Huntington holds public hearing on proposed warehouse restrictions in Melville overlay; developers warn of costs
Loading...
Summary
The Town Board held a public hearing on a proposed local law that would limit warehouse and distribution uses in parts of Melville, prompting developers and property owners to warn the board the draft language could force existing uses into special‑permit reviews and harm leasing and values.
HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — The Town Board held a public hearing on Local Law Introductory Number 3‑2025, a proposed change to Huntington’s zoning code that would limit warehouse and distribution uses in industrial (I‑1) districts and specifically bar warehouse uses as a primary use in the Melville Town Center overlay district.
Supporters of the overlay’s intent told the board the measure aims to protect the town’s plan for a walkable mixed‑use Melville town center, but several commercial property owners and their attorneys warned the draft’s wording sweeps too broadly and could impose unanticipated costs and delays.
“The concern tonight is with the wording of the proposed local law,” said Daniel Baker of Greenberg Traurig, speaking for Rechler Equity Partners. Baker told the board the draft would require many existing or prospective warehouse users to seek special use permits, even when there was no change to a building’s footprint or square footage, and that the law’s language could hamper leasing and investment.
John Chelemy, an attorney for Melville Park Road, LLC, made a related point: overlay districts are normally supplemental to underlying zoning and used to incentivize development, he said, and an outright ban on uses allowed in the underlying I‑1 zone would “throw into question” the overlay’s purpose. William Cornaccio, representing the Weir Group, said similar restrictions in other towns had effectively frozen property and stifled development.
Supervisor Smith told the public the measure was not on for enactment and that the town attorney’s office would review the language. “The intent of this is to prevent a new warehouse from getting built in the middle of a walkable downtown,” Smith said, adding the town attorney will look at possible tweaks to align the law with that goal.
The hearing record includes technical language the draft would amend — notably proposed changes to section 198‑34 of the town code — and speakers repeatedly pressed for clarity about grandfathering, treatment of legally preexisting nonconforming uses, and specific size or threshold definitions that would differentiate small accessory storage from large distribution centers.
No vote was taken at the meeting. Officials said they expect further review by the town attorney and follow-up discussions with affected property owners and the planning department.
Why it matters: Melville is a hub of light industrial and office space; how the town defines and restricts warehousing will shape leasing, redevelopment and the local economy. Property owners said the draft could upend existing leases and investment plans; town leaders framed the proposal as protecting the walkable, mixed‑use vision for Melville.
What’s next: The board did not enact the local law and directed the town attorney’s office to review its language. Further public discussion and revisions are expected before any final vote.
