Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Huntington public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
23 issues in development
Steep Slope Preservation and Flag Lot Access at 27 Dunlop Road
The board handled six homeowner variance requests in one night, most tied to Huntington's steep waterfront terrain and legacy small lots. All were granted, showing the board generally supports home improvements when neighbors don't object.
8 Ruth Plat Subdivision and New Road Dedication
The town would accept roads in the Golf Estates subdivision and amend contracts with Chesterfield Associates for drainage pipe work on Westview Road and Essex Drive.
Fate of the Rolling Wood 'playground' parcel
A vacant lot reserved as a 'playground' on the 1948 Rolling Wood map — never formally dedicated as parkland — is being sold by the homeowners association for a single-family home. Neighbors are split: some want the green space and trail connection preserved, while the majority of the association voted to sell, citing dumping and maintenance burdens. The applicant has promised a recorded footpath easement linking the neighborhood to Davis Street and the West Hills trails.
Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 1044 New York Avenue
A long-vacant commercial strip next to the Gateway property could be redeveloped into a mixed-use building with apartments, but a shared-parking deal collapsed when the neighbor sold. The applicant is returning to the ZBA for a bigger parking variance.
427 Wolf Hill Road drainage and scale dispute
A Dix Hills neighbor says four years of construction at 427 Wolf Hill Road has flooded his property with mud and water, shaken his house, and produced development out of scale with the neighborhood. The ZBA can only rule on the variances before it, but the chairman promised the engineering department will look into the drainage claims.
NYU Langone Medical Office Parking and Buffering
NYU Langone requested commercial parking on residentially zoned land to alleviate heavy parking congestion on Pulaski Road. The board discussed recommending conditions requiring robust landscape buffering.
The Cornerstone Melville Mixed-Use Development
The board reviewed a special use permit application for a major mixed-use residential and commercial property development in Melville.
Melville Crossing Development Approval
A developer is proposing a major mixed-use project with 400 residential units and retail space on a vacant office site in Melville under the town's new overlay district. Supporters say it brings vital housing and revives a dead office park, while critics worry about density, traffic, and school impacts.
Derby Avenue Subdivision Infrastructure Waivers
The board weighed sidewalk and curb waiver requests across multiple subdivisions, denying Holy Trinity Plat's curb waiver due to crumbling infrastructure while granting sidewalk waivers where surrounding areas lacked walkways.
Cold Spring Hill Subdivision Access Concerns
The board tackled access issues for the Cold Spring Hill subdivision after learning the town has stopped providing waste and snow services for the neighboring private alley. Officials agreed to let the applicant explore a new independent driveway onto Route 25A.
Estates at Elwood (Media Villa) Development
A developer is proposing a 46-home residential subdivision on a 55-acre property in Elwood, which would preserve 21 acres of steep slopes as permanent open space. Residents and board members discussed environmental concerns like nitrogen loading and potential future commercial use.
Downtown Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 175 West Carver Street
The board reviewed plans to convert the former Huntington Post Office into ground-floor commercial space with eight second-floor apartments. The project requires parking buffer variances but meets overall parking requirements while preserving the building's historic character.
Greenlawn Residential Subdivision (Willow Gardens)
WDP Construction Corp is seeking to divide Willow Gardens lots 32 through 38 into two parcels under expedited review. Nearby residents expressed concerns about neighborhood character, historical rejections of two-home proposals, and house sizes.
Map of Wychwood Cluster Subdivision
The Congregational Church of Huntington is proposing a cluster subdivision on Washington Drive to turn three parcels into two, selling off a residential lot to fund major repairs for its 70-year-old sanctuary.
St. Matthew's Church Three-Lot Subdivision
St. Matthew's Church is proposing a three-lot subdivision off the North Service Road to create two conforming residential lots while keeping the church property intact. Neighbors and church representatives discussed buffer plantings and utilities during the public hearing.
Church Property Subdivisions for Fundraising
Both St. Matthew's Church and the Congregational Church of Huntington applied to carve off portions of their land to sell as residential lots, helping pay for building maintenance and church repairs.
Animal Rescue Hospital Special Use Permit
The Wildlife Center of Long Island applied to convert a storage building on Washington Drive in Centerport into an animal rescue hospital. While many town residents and businesses supported the project, immediate neighbors on Shawnee Street raised vocal concerns regarding noise, operations, and waste disposal.
Amazon Last-Mile Delivery Station on Spagnoli Road
The board evaluated a ZBA referral for the Amazon warehouse facility on Spagnoli Road, supporting a new maintenance building, pylon sign, and overnight vehicle storage with landscaping conditions.
The Preserve at Indian Hills Phase II Expansion
The country club is replacing its outdated clubhouse with a modern two-story building. Neighbors and board members reviewed the architectural plans to make sure it respects sightlines and zoning limits.
Proposed Splash Car Wash on Jericho Turnpike
The board authorized a $15,000 independent engineering study to evaluate traffic impacts from a proposed car wash on Lockheel Road.
Blighted Property Enforcement in East Northport and Cold Spring Harbor
Residents brought forward long-standing concerns regarding severely neglected, vacant commercial and residential properties creating safety hazards and eyesores in their neighborhoods.
Greenlawn Center Two-Lot Subdivision
Tracy Edwards presented a request for a two-lot subdivision on Amsterdam Street to build two single-family homes. The board held a public hearing and discussed the historical background of the neighborhood.
Oheka Castle Multi-Family Development Variances
The zoning board granted crucial parking setback and retaining wall variances for the Oheka Castle condominium project, ensuring previous environmental reviews remain valid while making all approvals strictly dependent on resolving access through Eastgate Drive.