Murray Hopes to Retain Consultants,
Establish Guidelines for Construction
Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, joined by Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, announced that she will propose a measure that would “jump start” the stalled development plan for 77 acres of land surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum at a press conference at Hempstead Town Hall.
Murray’s initiative calls for the town to retain engineering and planning consultants to develop a scaled back zoning “blueprint,” establishing guidelines for the type and scope of construction to be permitted at the site.
“Reasonable development is coming to the hub of Nassau County,” said Murray. “The importance of a project at this site is evident. The creation of jobs, support for our tax base, stimulation to the region’s economy and a strong desire to retain the Islanders hockey team all are factors that have prompted me to ‘think outside the box’ and come up with a plan to get the development process for the Lighthouse site moving again.”
Hempstead officials observed that the Lighthouse Project has been flagging since the development group has withdrawn from participating in the environment review and zoning process. Under the “jump start” effort, engineering and planning consultants Frederick P. Clark Associates would develop a Planned Development District (PDD). The supervisor and the councilwoman indicated their desire for a district that accommodates a mix of development that would complement a refurbished Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and accommodate many of the priorities that have been included in the Lighthouse proposal
“We will not take a ‘wait and see’ approach to development at the area surrounding the Coliseum,” stated Goosby. “Supervisor Murray and I are going to be proactive in seeking meaningful and progressive development at the hub.”
