Town Board Approves Plan for New Park in Melville

After about decade of waiting, the Huntington Town Board passed a zoning change Tuesday that will pave the way for the creation of a new town park, an affordable senior living facility and religious center in Melville.

In a vote of 4-1, with Councilmember Gene Cook as the only opposition vote, the town board passed a zone change at Deshon Drive from Light industry to R-3M Garden Apartment Special District, as well as a transfer of development rights from the Deshon parcel to the property formerly known as Meyer’s Farm at the intersection of Round Swamp Road and Old Country Road. 

The approval will allow for the creation of “Sweet Hollow Park” at the former Meyer’s Farm location, a quest the Sweet Hollow Civic Association has been planning since 2001.

When the Meyer’s family sold its property to members of a Hindu organization in 2003, the civic group thought its dream for a park was through. Wanting to work with the community however, members of the religious organization, known as Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha-Northeast (BAPS) agreed to not yet build on the site as long as another nearby location could be found for the temple. Under the zone change, the BAPS will now split ownership of the 18-acre parcel of land on Deshon Drive, currently owned by Newsday’s former parent, the Tribune Company, with a 261 unit affordable senior housing complex. Deshon Partners, developer of the complex will own 13 acres, and temple will have the remaining acres. The decision frees up the Meyer’s Farm plot to create Sweet Hollow Park.

Opponents of the plan expressed concerns during a that the transfer of development rights would be a catalyst for higher density housing in the Town of Huntington. Councilman Gene Cook, who voted against the measure, asked the board to consider taking an additional 30 days before making the decision. His request was denied.

“This is not a taboo zone change. This is something that brings the community together,” Supervisor Frank Petrone argued.

Councilmember Mark Mayoka, who said he initially had concerns about the change, explained that he felt comfortable that the transfer would not set a precedent and that the situation is a “very, very unique set of circumstances.”

Residents rang out in applause when the measure passed. 

“This is just terrifc. I can’t believe after 11 years, we finally have a park,” Alissa Sue Taff, president of the Sweet Hollow Civic Association said. 

The BAPS were elated to finally have a place to create a congregation, exchanging hugs and handshakes with the civic association.

Members of the religious group currently travel to Queens to worship at the closest temple. The trip makes dropping children off for music and language classes or attending religious services very difficult for Suffolk County families, BAPS representative Uday Joshi said.

“We’re really very happy to be a part of the community. We hope to be here for a long time and be able to give back,” he added.

Members of the town board said the the addition of affordable senior housing is also a much-needed facility in the Town of Huntington. The waiting list for The Knolls at Melville senior living complex was as high as 500 at the start of the Sweet Hollow Park project.