New density plan for Patchogue praised

Yes, in your backyard.

That was the development message from Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy Wednesday after he toured downtown Patchogue with village Mayor Paul Pontieri and members of the Suffolk County Planning Commission.

Levy said Patchogue's willingness to sign off on dense projects -- such as its March approval of the Patchogue New Village development, which is slated to include 17,000 square feet of office space, 45,000 square feet of retail space and 291 apartments -- is a model for other villages and towns.

Too often, he said, local officials disapprove of projects they feel will overburden the community with traffic. This is commonly referred to as "not in my backyard" syndrome.

The county executive also said the success of new transit-oriented residential development in Patchogue, where more than 200 housing units have risen in the last seven years, is encouraging. Patchogue's growth is evidence that major Suffolk projects such as the Ronkonkoma train hub and Wyandanch Rising developments can succeed, Levy said.

"The harder part is trying to get the locals to move the ball forward. Patchogue is the example you want to follow: get it done," Levy said. "Get a plan, get a developer and say yes."

Wyandanch Rising is slated to include development around the Long Island Rail Road station and a variety of housing types as well as commercial properties and public green spaces. The Ronkonkoma project is part of Brookhaven Town's effort to improve the Long Island Rail Road station and calls for retail and residential development at the station and on 50 surrounding acres.

Levy said those projects, as well as the possibility of dense residential development in Huntington Station, deserve support from local officials. He also called on Riverhead officials to continue to work with county officials to revitalize the town's downtown area, adding that previous administrations in Riverhead "just didn't want to get anything done."

Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter said the town and county are "partners in the redevelopment of Main Street," which has seen recent business growth after years of stagnation.

Levy made the statements after a brief tour of Artspace, an $18-million, five-story live-work space that completed construction this year.

Pontieri said he agreed with Levy that towns need to be willing to allow developers to build for greater density if they want to fill downtown vacancies.