Patchogue wants to step back and reconsider future development
Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri Jr. stands at the New Village development in the downtown, where the village underwent a renovation, adding multifamily housing and more retail space, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. Credit: Steve Pfost
Patchogue officials have enacted a six-month moratorium halting the construction of multifamily housing and apartments villagewide pending approval by the Suffolk County Planning Commission.
Village officials said they don’t expect to hear back from the county until January.
The move toward a building moratorium, unanimously approved by board members last month, would give village officials time to study the municipal zoning code and where future housing should be built, officials said.
The village’s willingness to step back and consider its next move comes in the wake of strong growth in recent years, with more than 700 apartments constructed downtown that have drawn new residents, artists and visitors from around the region.
But village trustees now want to wait before considering construction on undeveloped land and properties in the municipality.
Trustee Lori Devlin is spearheading a committee that will evaluate the state of housing in the village.
She said the committee, which will meet once a week, will take a closer look at the impact development has had on village housing, taxes, sewage treatment and parking.
Mayor Paul Pontieri said he believes that more than 600 people have moved to the village since 2006.
“We’re evaluating 10 to 12 years’ worth of construction,” he said, adding that Patchogue needs to see how much traffic has increased.
Village board members, the Long Island Housing Partnership, former Suffolk County Chief Deputy Executive Jim Morgo, planning and zoning board members and village residents will be part of the committee.
