The following Letter to the Editor was published in Newsday on October 16th, 2017. You can read the original here.
It is troubling to continue to read in Newsday that the concerns of local towns are not being heard when it comes to real estate developments that have regional impacts.
First, it was Huntington’s concerns over Islip’s Heartland Town Square [“Hearing off for Heartland,” News, Sept. 19]. Now, Brookhaven is sharing similar anxieties over proposals being considered for the long-vacant Gyrodyne property in Smithtown. [“Calls to revist subdivision’s OK,” News, Oct. 5].
Historically, the Suffolk County Planning Commission was created to serve as a strong, objective third party to ensure that sound planning prevailed in these situations.
The seemingly diminished role of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, created with both political and legal teeth, makes it ineffective in terms of moderating these discussions between municipalities and sets a bad land-use precedent for the future.
If Long Island is to continue to grow in a balanced manner, municipalities must be assured that they can rely on the county to protect them from the ambitions of other towns.
Richard Murdocco
Syosset, NY
Editors’s note: The writer writes about Long Island land use at TheFoggiestIdea.org.
Dear Mr. Murdocco,
Have you commented on the “Hub” in Ronkonkoma. I would be interested in your thoughts. The residents had nothing to do with the planning. They were never asked for their input and the civic association was not included.
The air we are breathing is full of fumes and our houses vibrate each time a train passes. One neighbor stated the fumes go directly into his house if the window are open.
Studies have been completed concerning the effects on the residents of communities. The results of these studies include the effects on the hearts of residents while they are sleeping.
I would like to hear from you concerning the above information.
Thank you,
Lorraine Ambrosio