Hochul eyes transit hubs for housing

Governor plans to build 800,000 new homes across New York over the next decade

BY ROBERT PELAEZ

Local governments would have three years to rezone areas within a half-mile of Metropolitan Transportation Authority rail stations, including the Long Island Rail Road, under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed housing plan.

During her State of the State address Jan. 10 Hochul unveiled her plan to build 800,000 new homes over the next decade to address the state’s housing shortage. 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.

A Newsday poll of 2,910 Long Islanders showed that 43.7% were in favor of increased housing near transit hubs, while 38.6% were pleased with the current amount. A total of 17.6% of participants said they would like to see less housing near transit hubs.

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said Hochul’s plan would convert the suburban areas of Nassau County into New York City.

“This housing plan will turn Nassau County into NYC and allow NY State to unilaterally food our com- munities with thousands of apartment and high-density zoning,” DeSena said in a statement. ”This proposal is unacceptable, not consistent with the character of our communities, and it will negatively impact trafc, water and sewers, emergency services, and overcrowd our schools.”

Nassau and Sufolk Counties would be required to grow housing stock by 3% every three years along with downstate areas such as West-