Source: Long Island Business News.
The Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI) has established a new East End Council to address growing concerns over lengthy building permit and development approval timelines across eastern Long Island. The council will focus on improving the permitting process while supporting responsible construction, housing development, and economic growth in Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, East Hampton, and Shelter Island.
The initiative brings together builders, contractors, property owners, local officials, and other stakeholders to identify practical solutions that reduce unnecessary delays and create a more predictable approval process. LIBI CEO Michael Florio emphasized that faster permitting can benefit homeowners, support local employment, expand housing availability, and strengthen the regional economy.
The need for reform is underscored by projects such as Liberty Gardens, a proposed 50-unit affordable and supportive housing development in Southampton. First proposed in 2017 by Concern Housing, the project includes 25 affordable and workforce housing units and 25 supportive housing units for veterans. The development has faced legal challenges, highlighting the difficulties that can arise during the local approval process.
Michael Forst, president of Forst Construction, will serve as chairman of the East End Council, with Fred Seifert, president of Seifert Construction, serving as co-chairman. Forst noted that some projects are now taking nine to 12 months or longer to secure approvals, stressing that the council’s goal is to improve efficiency without compromising building standards or community character. The council will also advocate for workforce and attainable housing while promoting a more efficient development process that preserves the East End’s quality of life. Through collaboration with local governments and community stakeholders, LIBI aims to help create an environment where families, businesses, and developers can invest, build, and thrive.
Source: Long Island Business News, David Winzelberg, 6/8/26. Summarized rewrite for republication.