Smithtown · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Smithtown public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Residential Subdivisions in Fort Salonga and Nesconset
The board will review multiple proposals to divide vacant land into new single-family home lots, impacting local neighborhood character and housing availability.
Country Pointe Estates Condominium Development
A proposed 288-unit condominium project in Kings Park is up for a planning board recommendation, which will shape future housing density and local infrastructure considerations.
Islandaire St. James expansion
Islandaire wants a 23,800-square-foot, 30-foot-tall storage building on its Middle Country Road property, saying it will cut truck trips and let the company grow. The board is waiting on sewer flow numbers.
Industrial Manufacturing and Outdoor Storage Operations at Pelkowski Precast
Pelkowski Precast wants to expand its Kings Park concrete operation with outdoor storage, tall walls and reduced setbacks. The case was adjourned to December 15 after the applicant's attorney missed the meeting.
Residential Retaining Walls and Encroachments
Multiple residential properties are requesting significant variances for tall retaining walls, elevated fences, and paving coverage that exceed standard municipal limits. These requests highlight neighborhood concerns regarding hillside stability, drainage, and property line encroachments.
Nesconset neighbor dispute over walls and paving
Two adjacent Nesconset applications (27 Hayes Street and 9 Jackson Street) triggered sharp opposition from neighbors alleging pavers encroach six inches onto their property, stormwater runoff killed their landscaping, and an 18-foot pavilion destroyed their privacy. The board can only make compliance a condition — it doesn't settle property-line disputes.
Commercial Hotel Expansion on Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
A 122-room, four-story hotel with a food retail drive-through is proposed at the former Gasho restaurant site in Hauppauge. It needs a stack of variances and a town board special permit; the zoning board held off pending county review.
Cox & Sons Industrial Landfill Remediation and Trucking Station Proposal
A proposed trucking station on Old Northport Road in Kings Park has residents furious about truck traffic past schools, air quality, noise and road damage on Town Line Road. The hearing was adjourned to December 15 without a presentation, and neighbors demanded accountability over how the Suffolk County Land Bank property drifted from its original RFP intent.
Mooring Fees
Smithtown is shaking up its boat mooring fees, which means anyone keeping a vessel on the water needs to pay attention. Your upcoming boating costs might be going up as the town refreshes its pricing structure.
Building Construction and Fire Prevention Code Updates
The town considered code amendments addressing LPG system pressure testing fees and inspection protocols between building and fire departments. Local residents questioned whether the new rules created contradictions in permit fees.
Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Tax Cap Override
Residents and town officials debated a proposed local law to override the state tax cap for the 2027 fiscal year. Residents argued that skyrocketing taxes and inflation make any increase unaffordable, while town leadership cited unfunded state mandates and pension costs as drivers forcing difficult budget decisions.
Cosmic Self Storage Facility on Jericho Turnpike
Residents bordering 882 West Jericho Turnpike raised concerns about a proposed two-story self-storage facility, questioning potential lighting glare, noise from storage doors, and impacts on adjacent wetlands and wildlife.
Beechwood Condominium Development Proposal
Beechwood Smithtown LLC is proposing a large 288-unit condominium community in Kings Park. The project requires special consideration because it involves building on and altering steep, environmentally sensitive slopes.
Industrial Storage and Trucking Facility Modifications
Residents of Tulipwood Drive and surrounding neighborhoods strongly opposed a trucking station operating at 57 Mall Drive in Commack, citing severe noise, diesel and refrigeration hums starting at 3 a.m., chemical odors, and buffer encroachments.
Residential Additions and Environmental Compliance in Waterfront and Sloped Areas
Residents expressed significant concerns regarding a four-lot subdivision at 20 Sunken Meadow Road, citing risks of severe erosion, stormwater runoff, asbestos remediation, and the preservation of steep slopes and wooded acreage.
Branchinelli's Site Plan & Septic Upgrade
Branchinelli's is expanding its parking lot and upgrading its septic system by filling in an old recharge basin. The changes aim to improve traffic flow and solve under-capacity septic issues at the Route 111 location.
Gyrodyne LLC Preliminary Approval Extension
Gyrodyne LLC is asking for a six-month extension on their conditional preliminary approval in St. James, giving them more time to keep the project moving without starting over.
Map of Stonebridge Golf Facility Covenant Modification
Stonebridge is asking to change a rule so their golf course and clubhouse can stay open while the town looks at a new subdivision application.
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Preservation Fund
The town created a dedicated trust account funded through donations, mitigation fees, and land sales to protect open spaces and fund park improvements without raising taxes.
Town Budget and State Mandates
Town officials discussed the upcoming 2027 budget and the financial pressures caused by unfunded state mandates from Albany, which have forced consideration of a tax cap override.
Veterans Park Parking and Traffic Impact
A resident expressed concerns regarding increased traffic, headlights, and noise from parking spaces bordering her property near Veterans Park, requesting privacy solutions and an additional park exit.
Federal HUD Road Rehabilitation Grant Funding
The town accepted $5 million in federal grant funds to support ongoing road repair and infrastructure improvements.
Storm Response
Smithtown's highway crews are grinding through the weekend to clean up the mess left by the recent nor'easter. Expect some headaches on the road, so check for closures before you head out.
Fire Prevention Fees
Smithtown is shaking up its fire prevention fees, meaning local property and business owners might soon see changes on their safety inspection bills. It's a good time to keep tabs on city updates so your overhead doesn't take you by surprise.
Spark Car Wash Development in Lake Grove
A new car wash facility was approved on Middle Country Road with environmental restrictions to protect endangered bat habitats during construction.
Cultural Arts Restoration
Smithtown just put up a brand-new marquee at the Performing Arts Center, giving a nice little boost to our downtown's ongoing comeback. It's a fresh look for a local hub that helps keep our town center vibrant.
Temporary Family Living Quarters Special Exception
A family sought approval to convert a garage into temporary living quarters for an aging parent, highlighting multigenerational housing needs in the town.
Long Island Power Authority Article 78 Litigation Settlement
The town is moving forward with an interim settlement agreement in a court case involving LIPA and Matthew R. Cronin. This legal step helps resolve ongoing disputes handled through Suffolk County Supreme Court.
Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption Updates
The town is preparing public hearings for state-level tax exemptions, including an expanded senior citizen exemption, a special alternative veterans exemption for severely disabled veterans, and a 50% property tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.
Emergency Scene Solicitation Local Law
The board scheduled a public hearing for May 21 on a new law to stop aggressive commercial solicitation and board-up companies from interfering at emergency scenes.
Industrial Park Parking and Landscape Island Standards
Neighbors expressed concerns about noise and lighting from industrial properties in Commack. The Board required the applicant to address lighting and planting buffers.
Surveillance
Smithtown's getting side-eye from a civil liberties group over how much the government is tracking residents. Expect some heated local debates soon about where the city draws the line between safety and your right to privacy.
Solid Waste Management Recyclables Containers
The town is changing its recycling rules to require all items to be placed directly in designated bins rather than plastic bags, aiming to improve recycling processing.
Tree Quarantine
Smithtown and nearby towns are under a tree quarantine because of a deadly fungus. You'll need to watch out for rules about moving firewood and timber so the disease doesn't spread.
Long Beach Marina Reconstruction and Bond
The town authorized a $6 million bond to completely rebuild the Town Marina, updating bulkheads, floating docks, electrical systems, and landscaping to protect waterfront infrastructure.
Raising Cane's Signage and Visual Impact
Residents and town planners pushed back against Raising Cane's request for oversized and multiple wall signs, arguing it creates commercial clutter and resembles a billboard. The board ultimately denied the sign variances.
Backyard Wood Burning and Air Quality Nuisance
A resident brought forward a complaint regarding a neighbor burning wood for hours daily, rendering outdoor property unusable, and suggested reviewing Oyster Bay's code for local adoption.
Town Line Road Traffic and Industrial Noise Concerns
Residents from Commack and Hauppauge raised serious concerns about a persistent 24/7 humming and tonal noise coming from the Hauppauge Industrial Park that is disrupting sleep and quality of life. An online petition gathered hundreds of signatures in less than a day, and residents urged the town to investigate and mitigate the issue.
Digital Beach and Park Parking Pass System
Smithtown is looking to ditch physical windshield stickers for a digital license plate reader system. It would cost $5 per car, but seniors over 65 and veterans would get 100% off, saving the town around $300,000 a year.
Old Northport Road Corridor Rezoning (Francis Popolizio)
A long-standing trucking and storage yard operating on residential land is seeking a rezoning to light industry to match surrounding properties and the town's comprehensive plan.
Foxwood Estates Subdivision Infrastructure Completion
The developer of Foxwood Estates needed more time to finish installing street lights, signs, and trees in the nearly complete four-lot subdivision.
Commercial Signage and Car Wash Advertising on Jericho Turnpike
Bolla EM Realty sought to expand its ground sign to advertise its car wash service to passing motorists. The board approved the expansion with the condition that older unauthorized canopy signs be removed.
Commercial Animal Boarding Expansion in St. James
Premier Pets is seeking a special exception to expand into neighboring tenant spaces for overnight dog boarding and daycare. The Board required proof of health department sanitary calculations and an official acoustical engineering report to ensure barking won't disturb nearby commercial tenants or residents.
Burr Winkle Park Playground and Comfort Station Grant
The town is applying for a $1.78 million state grant under the NY PLAYS initiative to overhaul Burr Winkle Park in Commack, adding ADA-compliant playground equipment and winterized restrooms.
Commercial Redevelopment and Signage in Commack
Commercial properties like Bolla EM Realty and Zwanger Pesiri Radiology requested multiple sign variances for wall sign heights, quantities, and canopy displays along major thoroughfares like Jericho Turnpike and Smithtown Bypass.
Special Needs Transportation and Child Care Advocacy
A local mother spoke during public comment about the challenges families face with school-age child care and transportation for special needs children outside the district.
Battery Energy Storage Systems Moratorium Extension
The town extended its temporary freeze on battery energy storage systems for another six months to review fire safety codes and state guidelines.
Sweetbriar Nature Center Property Maintenance
A long-time volunteer and resident raised concerns regarding the deterioration of the buildings and grounds at the Sweetbriar Nature Center facility.
E-Bike and Motorized Device Restrictions
The town is moving forward with rules to regulate e-bikes in alignment with state laws and ban them from town parks and beaches, except on designated paths, to ensure public safety.
Split-Zoned Property Regulations and Residential Buffer Protection
The board examined whether to lift a restrictive covenant on a residentially zoned portion of a commercial property in St. James to allow a large accessory garage. Board members emphasized protecting adjacent homeowners who bought properties relying on residential buffers, leading to an adjournment for a redesign.