Opposed to the state taking zoning powers away from local government, officials from across Suffolk rallied against a plan by Gov. Hochul to eliminate single family zoning and allow apartments in garages, basements, second floors, rear yards, and sheds.
“Local zoning control has rested with New York’s townships for hundreds of years for a reason,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “The governor’s ill-advised scheme would eliminate resident input in how their neighborhoods function and would quickly bring the problems of urban areas such as Brooklyn and the Bronx to the suburbs. Local communities are aghast over these Progressive dictates because they know the problems they are sure to bring.”
The plan will take away a community’s right to be heard in creating multi-family housing and also prohibit towns and villages from imposing parking requirements for the secondary apartments, a radical measure which will result in cars clogging residential streets, local officials pointed out.
“Under Governor Hochul’s plan, every town, village and county overnight would lose the important zoning protections that keep them from looking like the crowded neighborhoods of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine. “This wrongheaded plan will not solve our affordable housing problem, but will instead devalue the homes and quality of life in our communities.”
“Serving on the Riverhead Town Board for 10 years, we struggled frequently with requests for inappropriate accessory structures,” said Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio. “There are many issues that need to be addressed such as parking, owner occupancy, and permits that local officials take into account with input from the neighbors. These decisions should be left up to local elected officials who know their communities best.”
Officials from across the political spectrum railed against the proposal, including Congressman Lee Zeldin, a candidate to oppose Hochul in the November election. “This blatant attack on suburban communities will end single-family housing as we know it, strip local control away from the New Yorkers who live there, tank the value of their homes, overcrowd their previously quiet streets, and on top of it all, not do anything to solve our affordable housing problem.
Kathy Hochul isn’t focused on real solutions. This policy absolutely must not pass and one-party rule in Albany must end as fast as possible.”
Senator Phil Boyle said, “Local control of zoning decisions is vital to ensuring that Long Island and other suburbs do not turn into New York City. I strongly urge my colleagues in the state senate and assembly to reject Governor Hochul’s extremely ill-advised proposal.”
Senator Mario R. Mattera said, “This is another effort by New York State, under the leadership of Governor Hochul, to remove local control and dictate to our residents. This is repeatedly the way state government has operated throughout the past two years and it is time for common sense to return. I am proud to stand with Supervisor Romaine, the members of the Town Board and all who are joining with to oppose this newest Albany mandate.”
Senator Anthony Palumbo said, “Governor Hochul’s accessory apartment policy in her Executive Budget is more progressive overreach by Albany and will have a severe negative impact on Long Island. This radical change in zoning powers would result in greater density for communities and place tremendous strains on every conceivable local service from the water we drink, to traffic and emergency services. Communities throughout Long Island will be better served if important zoning issues remain under local control. This one size fits all approach is not the answer to Long Island nor the state’s affordable housing crisis.”
Senator Alexis Weik said, “The Governor’s dangerous proposal to require all municipalities to permit the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units completely erodes the role of our local governments and will lead to total chaos. To meet the increased parking demand to accommodate a state-mandated expansion of ADUs will be mayhem in our communities. A one-size-fits-all approach to zoning does not work statewide and the determination of ADU approvals and locations should be left to local governments. I strongly oppose this proposal and will fight to ensure it does not become law.”
Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo said, “With this proposal, Governor Hochul declared war on the suburbs. It is a radical idea designed to eliminate single family housing and it will destroy suburban living on Long Island as we know it.”
Assemblyman Doug Smith said, “Land use is an issue best left to local communities, I am strongly opposed to the state jamming through stack-and-pack housing proposals into residential neighborhoods.”
Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner said, “The Governor’s proposal is an important issue that will have a significant impact on all of Long Island, not just Brookhaven Town. Yes, we do need affordable housing choices, but we don’t need a broad stroke across the state to change the very character of the communities that we live in. We need to maintain local control, and this takes away that control. If the Governor really wants to help Long Islanders, she should do something about the ridiculously high property taxes.”
Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley said, “New Yorkers are already leaving the state in droves and if the Governor goes through with this, we will see a drastic increase in the number of people who move out. I ask Governor Hochul to please stop this now. Long Island does not need or want this legislation to become law. I stand firm with my colleagues and I will do whatever I can to put an end to this unreasonable plan.”
Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle said, “This is another attempt by the Governor and city politicians to come into the suburbs and tell us how to live. If this proposal goes through, it will create more densely populated neighborhoods and limit the authority of our local governments to control zoning. This is a fight that has been going on for years and we are prepared to defend our local home rule and maintain our quality of life in Brookhaven Town.”
Brookhaven Councilman Michael Loguercio said, “As a Town Councilman and former School Board president, I see nothing but problems if Governor Hochul’s plan goes into effect. If we lose control over our local zoning, the result will be higher density in our communities putting an end to our suburban life as we know it. I am on board with my fellow state and local elected officials in opposition to this absurd and unreasonable plan.”
Brookhaven Councilman Dan Panico said, “The Governor’s ill-conceived proposal tramples on municipal home rule and local zoning. Moreover, the potential effect on our school districts, the environment and our communities would be staggering. In Brookhaven we have worked and achieved a great deal of transit-oriented development to support an increasing variety of housing stock. We achieve this by working with our communities, respecting the law, upholding home rule and established single family zoning. We join with our colleagues in other towns and villages across Long Island in calling on the Governor to withdraw this proposal immediately.”
Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri said, “Governor Hochul’s proposal will create problems for every community and school district on Long Island. Illegal apartments already cause overcrowded neighborhoods, more children in our schools and parking problems. Once home rule on this issue is struck down and accessory apartments become legal everywhere, a village like Patchogue will suffer greatly. I join my fellow elected officials in opposition to the Governor’s proposal and ask that she reconsider this misguided plan.”
