Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman introduced legislation to provide for workforce housing in the village. The proposal came at the Nov. 20 board of trustees meeting. There was no discussion since the village will hold a public hearing on Dec. 18. Mayor Kreitzman thanked Trustee Jeffrey Bass for his hard work on the legislation. He also thanked the village's workforce housing committee, which asked Trustee Bass and the mayor to draft it.

This proposed legislation came about because the high cost of housing in and around the Village of Great Neck makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many individuals with low income to find housing in or near the village. As a result, the village is concerned that individuals in particular categories may not be able to remain in, or with close proximity to the village. Such individuals include: active members of the volunteer fire and ambulance departments providing services to the residents of the village; employees of the village; longtime residents of the village over the age of 65; and longtime residents of the village under the age of 30.

The village believes that the loss of such volunteer fire and ambulance department members, who cannot be replaced easily, "can create a serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the village." The loss of such village employees, who cannot be replaced easily, "can create a serious problem for the proper and efficient running of the village government," according to village officials.

Additionally, the village believes that the loss of such young and old longtime residents can have "a deleterious effect upon the general welfare of the community, which is enhanced by a stability of residents, who become a stable and cohesive community dedicated to the proper functioning, appearance, economy, and general welfare of the village."

Considering all of these concerns, the board of trustees "finds that it is essential to provide a minimum number of workforce housing units ... in order to maintain the requisite volunteer fire and ambulance forces, the village workforces, and the long-term resident population of the village."

At the meeting, Mayor Kreitzman stated that he welcomes comments at the public hearing because "there are no hard and fast rules and lots of judgments were made in preparing the draft by Trustee Bass and me."

The mayor then provided a very brief summary of the key features of the proposed laws: 10 percent of the floor area of residential buildings would be subject to the law for 30 years; units would range from studio to three bedrooms in the same proportion as in the building; units would have minimum sizes and be indistinguishable outside from other units; eligibility would be based on financial criteria (assets and income) and criteria such as being an EMT or firefighter servicing the village for at least five years, being a village employee for at least five years, being at least a five-year resident and over 65 years of age or being a 10-year resident and under 30 years of age. The right to rent these units would be in this order of priority.

The rents would be 30 percent of the income of the renter's household, not to exceed 80 percent of fair market value.

All submissions, under this law, would be kept confidential.