Amnesty Period Set For Parking Scofflaws

Drivers with unpaid, past due parking violations can pay up without penalty under an amnesty program approved by the town board.
Long Islander News photo/Connor Beach

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Drivers with outstanding parking fees will get a break if they pay their fines in the new year.

The Town of Huntington unanimously approved earlier this month an amnesty program for outstanding parking violations issued between Jan. 1, 2013 and June 30, 2018.

The resolution was co-sponsored by Councilmen Mark Cuthbertson and Ed Smyth.

The amnesty program will provide drivers with a 40 percent reduction in the cost of all parking ticket fines and additional surcharges if the ticket is paid before April 1, 2019, according to town documents.

Huntington last held a parking amnesty program in 2013, when violators were similarly offered 40 percent off their outstanding parking tickets.

According to town documents, there is in excess $1.5 million in fines and surcharges still unpaid from parking fines and surcharges issued by the town’s Traffic Violations Bureau since Jan. 1, 2013.

The Maryland-based Brekford Corporation has administered the town’s parking ticket management system since 2013, and the company submitted a plan to implement the amnesty program to the town at the end of October.

The town will mail letters to people who qualify for the parking ticket amnesty program, and payment can be made either online or by mail, according to town documents.

The Huntington town attorney is responsible for the administration of the Traffic Violations Bureau, and will oversee the amnesty program along with the director of public safety.

Hearing Set On Village Apartments Plan

A rendering depicts a Main Street portion of a mixed-use development with 84 luxury apartments proposed for Huntington village. Developers have promised to preserve and restore the facade of the 1911 Huntington Firehouse, depicted above, as part of their proposal.

By Connor Beach

cbeach@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals will hear next month developers’ plans to construct a more than 271,000-square-foot, four-story mixed-use development with 84 luxury apartments in Huntington village.

Developers John Kean and Alan Fromkin are scheduled to present their plans for the demolition and re-construction of buildings fronting Main Street, Gerard Street and Stewart Avenue in Huntington village to the ZBA at a public hearing on Jan. 24, according to legal notices submitted by the town.

Fromkin is the owner of owner of Classic Galleries at 243 Main Street, which is located in one of the buildings involved in the plan.

The project was previously set for a ZBA public hearing last June, but the hearing was adjourned to allow the developers time to address concerns raised by the Huntington planning board.

Huntington-based attorney Jim Margolin, who is representing the developers, said in an interview Wednesday at the time there “seemed to be a disconnect” between his clients and the planning board. He said additional information has since been submitted to town planners, including updated traffic and drainage studies.

Margolin added that, although some details are different, the proposed development remains largely unchanged

After several meetings with historians, Margolin presenting an updated version of the development to the planning board in February. He also said Kean and Fromkin promised to restore and preserve the facade of the historic 1911 Huntington Firehouse at 235 Main Street.

Kean and Fromkin need the ZBA to approve a number of variances and a special use permit in order to move forward with the development.

The variances include approval to build a four-story building, which would exceed the code-allowed limit of three, and parking relief. The proposal is required by town code to provide 262 parking spaces and plans call for 127 onsite stalls.

Margolin said Wednesday the ZBA hearing would be a good opportunity to explain the details of the proposed development to Huntington residents.

The public hearing is slated for Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at town hall.

No More Mixing Your Recyclables

You’ll need two pails to sort recycling starting Jan. 2 when Huntington returns to separate collection days for paper and cardboard, and glass and plastic recyclables.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Huntington residents will again have to sort their recycling next year when the town switches back to dual-stream recycling.

Starting on Jan. 2, 2019 the town is switching from a single-stream to a dual-stream recycling system. Dual-stream recycling means the town refuse department and it’s contractors will collect bottles, cans and plastics one week and paper and corrugated cardboard the following week, according to town documents.

Supervisor Chad Lupinacci said alternating the material on recycling days requires less sorting and decreased the cost.

“Huntington is 100 percent committed to recycling and protecting our environment, which is why we are adopting dual-stream recycling as of January 2019,” Lupinacci said.

A Town-issued handout gives a guide to what can and can’t be put out for recycling.

“Dual-stream recycling is the only cost-effective, environmentally responsible option available that will allow the Town to continue our recycling program.”

The change is a result of “a dramatic and downward shift in worldwide commodity markets for recyclables- specifically in China” environmental waste management director John Clark told the town board during a budget hearing in early November.

Clark said the switch from single to dual stream recycling lowers the town’s processing costs for recycling from an estimated $950,000 to about $250,000.

Huntington previously had an agreement with the Town of Brookhaven for the processing of single-stream recyclables. Huntington officials received a letter on Oct. 23 from Brookhaven stating they would not accept any of Huntington’s recycling after Oct. 29 due to “catastrophic changes in international markets for recyclables.”

To help increase the quality of recycled materials, Lupinacci suggested residents keep paper dry by putting a lid on paper recycling containers, rinse out bottles, cans and jars and avoid glass because it is difficult and costly to recycle.

More information on dual-stream recycling and a full schedule of pick-up dates can be found on the town website at Huntingtonny.gov.