The Huntington Town Board held its September 14, 2021 meeting, where Town Clerk Andrew P. Raia presented the Town Board the Supervisor’s Tentative Budget for 2022 and the Town Board approved a preventive measure that will address the issue of zombie homes and vacant storefronts.
“Some of our neighborhoods are suffering from quality of life issues presented by absentee owners who neglect their vacant properties, resulting in neighborhood eyesores or, in the worst case scenario, attract unlawful activities that require law enforcement to step in before the Town can,” said Supervisor Lupinacci. “Now, this Town is giving absentee property owners an incentive to fill their long-abandoned homes and buildings or sell the property to someone who will.”
The Town Board approved a measure proposed by Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci in July that will incentivize the occupation or turnover of ownership of zombie homes, problem properties and vacant storefronts by imposing escalating penalties for each year a property is vacant and listed on the Vacant Building Registry. Religious organizations will continue to be exempt from paying the vacant building registration fee.
The Town renamed the Manor Fieldhouse at Manor Field Park at 90 East 5th Street, Huntington Station as The William Thomas Field House; William Thomas was a longtime resident and youth football advocate who dedicated his life to the children of the Huntington Youth Bulldogs Football PAL at Manor Field, working tirelessly to use the sport as a vehicle to help young people improve their lives.
The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM to consider:
- Authorizing various actions be taken upon certain properties designated as blighted in accordance with Chapter 156, Article VII, §156-60 (Blighted Property). (Re: Schedule A - Jessie Mae Washington, 68 Dix Hills Rd, Huntington, SCTM#0400-159.00-02.00-050.000; US Bank National Association, 8 Cottage Court, Huntington, SCTM#0400-147.00-03.00-063.000; Jeffrey Scudder/Dianne Rothgaber, 28 6th Ave, Huntington Station, SCTM#0400-142.00-02.00-048.000)
- Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 137 (Marine Conservation and Regulation of Marine Structures), Article VI (Construction and Reconstruction of Marine Structures); adding two requirements to the process for applications received by the Department of Maritime Services for the construction or substantial reconstruction of a dock before a Board of Trustees public hearing is scheduled on the application: the Department of Maritime Services must inform the Board whether the proposed construction will interfere with the public’s right to use the waters or if it will impede or disrupt navigation, additionally, if the dock is located within the boundaries of an Incorporated Village, a copy of the application must sent to the Village Clerk of the respective Village, allowing the Village 45 days to send their recommendations or comments to the Town Board.
- Amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Article I (Definitions; Word Usage) of Chapter TC1 (General Provisions); adding the newly established federal holiday of Juneteenth to the Traffic Code for the purposes of free on-street metered parking on the holiday.
- Amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 2, Article V, §2-10, Schedule I.Re: Turkey Lane – Cold Spring Harbor –School Speed Limits; reducing the Speed Limit on Turkey Lane from 30 MPH to 20 MPH during school hours from 290 feet north of Fox Hunt Lane to Erick Court at the request of residents.
- Amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 3, Article II, §3-3, Schedule J.Re: Woodhull Road – Huntington Station – Parking Restrictions; adding No Stopping restrictions on the east side of Woodhull Road from Nassau Road to Cheshire Street.
In other action, the Town Board:
- Extended the Town of Huntington’s temporary in-street outdoor dining “parklet” program to expire on July 6, 2022, coinciding with New York State’s similar extension.
- Approved Environmental Open Space and Park Improvement funding for EOSPA Committee-recommended improvements replacing two damaged gazebo roofs at Halesite Park and replacing four (4) tennis courts at Heckscher Park.
- Approved funding for the Manor Field Park Spray Park Playground.
- Accepted a donation of five (5) bicycle racks from the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce to be placed in Huntington Village.
- Appointed Huntington Bay attorney and real estate broker Christine DiRaimo as a member of the Town of Huntington Board of Assessment Review (term 10/1/2021-9/30/2026).
- Reappointed James Metcalfe as a member of the Public Art Advisory Committee to a term expiring 9/10/2024 and designated Kieran Johnson as Chairperson for term expiring 9/10/2022.
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