Islip planning board to discuss condos, parking

A proposal to loosen restrictions on the resale of condos and complaints about parking at a West Islip medical building are among the items to be debated at tonight’s Town of Islip Planning Board meeting.

The board is expected to hear from the owner of a medical building at 150 Higbie Lane in response to several resident complaints that visitors to the building are parking on a nearby street, in violation of a previous agreement between the developer and Planning Board, town planning officials said.

A 29-spot surface parking lot provides parking for the building, said Dave Genaway, commission of the Planning Board, and developer Joseph Vitagliano agreed to restrict parking on nearby Hawley Avenue as part of the board’s approval of the project.

“We’re taking them back in to see if we can help them solve the problem,” said Genaway.

The board will also consider a change to the affordable housing requirement at the Timber Ridge at Central Islip condominium development that would allow for the resale of the units at market rates.

If the proposal passes, first-time home buyers who bought a condo at the affordable rate could sell it at market price in the future.

The 262-unit development is split evenly among units for seniors and non-seniors. Genaway said the board will likely grant the proposal.

“It’s a technical issue that needs a correction,” he said.