Huntington – Supervisor Ed Smyth released a statement on the topic of overdevelopment and zone change applications on May 2.
“I campaigned for the Supervisor’s office on many issues, including stopping the overdevelopment of Huntington. In 2020, I co-sponsored a measure limiting the expansion of multi-story apartment development in our downtown areas. We now have a public hearing scheduled for May 10 considering closing a loophole that could be exploited by developers to advance inappropriate projects.
“The Town cannot stop property owners from asking for a zoning change or a new use for their property, however the Town has no obligation to advance any proposal.
“Unlike past administrations, I do not treat a public hearing as an obligatory nuisance. Our residents have a right to weigh in on what is being proposed for their neighborhoods for the Town Board to consider. Generally, I have a very low bar for scheduling public hearings but applicants should be forewarned: they may not like what they hear from the public.”
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