N. Hempstead adds electric vehicle charging stations BY BRANDON DUFFY

The governor unveiled her plan to build 800,000 new homes over the next decade to address the state’s housing shortage in January.

Included in the New York Housing Compact are local participation requirements and incentives to achieve housing growth along with requiring municipalities with MTA stations to rezone for higher-density residential development.

The plan is intended to close a shortage of 800,000 housing units in the New York metropolitan area.

Hempstead officials estimated that more than 14,000 additional housing units would be established in Nassau County as a result of Hochul’s proposed legislation. Nassau and Suffolk counties, under the plan, would be required to grow housing stock by 3% every three years along with

The North Hempstead Town Board voted to add electric vehicle charging stations throughout the town during the April 4 meeting.

Parking lots at Mary Jane Davies Green in Manhasset, Clinton G. Martin Park and Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park will each have level 2 charging stations. Lot 4 at the Port Washington Public Park District will also have a station.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the Town of North Hempstead to increase accessibility to electric vehicle charging stations for our residents,” said Council Member Veronica Lurvey in a statement. “This initiative was spearheaded by the Climate Smart Communities Task Force, and I was proud to bring it to the board. By adding these charging stations, we are furthering our goals of creating a more sustainable, resilient, and green future. It is my hope that this will also incentivize North Hempstead’s residents to transition to electric vehicles.”

A request for proposal to add the charging stations was first issued in December 2020 before the board authorized an agreement with Blink Charging in early 2021, according to the town. The April 4 resolution approved the installation locations for the stations.

In March, the Town Board also voted to adopt a Climate Action Plan, which includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%.

The plan, developed in collaboration with the Town’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force, focuses on decreasing energy use, shifting to clean, renewable energy, transportation and fleet, resiliency, adaptation and natural solutions and materials and waste management.

Staff from all Town departments and the Department of Plan-