Joined by opposition to Hochul’s housing plan

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More than two dozen Long Island elected officials teamed up to show a united front against Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposal for high density housing in single-family neighborhoods on Long Island last week at the Port Washington Train Station.

In addition to Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Town Clerk Kate Murray, and four members of the Town Board, Nassau County Legislators Howard Kopel and John Giuffre, and Village of Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach joined the group to protest what they called an attack on the suburbs.

“Governor Kathy Hochul does not know what is best for Long Island and is openly infringing on municipal control of zoning regulations,” Clavin said in a release.

“We will not be quiet in the face of overdevelopment. We will take the fight to Albany and continue to advocate for Long Island neighbors.”

Officials announced that they would be taking the fight to the steps of the New York State Legislature in Albany later this month to call on Hochul to remove the housing legislation from her state budget proposal.

“This plan is simply not realistic for Nassau County,” state Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick said in a release. “I will continue to oppose this budget so long as this policy of forcible rezoning remains part of it.”

Key elements of the plan include:

Increasing housing growth 3 percent over three years;

Creating a “Fast Track Approval” program;

Override the authority of local zoning law;

Increase housing units in Nassau County by an estimated 14,340 new units in three years;

Add stress to Nassau’s roads, schools, and local infrastructure;

Rezoning areas within a half-mile radius of Long Island Rail Road stations;

Expedited environmental review process.

“Residents want to be involved in the decision-making process to ensure any development fits the character of their neighborhoods, and the Governor’s plan would strip them of those rights,” said Assemblyman Brian Curran in a release.

“This high-density housing plan is completely out of touch with our suburban quality of life here on Long Island.”