Post by JETStender on Sept 13, 2009 11:16:53 GMT -5
Hempstead, Lighthouse officials still at odds
September 12, 2009 By EDEN LAIKIN eden.laikin@newsday.com
With just over one week to go before the zoning hearing on the proposed Lighthouse project, county, town and Lighthouse officials appear to be on opposite sides once again.
First, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, a Republican, sent a letter Thursday to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat, saying the town board expects a finished lease between the county and developers before it makes a decision whether to grant the necessary zoning change. And, the letter stated, that lease should contain certain essential provisions to protect local taxpayers.
Then, Suozzi and Lighthouse principal and Islanders hockey team owner Charles Wang reacted with surprise and anger, asking why Murray didn't make her "demands" known earlier.
And on Friday, Murray released an "Open Letter on the Lighthouse Project Regarding Taxpayer/Resident Safeguards" expressing surprise at Suozzi's and Wang's reactions and the fact that these "standard" provisions aren't already in the nearly completed lease negotiated by Suozzi and Wang.
Murray said in Friday's letter that the provisions she outlined are what one would expect from "a second-year law student preparing a lease agreement for a landlord." She added that Wang's self-imposed deadline of Oct. 3 is of no relevance to the town board as it "does not respond to deadlines set by applicants."
"As is always the case in town board decision-making, getting it done right is more important than getting it done fast," Murray said in the letter.
The provisions include prohibiting Wang from seeking tax abatements that could affect the millions of dollars in taxes he has said the project would generate; requiring Wang to employ local workers and pay those workers prevailing wages as part of the thousands of jobs he said the project would create; making sure the Islanders continue to play at the Nassau Coliseum; and keeping Wang from "selling" his development rights after winning zoning approval.
The Lighthouse project calls for a mixed-use development on 150 county-owned acres surrounding a renovated Coliseum.
For much of the time that the plan has been under town review, Lighthouse principals have accused Murray of dragging her feet on the town's approval process.
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Suozzi said he's had "enough with the letters at 4:30 in the afternoon" and that this has to be worked out in person.
"This is getting silly," he said. "I'm calling Supervisor Murray. Let's meet with her, myself and the developer and do what's good for Long Island and figure out how to get this project done."
September 12, 2009 By EDEN LAIKIN eden.laikin@newsday.com
With just over one week to go before the zoning hearing on the proposed Lighthouse project, county, town and Lighthouse officials appear to be on opposite sides once again.
First, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, a Republican, sent a letter Thursday to Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat, saying the town board expects a finished lease between the county and developers before it makes a decision whether to grant the necessary zoning change. And, the letter stated, that lease should contain certain essential provisions to protect local taxpayers.
Then, Suozzi and Lighthouse principal and Islanders hockey team owner Charles Wang reacted with surprise and anger, asking why Murray didn't make her "demands" known earlier.
And on Friday, Murray released an "Open Letter on the Lighthouse Project Regarding Taxpayer/Resident Safeguards" expressing surprise at Suozzi's and Wang's reactions and the fact that these "standard" provisions aren't already in the nearly completed lease negotiated by Suozzi and Wang.
Murray said in Friday's letter that the provisions she outlined are what one would expect from "a second-year law student preparing a lease agreement for a landlord." She added that Wang's self-imposed deadline of Oct. 3 is of no relevance to the town board as it "does not respond to deadlines set by applicants."
"As is always the case in town board decision-making, getting it done right is more important than getting it done fast," Murray said in the letter.
The provisions include prohibiting Wang from seeking tax abatements that could affect the millions of dollars in taxes he has said the project would generate; requiring Wang to employ local workers and pay those workers prevailing wages as part of the thousands of jobs he said the project would create; making sure the Islanders continue to play at the Nassau Coliseum; and keeping Wang from "selling" his development rights after winning zoning approval.
The Lighthouse project calls for a mixed-use development on 150 county-owned acres surrounding a renovated Coliseum.
For much of the time that the plan has been under town review, Lighthouse principals have accused Murray of dragging her feet on the town's approval process.
connections
Suozzi said he's had "enough with the letters at 4:30 in the afternoon" and that this has to be worked out in person.
"This is getting silly," he said. "I'm calling Supervisor Murray. Let's meet with her, myself and the developer and do what's good for Long Island and figure out how to get this project done."