Curran announces panel to streamline development approvals

County Executive Laura Curran on Wednesday said Nassau County has launched a "blue ribbon panel" that will focus on streamlining development approvals. The effort is aimed at attracting new businesses and encouraging economic development.

The committee includes business leaders and elected officials.

The panel will provide recommendations on the Department of Public Works' 239-F permitting application and approval process. The 239-F process affects any construction project that fronts a Nassau County road.

"This complex and antiquated process has created immense challenges and delayed construction projects for everyone from mom and pop business owners to large corporations to single family homeowners in Nassau County," Curran said in a statement. 

The county executive's office said that on average it takes from12 to 24 months for a construction project to be approved. The DPW attributes the lag to antiquated and limited technology, low staffing levels and outside engineers not meeting county requirements.

The panel will examine the DPW's procedures and resources, use of technology and its fee structure. It will also explore opportunities to modernize the DPW process.

The panel's co-chairs are Ken Arnold, the commissioner of the DPW, and Kyle Strober of the Association for a Better Long Island.