Ralph Perna, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Some time ago, I believe five years, I wrote an article titled, “Is it possible?” The contents of the article referred to the tedious and time consuming process, not to mention the financial cost, builders, developers and brokers, must go through to obtain approvals, permits and variances needed to complete projects on Long Island.

Although there has been some progress with the towns on expanding their zoning and providing more flexibility with outdoor storage, we still have a long way to go where months and in some cases, years, need to be added as part of the development equation. However, keep in mind it is not fair to say the entire burden lies with the counties and the towns. An intricate part of the process involves the health departments. A suggestion to perhaps assist in streamlining the process would be to allow applications to be submitted simultaneously to both the towns and health department and not having to wait on the towns in order to then file with the Health Department. But to be fair, over the last several years the health departments have, for lack of a better word, downsized and part of the problem is staffing. The health departments are very much understaffed and unfortunately this creates a backlog in the application review process. In addition, keep in mind that health department employees must also oversee remediation. I believe the counties in trying to align their budgets should have considered reducing costs in other less important areas rather than inhibiting progress within our county’s health departments With that being said, there is a window of sunshine.

Recently the town of Smithtown has revised their codes to allow buildings with 50’ height (previously 35’ height) and to allow outdoor storage. Furthermore, the town of Brookhaven now allows outdoor storage of licensed and registered vehicles. Now we have to streamline the variance, permit and application processes within the townships. Rather than going to a zoning board of appeals, then to the planning board, why not just have a committee of planners that can make decisions instead of having to wait weeks, if not months, to go before the various boards. I’m not suggesting that the permit of variance process be rushed through the system, but certainly there has to be a method available to get the answers in a more proficient time frame. Please keep in mind that time is money and delays add to the cost of the project. In addition, town codes should be reviewed every three to five years. Just as in any business, if you are not reviewing and upgrading the nature of your business on a regular business, you can lack the ability to be competitive in the marketplace.

Time has come where our municipalities have to be run under similar parameters as private companies and it is necessary to eliminate departments and wasteful spending and earmark money for areas that can stimulate growth and progress for our counties. Our local governments are too big and have created a process that creates log jams that take months for a project that I am sure could be completed within half the time.

The question is do we think the model going forward should be to have our officials prepare a list of priorities in the areas that are important for the growth of Long Island? Just imagine if we lived in a world where there were no political parties, no nepotism and no partisanship, just people that want to get things done and done right.

Stay tuned.

Ralph Perna is the executive managing director of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Melville, N.Y.