Oyster Bay, NY Eric Launer, an associate board member of the Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island (CIBS) told the town board that CIBS supports a proposed three-story hotel in Jericho. Launer, an executive VP in the L.I. office of JLL, testified before the town board, which is considering a zoning variance that would allow Kimco Realty Corp. to build a three-floor, 93-room Marriott Residence Inn in a rear parking lot of the Jericho Commons shopping center, which Kimco owns. Launder, a town resident, testified as part of CIBS’ new Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) initiative.

He said, “Our members are in constant contact with many of L.I.’s most dynamic most dynamic employers, both large and small. We hear their concerns, difficulties and needs. One area we often hear about is the obstacle their customers face due to the lack of convenient and suitable hotels when visiting L.I. on business or pleasure. In our view, the Milleridge Inn hotel project fits in well with our mutual goals to create jobs, spur private investment, help ease the local tax burden, improve the overall business climate and add needed hotels rooms in our community.”

“CIBS’ participation in this hearing represents the continuation of CIBS’ new activism in the region,” said CIBS president David Leviton, who also attended the meeting along with Michael Rosenfeld, chairman of CIBS’ EDAC.