Officials: Zoning overhaul near completion

Farmingdale officials said they're nearing the "end game" in a yearlong process to overhaul the village's downtown zoning code and allow higher-density development.

The village held a public hearing Monday to discuss code changes for 60 acres around Main and Conklin streets -- near the Long Island Rail Road station -- where apartments would be permitted above ground-level retail stores. The existing zoning doesn't allow for such residences.

No decision was made, and the hearing was continued to Nov. 7.

Mayor George Starkie said revisions based on community input may still be incorporated into the final code.

Residents expressed concern about the number of parking spots required per housing unit, requested reducing the 31/2-floor maximum building height to 3, and sought architectural uniformity of new structures.

"We're losing our identity," said Phil Cirrone, who runs a bagel shop on Main Street and supports the changes and efforts to reinvigorate downtown.

Starkie said the new code would motivate developers to invest in Farmingdale. The downtown area now consists of aging storefronts and empty lots without much adjacent housing to attract foot traffic.

Village officials have said they want to see the area become an example of the transit-oriented development model being proposed in towns and villages across Long Island.

"To get developers to invest, there needs to be an upside. Right now there is no upside," the mayor said. "We need to give them a reason to want to rebuild."

The proposed code can be found at farmingdalevillage.com/BOA-DGEIS.htm.