Canon Americas hdqtrs. gets major approval

The Huntington town planning board gave final approval this morning to the site plan for Canon U.S.A.'s new Americas Headquarters, the final planning step for a project that is expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the Melville area over the next several years. The approval follows a two-year review process and a coordinated regional effort, spearheaded by Huntington supervisor Frank Petrone and councilman Mark Cuthbertson, which will bring benefits to the Melville area. Those benefits include millions of dollars in state and federal funds for improvements to Walt Whitman Rd., the Long Island Expressway Service Road and Rte. 110, as well as a $1.3 million contribution from Canon for infrastructure improvements that will help promote future economic development. "Canon U.S.A.'s Americas Headquarters will be a significant addition to the Route 110 Corridor, and should attract additional development, cementing Melville's status as Long Island's downtown," said Petrone. "We look forward to the next step - construction - that will provide work for Long Island's construction unions now and pave the way for additional jobs in the future." A Long Island Association study estimates that the Canon U.S.A. project could increase Long Island's gross regional product by $1.3 billion and create up to 10,000 associated local jobs. "The Canon project is additionally important because it will be built to the highest environmental standards," said Cuthbertson. "This project demonstrates how government can work with a private company to benefit both the economy and the environment." The approved plans call for construction of a 668,296, five-story office building and two multi-level parking garages totaling approximately 500,000 s/f on the 52.17-acre parcel at the southwest corner of the Long Island Expressway South Service Road and Walt Whitman Road. Under the plans approved yesterday, the $636 million project will meet LEED Silver Certification. "We appreciate the strong support we have received for our project from the Town of Huntington," said Seymour Liebman, Canon U.S.A. executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel. "This approval is a major milestone and we look forward to the approval process continuing so that we can soon celebrate moving to shovel-ready status." Canon's next step is to obtain a building permit. It has filed a preliminary application and has been working with the Town to provide information necessary to complete the review. To expedite the review process, the Town allowed Canon to start their building permit submission process prior to site plan approval.