North Hempstead · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in North Hempstead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Declining Non-Tax Revenues and the Traffic Court Idea
Revenues outside taxes have fallen from about $71.5 million in 2024 to a projected $59 million, driven by one-time FEMA money, lower franchise fees and interest income. Council Member Dalimonte floated a town traffic court to keep fine revenue locally; officials said the state has been unwilling to authorize it for towns under 300,000 residents.
Special District Operations at Sunset Park
A Port Washington resident questioned whether a water pollution control district can legally run a recreation park with sewer-tax dollars. The Town Attorney said the district maintains facilities beneath the property and the board lacks cause to intervene; the district's elected commissioners set its budget.
Water Rate Hike
Local officials are fighting a proposed water rate hike by Liberty Utilities ahead of a big public hearing in Albany. If regulators don't step in, your monthly tap water bill is going to get noticeably more expensive.
Honorary Street Designation for Detective Charles Vroom
Armstrong Road in Garden City Park is being considered for a secondary honorary name, 'Detective Charles Vroom Road', to honor a local figure.
Long Island Nets Practice Facility Agreement
The town reviewed and approved the annual renewal allowing the Long Island Nets to use the Yes We Can Community Center as their practice facility, addressing previous community concerns about space exclusivity and locker room usage.
Commercial Parking and Traffic in Port Washington
Discussions around Spectrum Designs highlighted ongoing community concerns about tight parking, municipal lot usage, and traffic congestion in Port Washington's main business district.
Dog Park Hours
Flower Hill is revamping its off-leash dog park hours because locals complained the current rules are a total maze to figure out. If you take your dog to the park, keep an eye out for a public hearing to weigh in on the new schedule.
Legal Defense
North Hempstead just hired outside counsel to defend its okay of the Sbarro family development project, meaning your tax dollars are officially paying for a courtroom fight. Local leaders are doubling down on their decision, but residents are left footing the legal bill.
Traffic Safety Improvements: North Street Stop Signs
The town scheduled a hearing to add stop signs at North Street and Maple Lane in New Hyde Park to improve local traffic safety.
Permeable Front-Yard Paving & Traffic Safety
A newly built Manhasset home's wing wall encroaches into the side yard and a front patio exceeds paving limits — errors the building department had approved. A neighbor described two years of construction problems and property damage.
Traffic Safety and School Zone Restrictions (Albertson & Carle Place)
The board debated the implementation of the school bus stop-arm camera program, discussing ticketing accuracy, warning periods, and recent legal challenges.
Legal Fees
North Hempstead just dropped another cool $257,000 of your tax dollars to fight a mosque lawsuit, sending the town's legal tab even higher. You're the one footing the bill for this endless courtroom drama.
Political Campaign Fundraising
Local politics are heating up as challenger Sean McCarthy out-fundraises incumbent Jennifer DeSena in the race for North Hempstead supervisor. With more cash on hand, McCarthy is setting the stage for a seriously competitive election.
Beach Safety
Skip your trip to North Hempstead Beach Park today because the swimming conditions are totally unsafe. Check local updates before heading out so you don't waste a trip.
Caribou Coffee Drive-Thru in New Cassel
A proposed drive-through coffee shop at 1149 Old Country Road in Westbury was reviewed for traffic flow and aesthetic landscaping improvements at a town gateway.
Parks and Recreation
North Hempstead is keeping local pools and beaches open longer so everyone has a place to cool down during the upcoming heat wave. It's a quick fix to help residents beat the scorching temperatures.
Legal Expenses
North Hempstead taxpayers are on the hook for over $257,000 in legal bills just to fight a lawsuit involving the Hillside Islamic Center. That's a massive chunk of the town's budget spent entirely on courtroom drama.
Emergency Cooling Centers and Pool Hours
To help folks beat the upcoming heat wave, North Hempstead is throwing open the doors to emergency cooling centers and keeping the community pools open way later than usual. It's a quick fix to make sure everyone has a safe place to cool down when temperatures spike.
Traffic Safety and Stop Sign Placement on Langdon Road
Residents and board members debated whether adding an all-way stop sign at Langdon Road and Garson Road in Carle Place would improve safety or create a false sense of security, particularly given reported visibility issues caused by homeowner landscaping.
Potential New Town Landmark Designations
Flower Hill Village Historian Mitchell Schwartz proposed several significant local properties for future landmark designation, including the Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Haviland Family Burial Ground, Valley School, and Port Washington Post Office.
Social Media Policy
North Hempstead town leaders just rejected a push by Democrats to ban political stuff from official town social media and mailers. That means elected officials can keep using your tax-funded accounts and newsletters to share their political views.
Infrastructure and Utility Pole Removal
Residents complained about drainage issues on Lipton Lane and prolonged delays in removing double utility poles left behind by telecommunications and electric providers.
Clinton G. Martin Pool Kiddie Pool Construction
Residents questioned the timing of construction on the kiddie pool at Clinton G. Martin Park during the summer season.
Free Speech Restrictions
North Hempstead Republicans just shut down a proposed bill that would have clamped down on what local officials can say in official communications. For now, the town's current communication rules are staying exactly where they are.
Environmental Incentive Program
North Hempstead is launching a new incentive program that pays residents up to $350 back for planting native gardens. It's a quick way to upgrade your landscaping while helping out the local environment.
Settlement Agreement
North Hempstead just wrapped up a long legal fight by settling with the New Hyde Park mosque. Now, they can finally move forward with expanding their community facility.
Property Tax Exemptions
North Hempstead is introducing new property tax breaks specifically for the surviving spouses of police officers who died in the line of duty. It's a significant shift in local tax policy aimed at supporting the families of fallen first responders.
Building Department Software
North Hempstead is finally upgrading its building department software to get your permits processed faster. No more endless waiting in line or drowning in paperwork—this digital overhaul aims to make dealing with the town a lot less painful.
Bond Rating
North Hempstead just secured its top-tier Aaa bond rating, proving the town is in fantastic financial shape. This means the local government can borrow money on the cheap without needing to hike your taxes.
Infrastructure Funding
North Hempstead just secured a $1 million federal grant to upgrade the Town Dock, which means better waterfront hangouts and safer boating for everyone. It's a nice win for local taxpayers looking for updated community spaces without dipping into city coffers.
Certificate of Occupancy
North Hempstead just overhauled its property certificate of occupancy process, cutting through the red tape that used to make getting your paperwork sorted a massive headache for homeowners and local businesses.
Downtown Mixed-Use Parking Requirements
As downtown Port Washington encourages walkable mixed-use spaces, projects often lack dedicated on-site parking. The board discussed whether downtown residents in transit-friendly areas rely less on cars, supporting reduced parking minimums.
Legal Dispute
North Hempstead is burning more taxpayer cash to keep fighting a local mosque's expansion in court. Instead of settling, the town is doubling down on a pricey land-use battle.
Supermarket Operational Flexibility and Zoning Determinations
Plymouth Realty and H Mart challenged a building department ruling that classified the internal relocation of a meat preparation counter to the basement as an expansion of their conditional use. The Board's decision clarifies whether routine floor plan shifts in major retail spaces require formal zoning board approvals.
Senior Adult Daycare Facility on Hillside Avenue
A former supermarket in New Hyde Park is being converted into a senior daycare center, bringing much-needed services for seniors while addressing neighbor concerns about parking, trash management, and vacant property upkeep.
Local Elections
The race for North Hempstead town supervisor is getting intense, which means we could see some major shakeups in local leadership soon. Keep an eye on this if you care about who's running the show in your town.
Waterproofing Contractor Facility Outdoor Storage Screening in Albertson
A local contractor requested variances to construct a new production office and storage building with outdoor aggregate bins, addressing neighborhood screening and drainage concerns.
Greenvale Retail Expansion and Neighborhood Litter
Residents near Yogurt & Such in Greenvale raised concerns about customer traffic, parking strain, and storefront litter, while supporters praised the family-friendly community hub.
Mobile Food Vendor Regulations and Enforcement
A mobile food vendor raised concerns about outdated town code restricting mobile vendors from parking in one spot for more than 15 minutes, arguing it creates an unfair gray area when vendors are licensed by the health department and town but face complaints from local brick-and-mortar stores.
Port Washington Detached Garage and Prior Violations
A former building department official urged the board to rescind fines on homeowners who purchased properties with improperly issued certificates of occupancy from the early 2000s, arguing the town bears primary responsibility for employee misconduct during that era.
Building Code Compliance and Historical Penalties
A former building department official urged the board to rescind fines on homeowners who purchased properties with improperly issued certificates of occupancy from the early 2000s, arguing the town bears primary responsibility for employee misconduct during that era.
Election Profile
Get to know Dave Kerpen, the Democratic candidate running for North Hempstead Town Supervisor in the upcoming 2025 local election. This profile breaks down who he is so you can make an informed choice at the ballot box.
Participation in Federal Litigation on Even-Year Elections
North Hempstead joined several Long Island towns and counties in a federal lawsuit challenging New York State's mandate to move local elections to even-numbered years.
Traffic, Parking, and Commercial Compliance in Westbury
Residents raised ongoing quality-of-life concerns about Amazon delivery trucks ignoring agreed-upon access routes, commercial parking congestion on Westbury Avenue, and general code enforcement issues.
New Fast-Casual Restaurant in Carle Place Shopping Center
Quickway Japanese Hibachi requested a conditional use permit to open a 1,743-square-foot restaurant in the Parkway Plaza shopping center. The board reviewed parking compliance, seating capacity, and operational details before approving the application.
Medical Necessity Generator Placement
An elderly couple in Carle Place received approval to place a backup generator 15 feet from their home instead of the required 5 feet due to medical needs and lot constraints.
Gas Leaf Blower Regulation and Enforcement
A resident urged the board to enact a total ban on gas-powered leaf blowers or extend seasonal restrictions to combat noise and pollution. Town officials noted that stricter enforcement of the existing summer ban is planned from June 15 to September 15.
Expansion of Entertainment and Alcohol Service at Q-ZAR in Carle Place
The Q-ZAR laser tag facility on Voice Road is officially updating its permits to include popular axe-throwing lanes and a beer/wine concession. While parking requirements technically doubled under modern building codes, parking experts and the board agreed that the center operates smoothly with ample spaces.
Prime Foods Facility Expansion and Retail Space in Port Washington
A growing meat-packing distributor requested parking variances, mezzanine legalization, and permission for refrigeration units and a retail butcher counter. The Board approved the request with conditions.
Semi-In-Ground Pool Setback Variance in Carle Place
Homeowners requested setback relief for a partially built pool installed after receiving incorrect advice from pool contractors. The Board approved the variance after reviewing safety and fence details.