Did Town of Huntington just sneak the Huntington Station CBA through? (Hempstead: hotels, tax)

[GMS99]

Recall that the Town of Huntington delayed a vote on the community benefits agreement (CBA) for the revitalization of Huntington Station by developer Renaissance Downtowns in October following protests at that town meeting after the shooting of a teenager in Huntington Station.

Well, it now appears that the town approved that CBA at a January town meeting. Not the town hall meeting, but a little advertised meeting by the town Economic Development Commission. This is not without precedent, as Renaissance Downtowns signed their CBA with the Town of Hempstead for the redevelopment of Hempstead in a similar little advertised meeting that was generally "behind closed doors."

So did the town purposefully pull a "fast one" over the residents of the town? What about Renaissance Downtowns who runs a fairly involved public relations program promising residents input and a transparent process? Renaissance Downtowns doesn't have a glowing track record, now that residents in Bristol, CT are up in arms over the redevelopment of their city, where Renaissance is being accused of bait and switch tactics, changing their redevelopment plans dramatically from what was promised and also asking for more much public money than they claimed they needed.

It sounds like the CBA provides for only $300,000 of programs for Huntington Station. Is that enough for a developer looking to build multi-million dollar hotels and office buildings while also getting tax abatements and below market value land from the town and county?

[qlty]

The town board meetings are held during working hours to avoid op positing with less taXpayers hAving to miss attending