Housing Coalition Prez: Apartments Can Close Housing Gap

Huntington Township Housing Coalition President Roger Weaving Jr. speaks Tuesday in favor of Huntington’s current C-6 zoning law and town legislation that requires affordable housing be included in new mixed-use buildings. (Long Islander News photo/Connor Beach)

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Town of Huntington officials heard Tuesday night from residents who support the current town code that allows residential apartments to be built over commercial stores.

The support comes on the heels of a nearly 1,000 signature petition started by opponents of the town’s 2006 C-6 zoning classification, which allows for the construction of mixed-use buildings “where a permitted commercial use occupies the ground floor and a residential use occupies space on upper floors.” The opposition wants the board to change town zoning laws to limit the construction of apartments over commercial space.

However, on Tuesday, the board heard from a group of supporters of the status quo.

“We need to build housing that addresses the needs of the future,” said Huntington Township Housing Coalition President Roger Weaving Jr., who was among the speakers.

Several speakers said the town’s current C-6 zoning, in tandem with 2017 legislation that made it so new mixed-use buildings in C-6 or C-5 zones are made up of 20 percent affordable housing, can help close a much needed gap in Huntington’s housing market.

In March, Weaving presented a report from the coalition that stated 729 units of affordable housing have been planned or constructed in Huntington since 2016. The report, citing a 2005 Rutgers University study, also indicated that the town would need 2,798 units of affordable housing by 2020 in order to meet projected demands.

Weaving, of Huntington, also submitted an email to the town board, attorney and planning department to advise that the Huntington Township Housing Coalition was in support of the C-6 zoning law and the affordable housing component.

After Weaving spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, Halesite resident Bob Suter said the need for affordable housing and the desire to restrain development were not mutually exclusive.

Suter, who presented to the town board last month the petition in opposition to the C-6 zoning laws, added that recent development plans for apartments in Huntington village did not meet the criteria for affordable housing.

Supervisor Chad Lupinacci reiterated after the meeting the need to “strike a balance between preventing overdevelopment and still being welcoming to businesses and families.”

Lupinacci, who last week said he directed the town’s planning department to review C-6 zoning laws and submit a report detailing potential changes, said he plans to review those recommendations early next week. A presentation will later be made to the town board, he added.