From the Presidents Desk
From the September 2007 Issue.
While there were no NCVOA meetings this summer, the Executive Committee has been busy working on several initiatives for our member villages. I thought it would be helpful if I updated you on our progress.
Dear Mayors and Trustees:
It is hard to believe that the summer has come and gone. I think we all agree that the summer is too short. At least this year's weather was beautiful and we had plenty of days to enjoy all the outdoor amenities that Long Island offers. And now comes the hard part - gearing up for the return to our daily routines.
While there were no NCVOA meetings this summer, the Executive Committee has been busy working on several initiatives for our member villages. I thought it would be helpful if I updated you on our progress.
Workforce Housing Bill As you know, there has been much debate over the issue of workforce housing. We all agree on the need to create affordable housing to help keep our young adults from leaving Long Island; however, there are many divergent views on how this should be accomplished.
The Long Island Association (LIA) has been spearheading in Albany legislation to create workforce housing on Long Island. In 2005, a bill, known as the Long Island Workforce Housing Incentive Program Act, was sponsored by Tom DiNapoli and Michael Balboni in the Assembly and Senate respectively. It required a developer to set aside 10% of any new development (of five units or more) for families whose earnings did not exceed 80% of the area's median income. Also, if a local government determined that setting aside at least 10% of such units would have an adverse impact on the health, safety or environment of its residents, it could instead require the developer to pay a reasonable fee to the local government. These fees would be deposited in a dedicated trust fund, would be used exclusively by the locality to provide such housing. While the bill unanimously passed in theAssembly in January 2006, it failed in the Senate. Many senators, including Nassau County's Dean Skelos and Kemp Hannon, did not support this legislation because they believed it would undermine the zoning authority of towns and villages. Since that time, there have been efforts to amend the bill to make it acceptable to both sides. At the June Executive Committee meeting, LIA President Matthew Crosson and John Cameron, vice chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Board, addressed the Executive Committee to determine if there was a way in which villages would support the LIA's initiative to encourage developers to build affordable workforce housing. During a very candid discussion, we expressed our concerns about the bill's vague language. We agreed to continue to explore the issue. Gary Fishberg, NCVOA counsel, is reviewing the revised version and will be making recommendations for language clarification. While we have not yet reached an agreement, we believe progress is being made that would be acceptable to both sides.
We all agree that workforce housing is a major priority. But Long Island has many communities, each with its own characteristics and complexities. The challenge is how to create a program that addresses the need for increasing affordable housing that is equitable, legal, and realistic. The NCVOA looks forward to working with the LIA, Long Island Regional Planning Board, and our state legislators to pursue solutions to the workforce housing dilemma. We will keep you apprised of any developments.
Email James