Huntington Approves 168-Unit Cornerstone Melville Development

MELVILLE, NY — A proposed 168-unit mixed-use development in Melville moved forward Tuesday after the Huntington Town Board approved a special-use permit for the project in a 3-2 vote.

The board approved Resolution 2026-516 for Cornerstone Melville, a development planned for the north side of Baylis Road, east of Maxess Road.

Councilman David Bennardo introduced the resolution, which was seconded by Supervisor Ed Smyth. Smyth, Bennardo and Councilwoman Theresa Mari voted in favor, while Councilwomen Jen Hebert and Brooke Lupinacci voted against it.

Before the vote was finalized, Hebert said her opposition was not to Cornerstone Melville itself, but to whether the town had satisfied a planned pause on residential development in the Melville Town Center Overlay District.

"I'm not opposed to the actual project," Hebert said. "I'm opposed to the fact that I still, in my humble opinion, don't feel like we've met the pause, and that is the reason for my vote against."

The Melville Town Center Overlay District allows mixed-use development in an area along Maxess Road, Melville Park Road, Baylis Road and Corporate Center Drive. Town materials state that the Town Board has the ability to pause residential development after increments of 400 units to assess cumulative impacts.

Cornerstone Melville calls for 168 residences as part of a mixed-use development. According to the developer, 20 percent of the units would be designated as workforce housing.
The Huntington Township Housing Coalition, which advocated for the development, applauded the Town Board's approval following Tuesday's vote.

"Our Coalition was proud to advocate for this proposal because we believe Huntington must continue creating more housing opportunities for people at different stages of life and income levels," the organization said in a statement.

The coalition said the development would include more than 30 below-market-rate affordable apartments, providing additional options for working families, young people and seniors.

"This approval demonstrates what is possible when residents, advocates, community leaders, developers, and local government work together to address our housing needs thoughtfully and responsibly," the coalition said.

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District has continued to raise concerns about development within the overlay district following the vote.

Superintendent John O'Farrell said the district understands the town's desire to move quickly on the Melville Town Center, but wants its concerns about payments in lieu of taxes, additional students and the effect on the district's tax cap to be considered.

The district is concerned about the potential effects of the proposed NYU Langone hospital, PILOT agreements and other financial pressures. The Melville Town Center Overlay District falls within Half Hollow Hills' boundaries in an area that historically consisted of industrial properties that did not add students or associated costs to the district.

"We will continue to advocate for a slower approval process that honors the pause and provides us with the time to analyze the actual impacts to the school district," O'Farrell said.

The Huntington Township Housing Coalition said the approval represented progress but that it would continue pushing for additional housing opportunities in the town.

"This is an important step forward—but our work is far from finished," the coalition said.