Huntington, NY – The Huntington Town Board, at its first meeting of the year, voted to schedule a March 9 public hearing on the creation of the Huntington Station Transit Oriented District, a move aimed at allowing a range of housing opportunities for people at different income levels and at different stages of life at a location where residents will have increased access to mass transit and a reduced dependency on the automobile.

The 26.6-acre district is located on about a half mile from the Huntington Long Island Rail Road station, on the north side of East Fifth Street, bordering Manor Park on the west, the LIRR tracks on the north and the Telephonics building on the east.

AvalonBay Communities Inc. has applied for a rezoning under the proposed district to construct its Avalon at Huntington Station project. The public hearing on the rezoning application will also be held March 9.

            "We believe creating a Transit Oriented Development district is a step toward providing housing alternatives that young people entering the workforce and empty nesters are increasingly demanding, including a lifestyle in which they are not dependant on a car to shop or get to work," Supervisor Frank Petrone said. "We look forward to the public's comment on this proposal."

            In other action, the Town Board:

-- scheduled a Feb. 9 public hearing on changes in the Town's code on the registration of rental properties to eliminate categories and to increase fines for failure to register.

"In my inaugural address, I committed to work to strengthen our zoning and housing codes. This is the first of a series of amendments I intend to offer to make good on that commitment," said Councilman Mark Cuthbertson.

            -- approved reestablishing a policy (Americans Reactivated for Military Service) under which the salaries of active duty reservists employed by the Town of Huntington will be supplemented so they continue to receive their current rate of remuneration while they are actively deployed for combat, immediately prior to deployment or on active duty.   

"It recently came to my attention that a Town of Huntington employee is being deployed by the United States military to serve overseas.  It thus became a top priority for me to reinstate the A.R.M.S. resolution at our first meeting of the year," Councilwoman Susan Berland said.   "The  A.R.M.S. resolution pays the Town employee the differential between their Town salary and their military salary so that they do not suffer any economic disadvantage while courageously serving our country.  I fully recognize the financial burden that American reservists may carry when they are called to active duty and it is my goal to ensure that this economic burden does not affect any Town of Huntington employee."

            -- authorized the Supervisor to execute an agreement with the Long Island Rail Road to allow an exhibit of African-American heritage to be displayed in the waiting room of the Huntington Station.

            "African-Americans have a rich history in Huntington, and this engaging exhibit will make thousands of commuters aware of the contributions African-Americans have made to this town. Huntington's African American Historic Designation Council should be commended for its work in bringing this exhibit to life," Councilwoman Gelnda Jackson said.

            -- approved an agreement with the Sagamore Rowing Association to provide space at the Fleets Cove Beach parking lot for the temporary storage of boats and related equipment and to allow the Association to use Fleets Cove beach for its rowing and sculling programs. The Association was looking for space because of renovations underway its Coindre Hall facility.

            "The boating community has always been an important part of our Town and I have always been a supporter," Councilman Mark Mayoka said. "I was pleased to see that we were able to come to the aid of the Sagamore Rowing Association in its time of need."

            --  approved an agreement with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County to continue conducting environmental education programs at the Fuch's Pond Preserve in Northport.

            -- authorized the filing of a lawsuit against the developer/sponsor of the Coves at Melville housing project over the grading conditions at three buildings at the complex.

            -- supported the designation of Bren-Tronics, a Commack battery manufacturer, as a regionally signficiant  project entitled to state Empire Zone benefits. Bren-Tronics last year became the first company to take advantage of the Town's transfer of density flow tights program, paving the way for its ongoing expansion.

            -- scheduled a Feb. 9 public hearing on changes in the proposed residence-open space cluster district zoning category to add multi-family homes as a permitted use and to modify the setback requirements for community buildings, recreational amenities and entry gates. The changes were made after the November 2009 hearing on the original proposal.