’t afford to live on Long Island.”

Councilwoman Joan Cergol said: “The accessory apartment amendments are a win/win/win as they will make it possible for our older residents to age in place, allow our younger residents to attain the dream of homeownership, all while giving the Town a means by which to directly regulate, in many cases, previously illegal rental housing. My prior sixteen years in Huntington Town government specializing in economic and community development have deeply sensitized me to the very real financial challenges and housing needs our residents face every day. I am very proud to be a co-sponsor, together with Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, of these long overdue amendments.”

The Town Board also unanimously passed a public safety measure prohibiting accessory dwelling units in basements or cellars unless a valid accessory dwelling unit permit already exists or is pending with an already-filed application.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, August 6, 2019 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM:

• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 15 (Commercial Fishing Advisory Council), §15-2 (Membership, Officers: Compensation) and §15-3 (Term of Office; Quorum; Appointment and Termination); to amend the number of members of the Commercial Fishing Advisory Council from 13 to 11, revise the titles of department to reflect current usage, permit the Supervisor to appoint 3 members and each remaining Town Board member to appoint 2 members to the Council.
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 87 (Building Construction), Article III (Building Permits), §87-21 (Expiration of Building Permit) and §87-22 (Renewal of Building Permit; Fee); to remove unnecessary qualifying language from the code at the request of the Department of Engineering Services because, in practice, the Department authorizes up to two 1-year renewals of expired permits regardless of work progress.
• To consider amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 141 (Noise), Article II (Noise Disturbance) and Chapter 87 (Building Construction), Article III (Building Permits); to codify the practice of allowing construction work to be performed between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturdays at the discretion of the Engineering Services Department based on multiple factors: character of the area, urgency of the work to be performed, nature of the construction, and whether the work will be performed indoors or outdoors; allowing construction work to be performed outside of the hours between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM on weekdays in the case of an emergency for a period not to exceed 3 days while the emergency continues, renewable for periods of 3 days or less while the emergency continues; also establishing an additional fee for Saturday work of $500 per Saturday.

In other action, the Town Board:

• Approved an agreement with the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the Town to accept a donation of Historic Preservation services at the John and Alice Coltrane Home to restore and paint the fence and gates to improve the appearance of the porch and secure the front entrance of the site.
• Approved an agreement with the Suffolk County Police Athletic League, Inc. (PAL) for the provision of a free soccer program for Town of Huntington children ages 6 to 14 at 10AM to 2PM Manor Field Park from July 19, 2019 through August 30, 2019, and a Fall Soccer Program for Town of Huntington children grades 2-8 on Thursdays from 3:30 PM-5:45 PM at Manor Field Park from September 19, 2019 through November 14, 2019 (Fall Program requires registration – call SCPD Officer Delgado at (631) 854-8253), further authorizing the Town of Huntington to co-sponsor the programs.
• Waived the Town’s equipment rental fees for the use of the Showmobile by the Commack Fire Department for the Saturday, August 3, 2019 street dedication of Jericho Turnpike in memory of Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso of the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing, also FDNY Lieutenant, who perished, along with his three service brothers, when their helicopter crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, March 15, 2018.
• Authorized the Town to apply for and receive $975,000 in grant funding under the New York State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program covering 75% of the costs for the restoration of Halesite Marina Park and the establishment of portions of the Huntington Harbor Walkway in accordance with the Huntington Harbor Walkway Study of 2007, and in accordance with the Town of Huntington Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, providing expanded pedestrian opportunities and harborfront access, expanded parking, a new bus shelter, and the planting of native vegetation to help reduce stormwater runoff and flooding, filter out toxins and pollutants, provide natural shade and wildlife, offset carbon dioxide emissions and beautify the area.
• Accepted a donation from Starbucks to the Town of Huntington for a Thank You Coffee and Cake reception honoring the agencies and volunteers who assisted families impacted by the East Northport apartment fire that occurred March 23, displacing 20 families.
• Reappointed Peggy Boyd (term expiring 12/31/19) and appointed Lourdes Pena (to fill a vacancy for a term expiring 12/31/20) as members of the Town of Huntington Affordable Housing Advisory Board.
• Renamed Caravan Park in East Northport in memory of U.S. Army SPC Edward A. Fryer, Jr., who grew up on Pamela Lane in East Northport, to honor the sacrifice the local hero made on November 7, 1968 in the Long An Province in southern Vietnam.
• Adopted Local Law Introductory Number 22-2019, considering the application known as Huntington Village Hotel Partners to amend a previous approval and apply the Historic Building Overlay District to additional property located on the northeast corner of Main Street and Stewart Avenue, Huntington.
• Adopted Local Law Introductory Number 31-2019 amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 198 (Zoning), Article VI (Historic Landmarks and Districts), §198-42 (Designation of Sites and Buildings), to designate the Blagden House, 472 Woodbury Road, Cold Spring Harbor, as an Historic Landmark.
• Directed the Superintendent of the Dix Hills Water District (DHWD) to suspend the use of water supply well number 5-1 until the remediation of 1,4-dioxane is completed, in accordance with New York State's newly proposed but not yet enacted standard.

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