FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2019
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng and Matthew Leonenko | (516) 869-7794
Supervisor Moves to Make Business of Board of Zoning Appeals More Accessible and Transparent
North Hempstead, NY –Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals David Mammina, recently introduced a slate of changes to the operation of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to make the board’s business more transparent and accessible to residents. Proposed changes include holding all meetings in 2020 during the evenings (current meetings are held in the afternoon) and live streaming the meetings (https://northhempsteadny.gov/bza) to allow for greater access to the residents, and changing legal notice language to make it simpler for residents to understand.
The hearing date for these proposed changes will be at the Town Board meeting on October 24.
“I believe that these changes will make information more easily accessible,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “The business that comes before our Board of Zoning Appeals is linked to the quality of life of our residents and these adjustments to some of our policies will give everyone concerned the facts they need.”
Another proposed change would require applicants to post a notice of the scheduled hearing on the subject premises and notify property owners within a 300-foot radius of the property in question before the BZA of any adjourned meetings and its next scheduled date.
The Town will also email BZA meeting agendas to any individuals who sign up for the service and also to civic organizations listed on the Town’s website. An individual or civic organization can be added to the email list by calling 516-869-7667.
Changes to increase accessibility and transparency include:
- Moving all BZA meetings to the evening starting in 2020
- Live Streaming all BZA meetings on the Town’s website (https://northhempsteadny.gov/bza)
- Making legal notices easier to read and understand by using plain language
- Requiring applicants to post notice of scheduled hearing on the subject premises and notifying property owners within a 300-foot radius of an adjourned meeting and its next scheduled date
- Emailing the BZA agenda to individuals who sign up and all civics organizations listed on the Town’s website.
