Last Thursday, dozens of Suffolk County residents gathered at Brookhaven Town Hall to ensure that the upcoming race for Town Supervisor, between incumbent John LaValle and likely challenger Edward Hennessey, does not interfere with smart growth planning in the town.

"In a politically charged atmosphere, John LaValle has been attacking visioning and sustainable development issues which are spearheaded on the board by his perceived Republican challenger Ed Hennessey," said a spokesperson for the event’s organizers, which included Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization, Longwood Alliance, Lake Ronkonkoma Neighborhood Network, Middle Country Road Renaissance Project and the Middle Island Civic Organization.

Hundreds of residents have been engaged in visioning processes in Mastic/Shirley, Coram and Middle Island, and Lake Ronkonkoma. The sessions bring developers, architects, traffic experts, and planners together to develop a consensus view of future development. They have brought out overwhelming support for the transformation of sprawling strip roads into more attractive and safer, village business districts.

Hennessey has been the main proponent of county land use and road plans that would create a more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use main street design for the Montauk highway in Mastic/Shirley.

The plan was developed through a community visioning process a few years ago, but unfortunately, other locals worried about change and increased government control have opposed it. Insiders say LaValle may be using the project for leverage in the Supervisor race this November.

Citizens report LaValle has made statements denigrating community visioning as "just pretty pictures on the wall" and saying "planning should be left to planners," in both cases likely referring to Hennessey’s support of the Mastic-Shirley visioning project and land use plan.

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