8/17/2021

Newsday: Old Westbury won't make zoning changes to allow multifamily housing after pushback

By Dandan Zou [email protected] Updated August 17, 2021 5:34 PM

The Old Westbury Village board said it would not act on a study that proposed zoning changes to allow multifamily housing after residents pushed back saying it would lead to high-density development and change the character of their picturesque community.

The study was commissioned by the village in 2018 and conducted by VHB, an East Coast engineering firm with an office in Hauppauge.

"The recommendations in the VHB Study remain solely that — recommendations only," read the statement released Friday. "The Board has reached the conclusion that further action is not warranted."

The June study identified three "opportunity sites," including the 98-acre Phipps Estate, and recommended creating an overlay district to allow multifamily buildings in the village where single-family homes account for 98% of its housing stock. Old Westbury has about 1,200 single-family homes.

In July, some residents formed the Village of Old Westbury Civic Association to oppose the suggested zoning changes.

"We feel like we’ve been blindsided and the fact that we hadn’t been politically active, we were being taken advantage of," said Mariella Rutigliano, who noted the association has about 200 members.

Luis Rinaldini, a member of the association, told the trustees in a Monday meeting that the board lost touch with the community.

"We're putting 350 homes in one property," Rinaldini said. "You put 400 or 500 homes in the village of 1,000 homes, and it's not going to change the character of the village? The fact that the board didn't see that is scary."

The property Rinaldini referred to is the Phipps Estate between Post Road and Hitchcock Lane, which developer Stewart Senter is under contract to purchase.

Senter told Newsday on Tuesday he had wanted to build up to 350 units of luxury condos for those who are 55 or older.

"It would allow people who didn't want to have two acres or four acres or more and maintain a large home … to stay in the village and move into a home that everything’s taken care of by the condo association," said Senter of Old Westbury.

The homebuilder added the project would have been a tax generator for the village and local school district without adding school-age children.

At the meeting Monday, a few residents demanded that Deputy Mayor Marina Chimerine, who has used the service of Senter’s company in the past two decades, remove herself from the discussions because they said she had a conflict of interest. Chimerine disputed that she had a conflict of interest but said she would recuse herself if Senter submits an application.

"I'm opposed to any type of development that would compromise the integrity of this village," said Chimerine, who presided the meeting as Mayor Edward Novick was absent due to a death in the family. "But I'm certainly not opposed to any kind of changes in this village."

When pressed by residents to state their position on "high-density, multifamily housing," the remaining three trustees said they do not support it.

"I believe 350 units in a community of 1,100 homes is something that would change the community," trustee Andrew Weinberg said. "It would have a significant impact on the village, and I don't think it would be beneficial."

Study's timeline

• March 2018: Village officials approved spending $150,000 to hire VHB to review its comprehensive land use plan.
• January 2020: VHB presented a draft.
• May 2021: The board approved an additional $82,000 for the study.
• July 2021: Village of Old Westbury Civic Association was formed.
• August 2021: The board said it would not act on the study's recommendations.

August 17, 2021

At the August 16, 2021 Board Meeting attended by over 35 residents, the trustees of the Village of Old Westbury confirmed their plans to abandon any zoning amendment that would permit high-density, multi-family development in the Village. Three of the four present trustees stated that they are strongly opposed to any future zoning variances that would allow multi-family housing in the village.

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August 13, 2021

The Village of Old Westbury Civic Association has posted the following update on their website:

Thank you for raising your voice against the proposed changes to our Zoning Code that threaten to pave the way for opportunistic developers, high-density, multi-family development and endless litigation in our Village.

We are at a critical point in defeating this misguided rezoning initiative. The Board of Trustees has indicated that it plans to abandon any zoning amendment that would permit high-density, multi-family development in the Village. We hope to have the Board’s formal commitment placed on the record at the forthcoming Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM and subsequently memorialized in writing.

We must continue to make our voices heard until we are successful. We cannot grow complacent. Here is how you can help:

1. Continue to share the petition with your family members, friends and neighbors via EMAIL or TEXT. Have all residents in your household of voting age sign the petition. Here is the link: www.vowca.org/signthepetition
2. Attend the Board of Trustees Meeting on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Village Hall 1 Store Hill Rd. Old Westbury, NY 11568. We hope to have as many of our members there as possible.

We must continue organizing and activating on behalf of the residents of Old Westbury. Thank you for your tremendous support! IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

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August 4, 2021

Village of Old Westbury Civic Association has developed a website stating its position concerning changing the Village's zoning laws.

The website provides the following petition:

Petition Statement: I oppose high-density, multifamily housing in Old Westbury and any zoning code amendment that would permit such development in the Village.

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July 28, 2021

Over 75 Old Westbury residents met on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 with the Old Westbury Mayor Edward Novick and the Board of Trustees of Old Westbury to review detailed analysis of the June 2021 Land Use and Zoning Study completed by VHB Engineering, Surveying and Landscape Architecture and Geology, P.C.

The analysis examined hypothetical scenarios of possible future development within our Village based on several land use scenarios. A Fiscal Impact Analysis of these scenarios was completed by Kevin Dwarka, LLC, Land Use & Economic Consulting.

It appeared that a large majority of the residents opposed any significant changes to the village's zoning laws.

Mayor Novick also stated that he would not put any zoning legislation on a future village referendum. "That is not how this village operates."

The meeting was held in the main auditorium in the Central Presbyterian Church located at 154 Old Westbury Road.

Click on the below reference materials for detailed information:

• Land Use & Zoning Study dated June 2021
• Hypothetical Build-Out Scenario Assumptions
• Fiscal Impact Analysis

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