MARCH 12, 2024: Members of the Nathan Hale Nature Preserve Committee and other interested neighbors attended the March meeting of the Huntington Town Board to entreat elected officials to listen to their voices. Though – as per what has become the norm for citizens seeking input into decisions affecting their lives and property values – the Town Board limited each party to three minutes at the podium, the NHNP Committee was able to officially petition the Board to consider and record a motion to:
1. Order that the Planning Board vacate its findings that: (a) the requirements of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA")have been met for the proposed subdivision and that there will be no significant environmental impacts; and (b) a Negative Declaration is appropriate based upon the Planning Board’s review of the environmental assessment data submitted and the regulations, both of which were set forth in the Resolution filed with the Town Clerk’s office on February 26, 2024
2. Order the Planning Board to undertake a comprehensive, objective and independent expert assessment of all environmental, safety, land, water, wildlife, flora and fauna and air issues associated of the proposed subdivision as mandated by SEQRA;
3. Order that the Planning Board of the Town of Huntington vacate its preliminary approval of the Preliminary Map of Vineyard Bay Estates dated January 11, 2022, revised November 17, 2003 and received December 5, 2023 as was set forth in its Resolution filed with the Town Clerk’s office on February 26, 2024; and
4. Require that the Planning Board instruct the owners/developers to immediately undertake the development of architectural renderings of the project with detailed depictions of the proposed houses, as situated on their proposed sites, along with showing the true heights and lengths of any proposed retaining walls that must be constructed to insure the safety and integrity of the property’s steep slopes. Details as to the cubic yards estimates of excavated earth and fill needed are required as is the source and type of fill.
The Town Board took no action.
The issue of overdevelopment is a concern and particularly the issue of habitat destruction. I feel so fortunate that I can wake up to the sound of song birds singing. When habitat and biodiversity is destroyed, it is a huge loss to wildlife as well as in the lives of humans. When people on Long Island boast of wanting to maintain a suburban lifestyle, to me that means wasteful use of land, pesticides and deadzones. We do not need huge single family homes that are wasteful. Nature improves mental health and makes communities healthy and vibrant. I prefer to hear the sounds of birds over the intrusive, polluting sounds of leaf blowers. I hope Huntington wakes up and realizes that…