Monday, July 9, 2007

Learning from Long Island

Supervisor Venditto Announces July 10 Hearing On Proposed Building Moratorium In Massapequa

A proposed six-month moratorium on the issuance of building permits for the construction of new and expanded buildings; demolition permits for buildings except for unenclosed additions such as decks and porches; preliminary or final approval for any subdivision plat or partitioning map; building demolition permits; and variances related to lot area, lot dimensions or setbacks for new buildings in certain residential areas of Massapequa will be the subject of a Tuesday, July 10, public hearing by the Oyster Bay Town Board, according to Town Supervisor John Venditto.

"Since the enactment of a building moratorium in the residential areas of Oyster Bay hamlet, during which time a planner conducted a study of potential development and redevelopment followed by implementation of zoning controls recommended in the study, residents in other communities have asked if the Town could impose a similar moratorium," Supervisor Venditto said. "Because of recent construction trends that are eroding the character of residential neighborhoods in Massapequa, the Town Board is considering the imposition of a moratorium, during which time the Town's planner would conduct a study of the area and make recommendations concerning zoning and other measures that would provide the proper balance to allow for development and redevelopment while protecting the character of the community."

The Supervisor went on to say that the moratorium would include all residentially zoned property south of Merrick Road between the Town of Oyster Bay's borders with the Towns of Hempstead and Babylon.

"The neighborhoods that are part of this study are established communities whose residents cherish their quality of life," Supervisor Venditto stated. "My fellow Town Board members and I share the desire of the residents to perpetuate the established character of these neighborhoods and ensure that redevelopment and new development not only compliment the existing communities, but reinforce the special assets that make them such desirable places to live. We will do whatever we can to put in place proper measures to protect and preserve the look and feel and sense of place of these neighborhoods."

The Supervisor noted that the meeting will be held in the hearing room of Town Hall East, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the regular Town calendar, including the above-mentioned hearing, will be called. Following the regular Town business, the Town Board will be available to listen to public comment on any matter.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The areas of Queens that have not been downzoned need a moratorium on building NOW. But the politicians who take money from developers won't pass one.

Anonymous said...

A moratorium on building in NYC? That'll never pass, that's against too many peoples' rights, not just developers.

An individual homeowner has the right to expand his property within the current zoning laws. Any moratorium preventing that will be knocked down as unconstitutional. Nice and easy to pass the buck on politicians, but it's the law. Any politician stupid enough to try to pass that will be joke fodder amongst his colleagues for years to come.

Anonymous said...

There is no constitutional right to expand your property. There are local laws that deal with such things, and if a local law is passed which places a moratorium in effect, then it what people have to follow.

Anonymous said...

Borough President Seeks Moratorium on Building Permits

Queens Crapper said...

Communities across the country have enacted Moratoriums on building which have been upheld. (Do a simple Google search.) Why would NYC be any different?

Queens Crapper said...

"In 2005, the town council in Chevy Chase, Md., passed a six-month building moratorium while it reviewed and tightened its zoning laws in response to a protest against the construction of McMansions; the following year the Maryland Legislature adopted a bill, which was signed into law, granting broader powers to local governments to limit how high, how wide and how big in relation to surrounding homes, new houses could be.

Similar moratoriums and zoning restrictions were adopted last year in municipalities large and small — including Austin, Tex., Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Ocean City, N.J., Larchmont and Brighton, N.Y., and the Chicago suburbs of Evanston, Oak Park, and Naperville."

Views Clash Among Neighbors as Builders Destroy Old for New

georgetheatheist said...

Our motto: "Thin the Herd!"

(One Million LESS People in 2030!)

Anonymous said...

ZERO POPULATION GROWTH.

More residents does nothing for the taxpayers/residents already living here.

Let's take care of us first. Funny how our elite do not share this.

Ummmmm. Wonder what we can do about this/

Anonymous said...

"Why would NYC be any different?"

In every way, shape and form, NYC is different. Laws that get passed in hick towns and states will never pass muster with the top-level law firms in this city.

Anonymous said...

Good point "Rob"....
an awful lot of New York City Council members, for instance, are also attorneys (and also "dabble" in the real estate business) !!!

Anonymous said...

Tony Avella (and other brave hearts) tried to push for a moratorium on building !

They got "ZILCH" !!!

That's because the greedy SOB real estate industry runs NYC and OUTRIGHT OWNS most of its politicians !!!

Just take a look at C.M. Melinda Katz (chair of the council's Land Use Committee) !

You can pull her "rap sheet" from the NYC Board of Elections (Campaign Finance Board) web site !!!

Anonymous said...

"rob" ....you've got to eat more fish to expand your brain power !

Municipal land use is NOT a Constitutional issue !

This falls under the purview of LOCAL LAW !

If not....why is it permitted under the U.S, CONSTITUTION for a municipality to use eminent domain proceedings against the owners of private property....for example ? !!!

Please....let's not get into case law or start quoting statute and paragraph....we'll be here all day fella!

Anonymous said...

Gee....I could have bought a home in Massapequa many years ago .

Maybe I should have !

Anonymous said...

has anybody heard about the bldg commissioner for the town of oyster bay unilaterally implementing new bldg height restrictions without a town law or resolution having been passed? Basically, you design your house in accordance with the law as written, but then when you go to submit your plans they tell you that your plan doesn't comply with new height restrictions which the commissioner just made up. They then hold your permit application in limbo. A clerk at the bldg dept said that they were getting about 30 angry calls each day, but now they are letting applications go through as they towards changing the law and limiting the height to 28 feet to the ridge! Imagine houses in areas like brookville or the fancier parts of north syosset, etc. being limited to 28 feet! No more 9/10 foot ceilings and pitched roofs. Are we going back to basement windows being below grade? This has to stop.