Creighton Outlines Plans for Industrial Park Expansion

Smithtown Supervisor candidate Robert Creighton has a plan to expand the Hauppauge Industrial Park in efforts to help lower taxes - but some are calling it old news. 

Creighton held a press conference Tuesday morning in the Hauppauge Industrial Park to outline his vision of taller buildings and more parking garages to help facilitate business growth in town, Newsday reports. 

Creighton says he will propose amendments to town code that will raise building heights to 50 feet within the industrial park, and allow buildings up to 62 feet along Motor Parkway. 

In addition, he would seek to allow more parking garages and create a buffer zone along the industrial park's north border - the Northern State Parkway - to protect nearby residents. 

However, Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio told Newsday that Creighton's proposal " "is not new news." 

Vecchio announced he was looking to make changes to the industrial park in January 2012 that included raising the building heights and changes to parking restrictions. 

In April, town board members' were divided when hammering out new town codes for building in the industrial park. Frank DeRubeis, Smithtown's Planning Director, brought drafted town codes that would allow buildings to be raised to 50 feet, allowing four-story buildings. 

 Creighton pushed him at that time to allow taller buildings, up to six stories, in efforts to attract more commercial office buildings. 

However, the town board has yet to take up a vote on the issue. 

Read more on Newsday [subscription required] about Creighton's plan for the industrial park and how it could impact taxes.