LONG ISLAND REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL February 27, 2015 The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 Re: State Surplus Investments for Long Island: The Long Island Billion Dear Governor Cuomo: We are writing to follow up our previous letter sent to you on November 26, 2014 which addressed Long Island s request to receive its fair share of the billions of dollars in proceeds acquired by the state from litigation settlements. While we appreciate the fact you included two of our previously requested projects in your proposed 2015-2016 state budget totaling approximately $100 million, we believe Long Island deserves at least $1 billion of the surplus for various infrastructure projects in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Specifically, the State should fund an additional $900 million in capital projects that could strengthen our intellectual infrastructure ; our environmental infrastructure ; and our transportation infrastructure. Here is an updated list of projects that should be funded: I. INTELLECTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE (Total Requested: $150 million) Innovation Capital Fund- The state should create a capital fund for Long Island s research institutions that would allow our region to maximize the commercialization of research emanating from these institutions in order to create a New York version of the Research Triangle here on Long Island. These funds could also be used to enhance the collaboration between these world-class
institutions, foster growth in the technology sectors and open up new paths to drug discoveries, all of which could help drive the future economy of Long Island, while also complementing the State s Start-Up NY program. The entire State would reap a huge return on investment from these funds. II. ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE (Total Requested: $400 million) On Long Island, a safe supply of clean drinking water and healthy creeks, bays and harbors support a multi-billion dollar economy fueled by tourism, boating, fishing, plentiful seafood and a desirable way of life for 2.8 million Nassau and Suffolk residents. Long Island s waters create jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars every year for our regional economy. Our coastal systems are vital assets that provide the first line of defense for our communities from the extreme weather events that threaten our shores and the recreational tourism opportunities that fuel our local businesses. But Long Island s health, economy and quality of life are all at risk. Aging sewer and septic systems leak nitrogen into our underground supply of fresh drinking water, which flows into our creeks, bays and harbors. Nitrogen pollution, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other toxic chemicals in Long Island s water can pose serious risks to human health. Toxic algae (fed by nitrogen pollution) in our waters can kill fish and our pets, and is deadly to humans. Accordingly, we request funds for: Nitrogen Management and Mitigation Plan- to protect our quality of life, we need an overarching plan and nitrogen targets to manage for to make sure that state, county and local water resource planning efforts are coordinated and actively addressing our immediate coastal resilience and water quality challenges. We urge you to include $3 million in the budget for the creation of a management and mitigation plan, as well an additional $2 million for the creation of science based numeric nitrogen standards for a total of $5 million. Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall Pipe - Superstorm Sandy destroyed the Bay Park Sewage Treatment plant. While federal storm recovery monies have been identified to rebuild this plant, these funds cannot be used for the ocean outfall pipe that is needed to protect the health and quality of the bay. It is estimated the outfall pipe may cost more than $600 million. A state financial commitment toward the project could leverage additional federal and local dollars to complete this critically important project similar to what the state recently proposed with the nitrogen severely limiting facility at Bay Park; and Sewers in Suffolk s Downtowns - Suffolk County remains nearly two thirds unsewered which is a major infrastructure deficiency prohibiting economic development. While the region appreciates the recent announcements you made regarding federal dollars for sewers along Suffolk s South Shore communities 2
to protect the quality of ground and surface waters, sewer investments in other parts of Suffolk County are required to protect our environment and create additional mixed-use and transit-oriented development projects in our downtowns to facilitate growth of the County s economy. III. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE (Total Requested: $350 million) Nassau County Nassau Coliseum Structured Parking Facility - The Nassau Coliseum will be undergoing a one quarter billion dollar private investment for a new state of the art arena along with surrounding sports and entertainment development. If a structured parking facility were constructed adjacent to the Coliseum, then a significant amount of the acreage of the site (currently used for parking for Coliseum events) would be freed up for additional development. A larger state investment in this facility [partial funding was included in the proposed State budget] would complement the current private investment and drive hundreds of millions of dollars of additional private investment at the site. Cerro Wire - The property formerly owned by Cerro Wire Corporation consists of approximately 54 acres of buildable land in Syosset. The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council has stated the proposed development of the site is one of the most significant on Long Island and, if developed, has the potential to be transformative for the region, while creating numerous construction and permanent jobs. The new owners intend to submit to the Town of Oyster Bay a separate and distinct plan to develop the site as a mixed use, smart growth Town Center. The construction of the Town Center will require a significant investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. The developer has already invested in excess of $90 million dollars to purchase the site. However, a sizeable state investment for this project is necessary to pay for the elimination of the grade crossing at Robbins Lane and other major road improvements, all of which would nicely complement the privately funded one half billion dollar Town Center as a transitoriented development project. Belmont Park Redevelopment Improvements - The state will soon be making an award for competing development projects on surplus property adjacent to Belmont Park, any of which could be enhanced by infrastructure investments in the area. Significant investments to provide for improvements to parkway entrance/exit interchanges, public roadways, utilities and an intermodal transit station including pedestrian overpass and streetscape improvements would be comprehensive and would incentivize additional private economic investment in the local community. 3
Nassau Expressway, Route 878 This project would include the removal of substandard pavement and curbing, replacement and installation of new drainage infrastructure, grading improvements, and installation of new pavement and curbs to address longstanding flooding, safety, and road surface issues along the entire two mile highway length between Burnside Avenue and the Rockaway Beach bridge. In addition, it would create hundreds of jobs, strengthen the local economy and harden an existing flood evacuation route. Suffolk County Sagtikos Parkway Widening Project - This project would widen the Sagtikos Parkway and is critical to facilitate an exciting redevelopment of the former Pilgrim State Hospital property known as the Heartland Town Center. A major investment would initially leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment proposed for the site and eventually billions of dollars of private investment once completed. Ronkonkoma Hub - This transit-oriented development will turn a blighted area within steps of the busiest Long Island Railroad station into a brand new livework-play destination within minutes of Long Island MacArthur Airport. A state investment for a new structured parking facility was included in the proposed State budget. This will jump start the proposed private investment of a half of billion dollars and lead to further private investment because approximately 12 additional acres would now be available for redevelopment. The Master Developer of the Ronkonkoma Hub has recently received Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County municipal approvals to develop 1,450 residential units, 360,000 square feet of office, 195,000 square feet of retail and 60,000 square feet of hospitality. The proposed state investment in a parking structure would allow this transit-oriented development to expand from a $300 million into a $450 million private investment and thus, should remain in your proposed budget. Connect Long Island - Bus Rapid Transit on Route 110 - This project will create a new enhanced public transit system along Rt. 110 serving major office buildings, Amityville and Republic railroad stations, SUNY Farmingdale and the Walt Whitman Mall while complementing the opening of the Republic LIRR station which is funded in the 2015-2019 MTA capital plan. Route 110 has become Long Island s Main Street and a state investment would leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in further private investments along this corridor. Connect Long Island - Bus Rapid Transit on Nicolls Road - This project would create a new BRT system along 15 miles of Nicolls Road serving Stony 4
Brook University, Suffolk Community College, the Ronkonkoma Hub, multiple railroad stations, and Long Island MacArthur Airport, while complementing the exciting progress being made in Patchogue and would leverage further private investments along this corridor. Walt Whitman Road Bridge This bridge over the Long Island Expressway, along with the Route 110 overpass, are the two primary access roads to the Melville Employment Center, which is the most important commercial hub on Long Island in terms of employment and tax revenue. Immediate traffic and congestion problems with the bridge could be redesigned and mitigated to allow for future business growth, including the possible expansion of the North American headquarters of Canon, U.S.A. Calverton - Development has been stalled at EPCAL property for decades due to environmental issues including traffic and access concerns. Traffic Improvements to support redevelopment of this major Town of Riverhead property for the Proposed Redevelopment of EPCAL Property at Calverton and should be implemented. Port Shoreham A unique opportunity exists to transform the blighted former Shoreham nuclear power plant site into an engine of economic growth by developing a facility that could be used as a deepwater cargo port and manufacturing park for renewable energy companies. These physical infrastructure funds could be dispersed via a competitive grant competition for applicants on Long Island who meet certain criteria related to parking, roads, sewers, transportation improvements, wastewater protection, job generation, etc. The competition could be evaluated through the existing Regional Economic Development Council model while also engaging the Long Island Regional Planning Council for additional analysis and input. Furthermore, the Nassau and Suffolk County Executives could each designate an appointee to participate in the process. CONCLUSION As one of the primary economic engines in the State of New York, it s important, fair and a wise financial decision that Long Island receives an appropriate share of the State surplus. These worthwhile projects require a $1 billion investment by the State, of which approximately $100 million is already included in your proposed state budget. Thus, we are requesting $900 million more be included in the 2015-2016 state budget for Long Island. These projects could then leverage billions of dollars in additional private investments, create thousands of construction and permanent jobs, and strengthen the Long Island economy that is so important to the entire State. Thank you for your consideration of our request. 5
Respectfully submitted, John D. Cameron, Jr. Chairman Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC) Kevin S. Law President & CEO Long Island Association (LIA) Desmond M. Ryan Executive Director Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) Mitch Pally CEO Long Island Buildings Institute (LIBI) Nancy Kelley Executive Director The Nature Conservancy Robert DeLuca President Group for the East End Marc Herbst Executive Director Long Island Contractor s Association cc: New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie New York State Senate - Long Island Delegation New York State Assembly Long Island Delegation Nassau County Executive- Edward Mangano Suffolk County Executive- Steve Bellone 6