New York Gov. Kathy Hochul plan to increase statewide housing stock would require local communities to meet a certain number of housing unit targets. A 3% housing stock growth goal every three years would apply to downstate cities like Long Island.
Parties opposed to Hochul’s plan say aging infrastructure could be a thorn in the side of the growth goals.
Huntington Now reported:
Aging infrastructure, from roads to sewers and even all-volunteer fire departments who sometimes oppose developments because of manpower issues, have been cited in recent days by groups concerned about adding more housing. Suffolk County banned the construction of new cesspools in 2020, requiring that new construction install pricier septic systems to reduce the level of nitrogen pollution that eventually enters the waters.
On the Hochul plan, Ferro said, “I think that the agenda to improve the housing stock has some merits. The housing stock on Long Island needs to grow to keep our youth here, to keep our seniors here. But this is putting the cart before the horse. Our infrastructure cannnot support the growth she’s looking for.
“The No.1 issue is, how does this affect our first responders, our fire departments and our ambullance corps? They sometimes struggle to handle the volume of calls they receive. This (the state plan) would put the cart before the horse, taking away decision making at a local level because that’s very dangerous. Residents elect to represent them.”
