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Harras Bloom & Archer
Become a Supporter of Smart Growth Vision Long Island prides itself on having a broad range of supporters. Become one today. A donation as small as $50 buys outreach materials to help a community build support for their vision. $500 sponsors an entire newsletter. $5,000 makes you a lead sponsor of our Smart Growth Summit, buying 10 tickets and a key branding opportunity for your organization.
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The law firm of Harras Bloom & Archer is a prominent Long Island firm that specializes in the complex zoning, land use, and environmental issues that impact residential and commercial real estate development on Long Island. The practice provides a variety of real estate services, ranging from representing local and national developers to navigating the environmental review process. Well versed in the recent trends and progressive movements like Smart Growth, Harras Bloom & Archer is an asset to Long Island’s landscape and has continually supported Vision and Smart Growth efforts throughout the area.
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The 7th Annual Smart Growth Summit is Coming
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
The 2008 Smart Growth Summit will focus on the policies, challenges and Smart Growth projects that need to be implemented. It brings together the broadest Long Island leaders from community, civic, professional and governmental sectors to educate and formulate strategies to move these policies and projects forward. We need you to be a part of these solutions.
Stay Tuned for Updates!
Sponsorship Packages are Available! • Visionary package includes: Logo in materials and advertisements, special recognition at event and on website, banner display, table for 10 at breakfast and lunch plenary sessions
Registration is now open! A downloadable registration form is available here.
__Visionary - $15,000 __Leader - $10,000 __Gold Sponsor - $5,000 __Sponsor - $2,000 Registration forms may be mailed to our office at 24 Woodbine Ave., Suite One, Northport, NY 11768 or faxed to 631-754-4452. |
Please join us for the 2008 Smart Growth Summit. This event represents the culmination of six successful Summits and promises to be the greatest yet. Its format includes improved networking opportunities and a variety of informative workshops on the best practices in Smart Growth and land use planning.
The Summit addresses a range of topics including transportation, clean energy & green building, sewers & infrastructure, codes & regulations, commercial corridor redevelopment, community planning & public process, regional planning, housing & gentrification, downtown revitalization, and projects of regional significance. The Summit also updates the regional Blueprint for Smart Growth, which was developed from our previous summits. The Blueprint continues to be a platform towards advancing a Smart Growth agenda for Long Island and your participation in the event helps to shape it.
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More Parking at the Mall? More Parking?!
And yet Walt Whitman Mall, which has wide, never-ending white rows of parking spots never seems to have a parking problem! So why do they need more spots? According to Mike Koehler’s article “More Parking at the Mall” in the September 11 edition of The Long Islander, the total parking capacity at Walt Whitman would go from 3,206 to 5,065. Can the mall generously donate some of those spots to a few downtowns? New York Avenue resident Irene Cruikshank was quoted in the article saying that “she supported any potential parking garages, but demanded that walking routes return after they were replaced with large bushes.” Maybe this is indicative that that tide is turning in favor of parking garages. If malls can do it, and they’re the epitome of suburbia, then perhaps downtowns can start shouting for them again, too. Bicycles: Saving the Environment and Saving Lives
So let's support those bike lanes: cut carbon emissions, fight the obesity problem with more exercise, and decrease the number of car accidents. It's a win-win-win situation. To read more about the safety associated with more bikes, see TreeHugger.com. |
While downtowns are afraid to even mention the words “multi-story garage” in response to parking complaints, it turns out malls can shout them as loud as they want. Simon Property Group, the owner of the Walt Whitman mall has filed preliminary paperwork that illustrates a future expansion of several department stores and a four-story parking garage. This is salt on the wounds for many advocates who have been relentlessly trying to do the same in Long Island’s downtowns and have consistently met with the shrill cries of opposition that such a move is too urban and too dense for suburbia. To preserve local character, parking spots are often limited to on-street parking on Main Street and to smaller lots behind stores. However, as downtowns strive to improve business and growth, they repeatedly come up against a one-story wall when it comes to growing up rather than out.
It turns out that bikes actually make roads safer! According to recent studies, the greater the number of bikes on the road, the fewer automobile accidents that occur. A cyclical reasoning process explains this somewhat counter-intuitive notion: This summer's high gas prices have driven more and more people across the region to seek transportation alternatives such as biking. As drivers see more cyclists on the roads, they tend to adjust their behavior and drive more cautiously, thus causing fewer accidents. As motorists begin to perceive that biking is actually safe, they become more willing to get out of their gas guzzlers and try biking themselves. Some take this argument even further, arguing that the focus on bike safety is not founded and that these fear tactics will only scare people away from cycling. Leave the helmet at home, they say. We'll leave that up to you.|
Glen Cove Waterfront Revitalization Gets Green Light
Brookhaven 2030 Update and Charrette
The newsletter also mentions the Brookhaven 2030 Charrette, which will present and review the Draft Land Use Plan, which was developed through public input. The charrette will take place at Brookhaven's Town Hall on Friday, October 17 from 7-9:30pm and Saturday, October 18th from 10am-4pm, with a presentation of the charette's results on Tuesday, October 21st from 7-9pm. See brookhaven2030.org for more information on the plan. Sewering Feasibility Study for Rocky Point Business District
This study comes after the decision to build a wastewater treatment facility to accommodate a new housing development that is coming to Rocky Point. This facility, however, will not have the capacity to handle the entire business district. Losquardro said that this sewer plan is essential to Rocky Point's downtown revitalization: "This is a community that is forward-thinking and steadfastly implementing Smart Growth initiatives that will bring people to the downtown area to work, shop, eat and entertain their families. This sewer feasibility study is an important component to the future of downtown Rocky Point." |
As an effort to increase public awareness of the Brookhaven 2030 Comprehensive Plan, its steering committee has launched an e-newsletter to update readers on its progress. Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert, head of the committee, opened up the first newsletter by encouraging feedback and laying out the basic goals of the plan. The goals range from protecting water and natural resources to promoting Main Streets and transit-oriented development to supplying diverse housing opportunities. The newsletter continues to list some of the public outreach workshops that have occurred over the last year to develop and implement the plan.
This week, Legislative Minority Leader Daniel P. Losquadro and County Executive Steve Levy announced a Sewering Feasibility Study for the Rocky Point Business District—a 2.5 mile long section of Route 25A that has primarily commercial uses. The study will determine how to build a sewer system in order to increase business investment, workforce housing opportunities, and environmental protection. It will also include a cost estimate to individual businesses, an important piece in determining any infrastructure investment. That number will determine whether or not the project can be implemented.
Commerce Bank Boycott
The conflict began three years ago, when the owner of a 1.5 wooded acre parcel on Portion Road sold it to Commerce Bank, despite community and Town of Brookhaven plans to preserve the bucolic area for a 9/11 memorial. Community members pleaded with the bank to relocate from the site, but the Town Planning Board approved the construction plans in March, and soon after the bulldozers broke ground. Bank spokeswoman Rebecca Acevedo maintains that the bank worked “closely with the township and the community” in the planning process and will continue to do so in supporting a new plan for the memorial. Freedner and others in the community are duly skeptical of this claim, especially after the bank rejected any alternate bank sites and the Town Planning Board approved the plan, despite community opposition. “It’s a very sore issue in the neighborhood. The government and these corporation combined can really hurt a community.” Vision's Board of Directors has yet to take a formal position on this matter, yet we firmly believes in the rights of community organizations to fight for good planning, better building design, and proper community outreach. To boycott the bank, call 1-888-751-9000 and tell Commerce Bank about your plans to boycott. More information can be found on the Civic Association's website. |
While Lake Ronkonkoma residents resign themselves to the fact that Commerce Bank will open its branch next year at their proposed 9/11 memorial site, they have also chosen not to end the resistance. According to 
LIPC Leadership Conference Comes to Brentwood September 13th
Change LI! Change NY! Change America! For more information or to register for this great event, please call 516.541.1006 ext.16 or email maurice@lipc.org. Non-Violence Seminar To Be Held September 13th
Registration is $5, but a larger donation is welcome. Those unable to pay the $5 may pay less, if necessary. For information or to register, contact Eve Sokol at 631-286-5879. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bellport is located at 51 Browns Lane, Bellport Village. Building an Island of Opportunity: Long Islanders Take Action on Immigration Policy Day
The event is at the Suffolk County Legislature, Wm. Rogers Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge. For more information, contact Luis Valenzuela at (631) 789-0720 or (631) 603-4266. North Hempstead accessory apartment law Meeting Moved to NHP Memorial High SChool on September 16th
In August, the Town Board amended the Town’s accessory apartment law and removed the “blood relationship rule,” which mandated that tenants of accessory apartments be related to the homeowners. Many locals fear that the change will “urbanize the area, overburden services, increase taxes, crowd schools and attract transient residents.” Hoards of these residents came out to a Town Hall meeting on August 19th to express their strong disapproval of the amendment and Town officials expect much of the same for the September 16th hearing. According to a Newsday article, a Town councilman has sponsored legislation to repeal the measure. This legislation is likely to be voted on next month, and as there has only been one public meeting scheduled so far to discuss the matter, it is unlikely that supporters or opponents of the amendment will have another opportunity to express their opinions or any viable solutions to the area’s affordable housing issues. For more information, visit the Town’s website. Steve Levy and Tom Suozzi Lead All-Star Panel at "Cutting Through The Red Tape: Building Long Island Today" On September 18th
Event registration for the breakfast discussion begins at 7:45am and is $95 per person. A portion of the proceeds will go to local college scholarship funds that support future architects, engineers, and developers. For more information call 631-428-8190 or 631-543-0320, or email redtape@buildinglongisland.com. September 18th Leaders in Government Symposium Focuses on The Moses Legacy
Registration is required for this event. Please call 631-632-9021 for more information and to reserve a spot. September 19th is Park(ing) Day
The underlying purpose of the event is to advocate for more outdoor public space in cities, in response to the lack of open space that presently exists. It has been said that an average of 90% of leisure time in America is spent shopping. Common sense should tell us that this is unacceptable: Community happens outdoors. Americans, particularly those in urban centers, need better options for spending time outdoors. The event also tackles advocating for transportation alternatives, an issue that is closely linked to many of the organizations that are hosting a spot. Park(ing) Day attempts to bring these land use and transportation challenges to public attention. Personally, we're smitten. For more information, see ParkingDayNYC.org. Intergenerational Strategies Forum at Dowling College Being Held September 19th
Dr. Butler will discuss the cost of spending half as much time in retirement as at work, the debate over collecting Social Security and Medicare, and other pertinent topics. Registration is $30 and includes a copy of Dr. Butler's new book, "The Longevity Revolution: The Benefits and Challenges of Living a Long Life." More information and online registration is available on Dowling's website. Town of Huntington to Release Comprehensive Plan Update; Public Hearing To Take Place September 23rd
As part of their public outreach efforts, the Town will post the plan on their website, put copies of the plan in libraries throughout Huntington and in Huntington Town Hall at 100 Main Street. In addition, the Town Board is planning a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday, September 23rd at 7pm at the Town Hall. For an excerpt from the draft plan, visit LIBN's BizBlog. However, the best way to see the complete plan is to attend the public hearing and visit your local libraries. If an organization has questions on the draft Plan and would like to discuss it with Town planners prior to the public hearing, they are invited to contact Anthony J. Aloisio, Huntington’s Director of Planning and Environment at 631-351-3196. The article also states that small groups are welcome to arrange appointments to visit planning professionals in Town Hall. Please take advantage of this transparent public process. Pine Barrens Research Forum Coming October 2nd-3rd
For more information visit their website and download a copy of the registration form here. Upcoming Public Workshops for NYMTC’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Come To LI October 6th and 7th
For more information, contact Jan Khan at 212-383-7251 or by email at jkhan@dot.state.ny.us. |
On Saturday, September 13th, the Long Island Progressive Coalition will hold their 2008 Leadership Conference at the Academy of Saint Joseph at 1725 Brentwood Road in Brentwood. From 9:30-5pm, this free event will bring Long Islanders together to work for collective change while building bridges across racial lines, generations, and within communities. The conference offers hands-on training in practical, successful organizing skills with inspiring workshops and networking opportunities.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bellport is holding a Non-Violent Communication Workshop on Saturday, September 13th, from 8:30am to 5pm. Presenters Sue Tibke, teacher and NVC trainer, and Gregg Wills, licensed massage therapist and NVC trainer, will run the workshop based on the work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, the founder and educational director of the Center for Nonviolent Communication, and will focus on making peace at home and in the country and world that we live in today.
On Tuesday, September 16th, the Long Island Immigration Alliance will host a Day of Action against the divisive Suffolk County legislation of the past several years that is harming the Island's growing immigrant population. Business, labor, health care, housing, and other community leaders will present the argument that integrating new immigrants into Long Island's legislation will only create an Island of Opportunity, with economic opportunities for all Suffolk County residents. Proposed legislative attention will include investment in ESL programs, protection of workers' rights, and access to healthcare. The day begins with an 8:45am rally, followed by a press conference at 9 and a legislative address from 9:30-1. 
The Town of North Hempstead has moved the September 16th meeting to discuss the change in the accessory apartment law from Clinton G. Martin Park to a bigger space at the New Hyde Park Memorial High School. Due to the vociferous public response to the change, the location was moved in anticipation of a “massive turnout," said town spokesman Collin Nash in a recent Newsday article. 
Building Long Island Magazine presents their 2nd Annual "Cutting Through The Red Tape: Building Long Island Today." On Thursday, September 18th at Milleridge Cottage in Jericho, panelists will discuss issues in building across Long Island today, many of which are focused on getting through the bureaucracy that delays and drives up the costs of projects. Moderated by Patrick Halpin, Executive Vice President for External Affairs for the Institute for Student Achievement, the panel will include Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Executive Director of LI Regional Planning Board Michael White, and many other notable Town Supervisors and leaders. 
The Center for Study of Executive Leadership, the Center for Regional Policy Studies at Stony Brook University, and Senator Kenneth P. LaValle are holding the 8th Symposium in the "Leaders in Government" series on September 18th, from 8:30am to 2:30pm at the SUNY Stony Brook Student Activities Center. The program kicks off with breakfast and follows with panel discussions analyzing the impact of Robert Moses on development on Long Island. The luncheon features keynote speaker and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Robert Caro.
Imagine: you're walking down a busy New York City street, on your way to work or going out to lunch. All of a sudden, your eyes deceive you—a small grassy park is right there in the middle of the street. You aren't hallucinating—this is a part of Park(ing) Day, an annual, international effort to educate the public about the benefits of open space preservation and transportation alternatives. On Friday, September 19th, at least 50 organizations in New York City and many more throughout the world will legally take over a parking space for the day. The spaces will become miniature parks, with tables, chairs, snacks, plants, and even grass. As workers take a field day and hang out in the streets all day, passersby will be able to enjoy a little green haven in the middle of a busy city. 
The Center for Intergenerational Policy and Practice at Dowling College is holding an inaugural breakfast on September 19th from 8am to 10:30am. Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dr. Robert Butle, who coined the term "ageism" and made Alzheimer's a household name, will bring his knowledge and experience in aging issues to speak on the extension of human life expectancy by thirty years and how our society has yet to adapt to this shift. 
According to a Long Island BizBlog article by David Reich-Hale, the Town of Huntington is about to release Comprehensive Plan Update: Horizons 2020. This is a draft version of a document that will guide future development in the Town. This includes Huntington Station, East Northport and Dix Hills. The draft report, completed last fall, focused on seven key planning areas: Environmental Resources and Open Space, Community Character, Community Facilities, Land Use, Economic Development, Transportation, and Housing within the Town.
The Thirteenth Annual Pine Barrens Research Forum will be held on Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton. The 2008 Forum theme is "Current Challenges and Future Solutions"
and is sponsored by Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Central Pine Barrens Commission, the Long Island Groundwater Research Institute at Stony Brook, and the Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast (FERN). As with last year's Forum, the Program features a balance of speakers from the New York metropolitan area and around the nation, covering research, technical, and applied science topics. 
The event's national speakers hail from the U.S. Forest Service, the University of Pittsburgh, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, and NYS DEC's Albany office. Speakers from the New York metropolitan area come from the Suffolk County Health Department, Dowling College, St. John's University, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and East Hampton Town. Welcoming remarks will be provided by Chairman Scully of the Pine Barrens Commission, Dr. Aronson of Brookhaven Lab, and Ms. Dikeakos of the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven Office.
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Captree State Park Fall Harvest and Seafood Festival
For a change of pace, here's one even we couldn't think of. We'll let this downtown event speak for itself.
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Before the air chills and the days grow so short that you forget what the sun looks like after work, come to Captree State Park for the annual Fall Harvest and Seafood Festival. The event will take place on Saturday, September 13th and Sunday September 14th from 11am-5pm at one of the Island’s best State Parks. The day’s events include delicious wine tasting from Long Island wineries, juicy fresh produce from local farms and orchards, and sumptuous seafood from our bountiful waters. Children can enjoy a plethora of activities including crab races, boat rides, interactive pirate shows, and much more. While all activities are free, there is a $6.00 vehicle free in effect from 7am to 6pm, so carpool, bike, or get there before the crack of dawn to avoid the fee. Captree State Park is located on Ocean Drive, near the southern end of the Robert Moses Causeway. It can be reached via the Southern State Parkway, Sunrise Highway, or Montauk Highway. For additional information please call 631-321-3510 weekdays from 9am-5pm. Weekends and/or day of event, please call 631-669-0449. So before you resent fall for stealing daylight savings time, head to Captree State Park and celebrate all the wonders of the changing season. 
Check out the complete article from the New York Times. Try these modest houses on for size from the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company’s website. |
One might have to rub their eyes a few times before believing that they’re actually seeing a 90-square-foot house on the highway. But in fact, this tiny house is one of many sprouting up across the US as part of the “small house movement.” According to Steven Kurutz article from the New York Times, advocates of this downsizing believe in “minimizing one’s footprint-structural as well as carbon-by living in spaces that are smaller than 1,000 square feet and, in some cases, smaller than 100.” Shay Salomon, a green builder in Arizona and author of “Little House on a Small Planet,” says “It’s a very exciting moment because it feels like a chapter of American history might be ending, the chapter called ‘Bigger is Better’.” While this is certainly a creative solution to the affordable housing quagmire, it is not for everyone. A family of four and Fido can’t exactly fit well, but rising energy costs and the mortgage crisis certainly make this an appealing option for first time home buyers and empty nesters. SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.
For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |
