Huntington senior housing debate put off

The debate over a controversial proposal by the Huntington Housing Authority to build senior housing in Huntington Station will have to wait a week.

The town's zoning board of appeals decided late last night to table the issue until next Thursday.

The proposal for the 2.99-acre property on Lowndes Avenue requires an area variance because it calls for a higher density than the 15 units per acre allowed. The authority plans to build 20 one-bedroom senior units in one three-story building and 26 one-bedroom senior units in a second building. Thirty existing family units would be renovated.

The Huntington school board and some residents oppose the plan because they say it would be too dense. The school board approved hiring attorney Vincent Messina to represent it at meetings and "commence litigation" against the zoning board to stop the plan.

In a testy presentation to the board, Messina requested that the hearing be canceled and the meeting rescheduled because of improper notification. The request was denied. He said the request for an area variance is incorrect and the authority was trying to get a precedent-setting application passed for high-density housing.

He also questioned the partnership between the authority and the developer, D&F Development Groups, and their financial motives. "They don't need 26 units per acre in order to accomplish a simple renovation of existing senior housing."

The authority faces a Feb. 8 deadline to secure $20 million in state funding, which comes with a 9 percent tax credit.

Originally, the plan for the property called for a 30-unit, four-story building for seniors, renovating four existing buildings, and demolishing a one-story building with 10 units and replacing it with a two-story building with 16 units, also for seniors. But the plan was reconfigured after input from the community.

Peggy Boyd, of the Family Service League, said she was shocked that senior housing was being debated and encouraged the approval of the variance. "This is a great opportunity to renovate that space and provide quality housing for our seniors."

Housing Authority chairman William Spencer said he was pleased the board listened to all the facts from both sides of a highly charged issue. "I will accept the decision of the board. We laid out our proposal and will have to see what they decide."