The Hempstead Town Board recently approved a temporary moratorium on all new construction of single-family and two-family houses on substandard lots for up to six months.

"It's time to re-examine the face of suburbia," stated Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray at the April 17 press conference held prior to the board meeting. "A moratorium on the construction of houses on substandard sized parcels would provide the town an opportunity to study current zoning laws and determine if regulations should be modified in order to preserve valuable open space."

The local legislation was passed in response to residents' concerns regarding the construction of oversized homes, also known as "McMansions," on substandard sized parcels of property.

Additionally, the town said many neighbors have voiced dissatisfaction with the increasingly prevalent practice of upzoning, whereby a lot is subdivided and two houses are constructed where previously one was located.

"People have moved to Hempstead Town to enjoy the dream of suburban life," concluded Murray. "I am going to do everything in my power to ensure that overdevelopment does not turn the suburban dream into the urban nightmare. Nassau County, particularly Hempstead Town, is a mature community that has been extensively developed. It's important to continually review town policies and codes to ensure they protect our local quality of life."

Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes of Levittown, whose district includes, but is not limited to, East Meadow, Levittown and Salisbury, voted in favor of the moratorium.

"This pause in the building and subdivision of properties will allow the town board to make the necessary changes to the building code that will support the suburban lifestyle that the residents expect in our community," he said. "Allowing homes to be built on every postage-stamp-sized piece of property changes the character of our neighborhoods, and we cannot allow that to continue to happen."

According to the town, possible remedies to combating oversized homes could include limits on the total allowable square footage of new homes, more stringent building height restrictions, increased setbacks from property lines and reduced allowable building coverage of lots (percentage of lot covered by building footprint).

Currently, construction of homes on substandard parcels is the subject of hearings before the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), which is an autonomous body, separate from the Hempstead Town Board. The board considers, among other things, applications to build homes on substandard parcels. Pursuant to New York State law, the BZA considers whether granting a variance will change the character of a neighborhood adversely and/or negatively impact nearby properties.

At a recent East Meadow Civic Association meeting, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt (R-East Meadow) spoke about a particular case where the developer sought to subdivide a lot on Preston Street in East Meadow. While the developer has since dropped the application, McKevitt stressed the importance of a moratorium.

"Instead of the property developer picking up his permit as a matter of right, we want the people [of East Meadow] to have some input," he said.

Assemblyman David McDonough (R-Merrick) said he also agrees with the moratorium because "it is stopping, at least temporarily this overdevelopment where they are taking these existing lots and taking down the house and putting two houses on the lot that was intended originally for one."

McDonough said McMansions have a "tremendous adverse affect on the neighborhood."

"I am for it to give everyone time to study and come up with something that will be a little more reasonable," he added.