ATTEND THE TOWN HALL MEETING ON TUESDAY JUNE 14TH AT 7:00 PM

IMPORTANT – CELEBRATE THE REPEAL OF OVERNIGHT GLAMPING
JUNE 14TH – TOMORROW – TUESDAY NIGHT – 7:00 PM
TOWN HALL – 100 MAIN STREET HUNTINGTON NY

YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL HELP REPEAL THE TOWN LAW, WHICH PERMITS OVERNIGHT CAMPGROUND LODGING IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

Come early – 6:30 PM – for free Little Vincent's Pizza in the Parking Lot

PLEASE ATTEND THE TOWN BOARD MEETING
WEA ARE ASKING THE TOWN BOARD TO RESCIND THE LAW
WE NEED EVERYONE TO ATTEND THIS PUBLIC HEARING

JUNE 14TH – 7:00 PM – TUESDAY NIGHT
Town Hall – 100 Main Street, Huntington, NY

Please support your neighbors' effort by attending. Bring your entire family. YOUR attendance can make the difference. If you have never been to a Town Board Meeting – please make this your first time!
Watch and Listen to the Commissioners of the Melville Fire Department Say:
“Based Upon Our Safety Concerns We Don’t Think This Project Should Be Approved.”

USDAN is requesting a special use permit to construct 70 permanent wood base, wood frame Canvas Camping Lodges. These structures will include two beds and furnishings for overnight rental. The location of these 70 "camping tents" will be placed along the northern and eastern perimeter of the 144 acre camp grounds within a few hundred feet of surrounding community homes.

NOTE: These overnight camping structures are NOT for the use of the children attending the USDAN day camp for the music and arts. Rather, they are to be rented out to adults – transients and individuals for overnight camping during the seasonal period March 15 through November 15 but not for the 7 weeks while the day camp is in session. This will transform the 50 year old non-profit children's day camp grounds into an outdoor adult motel destination for 8 months of the year.

Allowing this construction project to be approved will result in immediate and permanent destruction of trees and greenery and infestation of ticks from displaced rodents and animals since each tent site requires a clearing of approximately 20 x 12 at a minimum. There will be noise and safety issues, sanitation and debris issues as a result of overnight campers eating and drinking. With overnight camping there are fire concerns from illegal campfires, cigarette and marijuana smoking. It is estimated that over 8,000 adults and unwelcome visitors will have access to our community backyards and streets via the woods since they are sleeping outside only a few hundred feet from our homes.

Concerned residents of Huntington Hills, Strathmore and Melville-Wheatley Heights should sign this petition and voice their concerns by calling the Town of Huntington Board of Appeals.

IMPORTANT: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD – TELL YOUR COUNCILMAN AND TOWN OFFICIALS HOW YOU FEEL – HERE ARE THE PHONE NUMBERS TO CALL AND EMAILS ADDRESSES TO WRITE EMAILS VOICING YOUR OPINION AND OPPOSITION

The Zoning Board: 631-351-3123
The Planning Board: 631-351-3196
Town Supervisor Edmond J. Smyth:
Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo: 631-351-3172
Councilman Eugene Cook:
Councilman Salvatore Ferro:
Councilwoman Joan Cergol:
Public Safety:

Frequently Asked Questions and Concerns of the Community – with Realistic Common Sense Answers

No, USDAN as a 501c3 not for profit is EXEMPT from paying all real estate taxes on the 140 acres. The burden of public services which includes contributing to county police, school, water, sewer, lighting, fire department, etc are bourne by the community residents. See this document as verification that the tax assessed was $693,425 for the year and the camp is EXEMPT from payment. The additional burden of the Glamping Lodges on community services will be costly to the residents and ultimately result in increased real estate taxes to the residents.

The real estate is owned by 185 Colonial Springs Road LLC, a single member LLC. Single member LLCs are considered disregarded entities for tax purposes. They are set up for the purposes of limiting liability and exposue of the direct owners. The property was owned directly by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies until this transfer occurred in 2021. It is clear that the purpose of the setting up of this LLC structure was to insulate USDAN and the UJA as nonprofit 501c3 tax exempt entities from any liability that could occur as a result of this new glamping rental venture. The community's concerns of liability and risks from overnight camping are confirmed with the formation and setting up of this land ownership structure.

No, there are no plans to build new bathroom facilities. As a result, overnight campers will be required to walk back at night in the dark to the existing bathroom facilities. For this reason, it is unrealistic that all campers will walk hundreds of feet in the dark and will opt to go to the bathroom in the woods.

Yes, the policy of USDAN will be that campers are not to have any alcoholic beverages on the campgrounds. However, that is not realistic. Campers will bring food and beverages in their coolers. A big part about camping out is relaxing and have a few beers, wine and other alcoholic beverages. How can USDAN monitor this and prevent this? Common sense says that with 140-250 adult campers or families a night in the woods, there will be many drinking.

No, the sites will not be equipped with electricity or running water. For this reason, campers will need other sources of lighting. They will be required to bring lanterns or use their cell phones, and it is highly likely that some campers will use lighters, kerosene camping lights, candles or other open flame devices that are typically used for camping. It is not realistic that USDAN will be able to prevent this since no electrical lighting is being provided.

No, there will be no fire pits or outdoor cooking allowed in the woods by renters. A big part of camping outdoors is about eating and having a cookout. USDAN is saying they can't drink alcohol and can't cook a steak, hot dog or even a veggie burger. However, it is likely that some campers will bring their own sterno, mini grills or even make a fire pit. Enforcing this rule will be difficult.

As far as we know, there are currently no answers from USDAN on this. But realistically, how do you prevent individuals from not smoking? Smoking in the woods is a fire hazard and it only takes one person, as Smokey the Bear says, to start a forest fire!

The policy of USDAN is that no fires will be allowed. For this reason, it is not realistic that campers will want to be cold and damp. During these colder months individuals may bring standard camping kerosene heating units and may decide to build a campfire. How will USDAN police this and enforce this?

No provision has been made for bringing in additional water facilities to deal with any fire. In fact, as of March 25, 2022, the Melville Fire Department has never been asked to discuss safety and compliance issues with regard to construciton, location and access of the 70 canvas lodges, road access for trucks and what type of fire truck equipment would be needed to deal with a fire in the woods which are not flat. Note: there was a fire at the camp last year and an entire building was destroyed. That fire was started by lighting. Lastly, as per the USDAN Survey submitted to the Zoning Board, only 5 tent sites out of the 70 are considered easy access tent sites.

The permanent wood base as per the Survey submitted is 20 feet by 12 feet – 240 square feet. There will be 18 double tent sites – so double that – so trees will be cut down. Will plants and bushes be removed? The answer from USDAN legal is that no trees will be taken down. However, common sense says that when you are installing structures this size in a heavily wooded area, you are definitely taking out trees and greenery. The woods are hills and not flat. Land will need to be graded. Paths will need to be made to reach the structures. It is NOT possible to build 16,800 square feet of structures without removing trees and plants.

No, other than a short environmental form submitted, there has been no study. The woods include foxes, deer, raccoons, turtles and even wild turkeys. There are various types of rodents including rats, chipmunks, moles and squirrels. Displacement of these animals will be unavoidable and food debris will bring out the raccoons and rodents.

USDAN indicated they will be using a natural oil pesticide to combat ticks. If renters know they are likely to get lyme disease, they won't be coming back, so the tick issue is a big one. The animal disturbance will be initially from constructions and secondly from increase in human traffic in the woods. This activity disturbing animals will have them move outward to the surrounding communities. The animals, specifically the rodents, carry the ticks. There has been no environmental study done to determine the impact on the surrounding community.

Sign This Petition

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