Huntington board OKs AvalonBay development

The Huntington Town Board approved the proposed AvalonBay multifamily housing development Monday night after about 40 people addressed the board.

It passed 4-1 after board members cast votes about 10 p.m.

The approval to change zoning on a site a half-mile from the Huntington Long Island Rail Road station to build a 379-unit development came after more than a year of protests, revised plans and community meetings.

The vote, which changes zoning on the 26.6-acre site from residential to garden apartment special district, came after a defeated proposal, threats of legal action and the hours-long meeting Monday night from which one resident was removed by police.

Town Board member Mark Cuthbertson, who voted against an AvalonBay proposal last year because of density, defeating the project, voted for it Monday night.

In September, an AvalonBay proposal to build a 490-unit development on the parcel was rejected by the board.

"This proposal is more suitable," Cuthbertson said. "And I thought it was something I could live with."

Board member Mark Mayoka cast Monday night's lone nay vote.

Last week, the Suffolk County Planning Commission voted 11-0 to approve the application with a condition that the developer must consult Planning Commission guidelines on energy efficiency and public safety. AvalonBay will have to go before the Planning Commission again to get site plan approval.

The proposal is expected to cost $100 million.

As the AvalonBay vote approached Monday night, Supervisor Frank Petrone summoned police officers to remove Huntington resident Tony Caruso after his repeated outbursts. As Caruso was leaving, he got into a scuffle with officers and was later placed in handcuffs.

AvalonBay developer Matt Whelan thanked the board and said, "It's now on our shoulders to show the residents what a beautiful community we can build."