Village of Lawrence Position on Five Towns Development

By the Mayor and Board of Trustees, Village of Lawrence

Recent headlines surrounding proposed development in the Five Towns—particularly within a transit-oriented zone near the Lawrence/Inwood LIRR stations—have generated strong emotions and spirited debate. As the elected leadership of the Village of Lawrence, we believe it is important to clarify our position and reaffirm our commitment to the residents we serve.

First and foremost, the Village of Lawrence does not have legal standing in the matter currently before the courts, as the proposed development does not involve property located within our village boundaries. It is also important to note that other local entities, including the school district and the public library, similarly lack legal standing in this matter. Nevertheless, the absence of legal standing for any of these institutions does not diminish the very real impacts the proposed development may have on our community or the responsibility we share to speak out on behalf of those we serve.

To the contrary, the Mayor and Board of Trustees have consistently supported responsible planning that preserves the character, livability, and suburban nature of Lawrence and the surrounding communities.

It is also critical for the public to understand that this situation did not arise overnight, nor did it originate with the current Village administration. The planning and policy decisions that set these events in motion began under two prior administrations, well before the zoning changes that now frame today’s debate. The Mayor and Board of Trustees inherited a set of circumstances that could have been mitigated—or potentially avoided altogether—had concerns been raised and addressed earlier in the process, prior to the adoption of the underlying zoning changes. While we cannot rewrite the past, we are committed to responsibly managing the present and advocating for the best possible outcome moving forward.

Lawrence is defined by its charm, its scale, and its quality of life. The Village Board works diligently every day to protect those qualities—not only for our own residents, but also for our neighbors throughout the Five Towns who share the same roadways, schools, emergency services, and commercial corridors. Any development of significant size inevitably carries regional consequences, and those impacts must be carefully evaluated before decisions are finalized.

We are particularly vigilant when it comes to traffic, parking, infrastructure capacity, and public safety. These issues directly affect daily life for residents and must be meaningfully addressed in any development proposal that could impact our area. The Village of Lawrence has been vocal on these concerns and will continue to advocate strongly to ensure that the interests of our community and neighboring municipalities are protected.

It is also important to acknowledge the longstanding challenges in the area of North Lawrence, which has consistently experienced elevated crime levels and places disproportionate demands on shared public safety and municipal resources. These conditions do not exist in isolation. When development is not carefully planned or adequately supported by infrastructure and enforcement, the resulting strain can deplete resources that are essential to Lawrence and increase the risk of criminal activity spilling over into adjacent neighborhoods. Responsible planning must therefore account not only for buildings and density, but also for law enforcement capacity, emergency response, and quality-of-life impacts across municipal boundaries.

The Mayor and Board of Trustees have been actively engaging with neighboring municipalities and elected officials to pursue a collaborative and constructive approach to these complex issues. We firmly believe that cooperation—not confrontation—is the most productive path forward. Working together allows communities to share information, identify deficiencies, and seek solutions that balance growth with responsibility, safety, and foresight.

By contrast, prolonged litigation carries significant risks. Legal challenges are costly, time-consuming, and uncertain, and they often place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers and homeowners—especially if a legal judgment is made against our Village. While residents understandably want their voices heard, those voices are most effectively amplified through coordinated advocacy, transparent planning processes, and inter-municipal cooperation—not through legal battles at the governmental level that may ultimately yield little benefit and could place us in financial risk.

The Village of Lawrence stands with residents who seek thoughtful, well-vetted planning that respects the suburban character of our communities. We remain committed to working constructively with our neighbors, carefully evaluating the real-world impacts of proposed developments, and advocating for decisions that safeguard the quality of life that makes Lawrence and the Five Towns such special places to live.

Preservation, partnership, and prudence must guide us now more than ever.

Mayor Samuel (Shlomo Nahmias)

Deputy Mayor Aaron Felder

Trustee Aaron Parnes

Trustee Tammy Roz

Trustee Steven Gottesman

Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman slammed Governor Kathy Hochul’s FY 2027 budget, saying it doubles down on the policies that have made New York unaffordable by pouring billions into migrant services while leaving families, seniors, and hardworking New Yorkers with higher bills.

“New York is one of the most unaffordable states in America because Kathy Hochul chooses migrants over hardworking families and seniors. People can’t afford rent, groceries, energy, or property taxes, and Hochul’s answer is to spend billions on migrants and stick everyone else with the bill. That’s why New York is unaffordable.”

Blakeman noted that Hochul’s budget keeps $4.3 billion flowing to migrant shelters, healthcare, and legal services with no cap and no end date, while Medicaid spending jumps roughly 11% as free healthcare for illegal migrants continues. Hochul refuses to disclose how much of that increase is driven by migrant healthcare, leaving taxpayers with a multi-billion-dollar bill.

“The migrant crisis isn’t paid for in Albany; it’s paid for at your kitchen table. Billions spent on migrant housing, healthcare, and legal services show up as higher taxes, higher insurance premiums, and higher utility bills for families who are already struggling. That money could be cutting taxes, helping parents afford child care, or strengthening our schools. Instead, Hochul is spending it on the migrant crisis and making New York even more unaffordable.”

“Just as concerning, this budget does nothing to help everyday New Yorkers pay their bills,” Blakeman said. “There’s no income tax relief, no property tax relief, no utility cost relief—nothing that helps families and seniors keep up with the rising cost of living.”

Hochul’s budget also hands out more Hollywood and Broadway tax breaks, and extends punishing business taxes that drive jobs out of New York—leaving fewer paychecks, fewer opportunities, and higher costs for the people who stay.

“After four years, Hochul still has no affordability plan,” Blakeman said. “Just more migrant spending, more giveaways, and higher bills for every family in this state. That ends when I’m elected Governor. Instead of pouring billions into migrant programs and giveaways, we’ll deliver real middle-class tax relief, lower the cost of living, and let New Yorkers keep more of their own money.”