Farmingdale residents: No more apartments

Farmingdale residents want the village's downtown to be revitalized, but many at a hearing on the plan said they would prefer it be done without adding apartments.

The effect that more dense, mixed-use redevelopment would have on traffic, parking and the school population was questioned by about a dozen of the 100 people at the two-hour hearing in the library Monday night regarding a draft environmental impact statement. After public comments are addressed, the study must be approved before the village board can vote by early September on an updated master plan and a revised zoning code for the 60-acre business district.

Eric Zamft, the village planning consultant, said the redevelopment plan would beautify downtown, add landscaping and green space, improve transportation and traffic flow, connect Main Street and the Long Island Rail Road station, diversify stores and restaurants, and their clientele, to make a more vibrant community.

He said 35 primarily vacant or underused properties might be redeveloped under the plan. The 375 new apartments will attract young people and others who cannot afford to buy single-family homes but who will contribute to a vibrant street life, Zamft said. Some apartments would be above shops and offices -- currently not allowed -- while more than 150 would be in stand-alone buildings.

The plan calls for some new parking, including a possible parking structure on the southern edge of a lot south of the train station.

Debbie Poldolski, chairwoman of the village Downtown Revitalization Committee, said with the changes proposed, "Farmingdale's downtown could be a real model for the rest of Long Island."

But resident William Day was loudly applauded when he said "we have enough apartments already."

Resident Joe Carosella said the apartments "will exacerbate the traffic problem" that already exists during rush hour.

Mayor George Starkie said the village was already working on the traffic problem and would be adding left-turn lanes on Main Street where it intersects with Conklin Street.

"Traffic will be better than we have now," Starkie promised. He added that the apartments would bring very few, if any, children to the schools.