Brookhaven Residents React To New Vacant Retail Zoning Proposal

BROOKHAVEN, NY—A proposed zoning law change in the Town of Brookhaven would the first on Long Island to allow residential development in blighted retail space. The new category, called the Commercial Redevelopment District zone, allows for multi-family housing and other new uses for vacant retail space in the town.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Romaine told Newsday last week that "this is a code to help us kind of renew the look for Brookhaven. We're living in an economy that changes very rapidly."

Business groups such as Long Island Builders Institute and others have lobbied the town for years to have zoning restrictions loosened on sites that are no longer conducive to new retail projects, such as vacant or underutilized strip malls and large sites such as closed bowling alleys.

William Ferraro is the former Democratic candidate for Brookhaven Town Supervisor and the co-president of the Central Brookhaven Democratic Club. He told Patch that while he supports the general idea of the proposal, he's concerned about "the congestion impact and whether or not the housing will actually be affordable for middle-class and poor people," on Long Island.

"Long Island has a housing shortage, and is in need of more affordable rentals for young families and individuals. What worries me are the unintended consequences. This zoning change will be a major boon for developers, whose industry runs Long Island municipal politics. Too often, projects become a tax abatement giveaway to corporate real estate entities who build expensive apartment complexes."

Others echoed Ferraro's concerns, that with increased residential construction, the increased strain on transportation and associated municipal services also need to be addressed.

Anthony Portesy, a Democratic politician and former candidate for highway superintendent in Brookhaven, raised similar concerns.

"This issue in particular, the blighted half empty shopping centers, I have been angry about for years. Brookhaven is finally doing something about it. But, we must hold the town to task. Is this going to be a free for all allowing developers to make traffic worse than it already is in some areas of town? City planning is more than just creative zoning. We need to ensure our traffic and transportation needs wrap around any new ideas for old properties," Portesy posted on his Facebook page.

What do you think about this proposal? Tell us in the comments.