Town supervisors on LI frustrated with rezoning requirements of Gov. Hochul's housing plan

Under Hochul's plan, if a town or village fails to meet the 3% target, a new state housing approval board could overrule local zoning laws to create a new development.

News 12 Staff

Jan 13, 2023, 3:35 AM

Updated 694 days ago

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Some Long Island town supervisors are not happy with Gov. Kathy Hochul's new housing plan.
Hochul's proposal in the State of the State address called for more residential development near train stations.
That could force some Long Island towns and villages to rezone - a requirement that local municipalities would have to follow under the proposal.
The governor's plan is to create 800,000 new homes over the next decade statewide. The plan would require downstate towns and villages to increase housing units by 3% over three years.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin is against requirements like that.
"We're building - we're building affordable housing - but let us do it where we get local input, local control and do it in a way that's going to work for our communities," Clavin said.
Under Hochul's plan, if a town or village fails to meet the 3% target, a new state housing approval board could overrule local zoning laws to create a new development.
Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth is against that proposition and says Long Island is already overdeveloped.
"Local municipalities will still have their zoning and planning boards making decision but they're going to be making those decisions with a gun to their head," Smyth says. "That if they don't make a decision that the Albany board likes, the Albany board can come in and supersede them."
Local officials say they understand the need for affordable housing, but some say this new proposal is not the answer.
The proposal would have to be approved by the state Legislature before it becomes law.