Long Island 2035tag:www.longisland2035.org,2009-02-19:/292009-06-29T19:49:04ZMovable Type Pro 4.3-enIsland-wide Visioning Workshop Attracts Broad Range of Participantstag:www.longisland2035.org,2009://29.29142009-03-27T21:46:09Z2009-06-29T19:49:04ZAs reported in Newsday and on Channel 55, Long Island 2035 initial workshop highlighted common themes such as intensification of existing downtowns and protection of open space. Developing Long Island key at 'visioning' workshop BY OLIVIA WINSLOW | olivia.winslow@newsday.com March...Ben
As reported in Newsday and on Channel 55, Long Island 2035 initial workshop highlighted common themes such as intensification of existing downtowns and protection of open space.
Developing Long Island key at 'visioning' workshop
BY OLIVIA WINSLOW | olivia.winslow@newsday.com
March
27, 2009 Exhorted to "take your best shot" at planning Long Island's
development over the next 25 years, a diverse group of people took a
hands-on approach at a "visioning" workshop hosted by the Long Island
Regional Planning Council yesterday.
Common themes emerged: greater development of existing
downtown areas, especially multifamily housing and business; preserving
open space and farmland; and expanding transportation by reopening
closed Long Island Rail Road stations, or creating new transit options,
such as a light rail system.
Michael White, executive director of the council, said the
workshop at the Melville Marriott was part of the Long Island 2035
Regional Visioning Initiative, funded by the New York Metropolitan
Transportation Council. And the initiative is an integral element of
the council's "Long Island 2035 Sustainability Action Plan," which
seeks to foster consensus on growth that will inspire government
officials to act.
"This morning we have a chance to see the dynamics of a very broad and
diverse group of stakeholder organizations and interests - from
business to environment, to not-for-profit, philanthropic and municipal
representation," White said in an interview. "So this really is an
opening of the dialogue on ... how we're going to grow and where ... "
Chris Jones, vice president of the Regional Plan Association,
part of the project's study group that includes Vision Long Island and
Sustainable Long Island, told about 150 participants to look at
development in "very broad strokes. Take your best shot" at determining
what's beneficial.
Working from large maps of the Island spread out on 14 tables
in a conference room, participants plotted where to put housing,
commercial development and transportation. Chuck Gosline of Concerned
Citizens of Farmingdale, a civic group, pointed out his group's focus
on a monorail that would parallel the Long Island Expressway to aid
business development and add travel options.
"We're trying to build mini-centers of housing ... and jobs," said
Diana Coleman of the Nassau Economic Opportunity Commission.
Nearby, Kevin McDonald, director of public lands for the
Nature Conservancy, talked of the need for providing a light rail
system along North-South corridors, citing a "deficiency" in train
service where residents of Long Beach or East Rockaway must take a
train into New York City to get another train to take them to the North
Shore.
Paul Rogalle, director of planning for Brookhaven Town, said
the workshop was "an exciting opportunity to roll up your sleeves ... I
hope to bring back a lot of this insight and information to our own
staff" for Brookhaven 2030, a comprehensive plan. "I'm encouraged."
]]>
Visioning Workshoptag:www.rpa.org,2009:/test/longisland2035//29.28612009-03-26T13:40:11Z2009-06-29T19:48:37Z On March 26, the Long Island 2035 Visioning Initiative convened an Island-wide workshop at the Long Island Regional Planning Council's first annual Planning Summit. With nearly 150 participants comprised of Long Island's elected officials, civic, business and environmental leaders,...Ben
On March 26, the Long Island 2035 Visioning Initiative convened an Island-wide workshop at the Long Island Regional Planning Council's first annual Planning Summit. With nearly 150 participants comprised of Long Island's elected officials, civic, business and environmental leaders, the diverse group worked side by side to allocate projected population and employment growth through an interactive planning exercise. The results, which will be summarized in a forthcoming report, include 13 distinct, whole-island growth concepts with common themes such as intensification of existing downtowns and concentrated growth in places like the Nassau Hub; protection of open space on the East End; and new and improved transportation infrastructure to accommodate sustainable growth. These results will be synthesized into two or more alternative scenarios and evaluated for their impact on economic, environmental and social indicators.