The fear of increased traffic congestion
and further commercial development in the Towns
of Babylon and Huntington has been mitigated as
a result of a bill co-sponsored by Assemblyman Andrew
Raia (R,I,C - East Northport) and Assemblyman Jim
Conte (R,C,I,WF-Huntington Station) which requires
the transfer of lands from the Pilgrim State Hospital
to the Oak Brush Plans State Preserve.
A proposal submitted by the New York State Department
of Transportation (DOT), which identifies lands
at the Pilgrim State Hospital as a possible location
for a large commercial multi-modal project known
as the Long Island Truck and Rail Inter Modal (LITRIM)
Facility, prompted the creation of the bill.
The transfer of lands to the preserve blocks the
possibility of development for commercial use. Both
Raia and Conte were concerned that the DOT’s
plan, in addition to recent increased commercial
development in the area and local government approval
of three major construction projects, would further
exacerbate traffic congestion in the area.
“We need to preserve the natural heritage
and residential integrity of our towns. Increased
commercial development and traffic congestion will
compromise those goals,” said Raia. “I
am proud to have voted to enact a bill that will
help prevent our streets from being overrun by commercial
vehicles and becoming an eye soar to our communities.
The key to preserving a good quality of life in
our towns is to enact smart-growth plans rather
than encouraging overdevelopment. ”
The assembly members noted that their bill simply
reinforces a law enacted almost 20 years ago (Section
7, Chapter 635 of the Laws of 1987) which established
the Oak Brush Plains State Preserve in the towns
of Huntington and Babylon. The law required the
commissioner of OGS to arrange for the transfer
of lands comprising Pilgrim State Hospital to the
Preserve. Despite this recommendation, the transfer
was never made.
The preserve represented the last vestiges of
a transitional forest between the historical grassy
plains of central Nassau County and pine lands of
central and eastern Long Island.
“While I understand there is a need for a
truck and rail modal facility on Long Island, the
Pilgrim Hospital property is not the right spot
and will lead to more traffic in an already congested
area of Long Island,” said Conte. “We
need more green space on Long Island and that is
why I am working to ensure that the land is annexed
into the preserve as originally planned more than
twenty years ago.”
