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Resident and James McHugh urge stronger code enforcement, flag permit communication gaps
Summary
At a Town of North Hempstead meeting, a public commenter and James McHugh urged the board to enforce building, fire and permit rules after citing a five‑week street closure used as a parking lot and a ‘communications breakdown’ between town and county enforcement offices.
A public commenter and local resident speakers used the Town of North Hempstead’s public‑comment period to press the town board for stricter enforcement of building, fire and street‑permit rules and for better interagency communication.
The unidentified resident told the board that a street was closed under a construction permit for five weeks and then used as a parking lot, blocking emergency access. “No emergency vehicles can get through this blockage,” the commenter said, arguing the town should notify all required Nassau County entities before issuing such permits and hold inspectors accountable when dangerous conditions remain. “All we ever asked is for our laws to be observed,” the resident said.
Shortly afterward, James McHugh told the board he had met with Nassau County fire marshals after a 14‑month wait and that the meeting lasted about 90 minutes. McHugh said the county marshals told him they had not been made aware of some tent permits and cited a broader “communications breakdown” between the town’s building department and the county fire marshals that has produced inconsistent enforcement. “There’s a communications breakdown,” McHugh said. He urged that permit conditions be enforced, noted state codes are deputized to the county, and warned that repeat violators can face summonses or revocation of permits.
McHugh also addressed land‑use law (LUPA), saying religious institutions may have some zoning protections but do not have blanket exemptions from local ordinances. “LUPA is very clear on that,” he said.
Town officials did not adopt any new enforcement policy during the meeting. McHugh said he would escalate the matter if enforcement did not improve; the board acknowledged the concerns but recorded no motion directing immediate policy change.
What happens next: the comments were recorded in the meeting minutes; no formal action on enforcement was taken at this session. The issues raised—use of street‑closure permits, interagency notification and enforcement coordination—remain on the record for future board or staff follow‑up.
