Suffolk County town supervisors met Thursday at the HIA breakfast at the Suffolk Jewish Center to discuss economic development priorities for the region.

The supervisors highlighted the need for affordable housing and owner-occupied apartment and condo complexes, called for solutions to rising waste management costs, and emphasized public and private investment in downtowns, while maintaining the suburban character of Suffolk County.

“Our mission is to let everyone know how important our towns are in maintaining the economic development of Suffolk County, and to let our town supervisors know how important they are,” said Joe Campolo, HIA-LI board member and moderator of the event.

Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter were joined by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth, and Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.

Schaffer pointed to several projects underway in Babylon through public and private partnerships, including redevelopment of the former Pinter Brothers transport site on Carlls Path in Deer Park. The site will offer 30,000 to 50,000 square feet for storage and light industrial uses.

He also highlighted a $250 million project in Wyandanch that could generate $6 million in new annual tax revenue for the town and create 2,000 jobs, benefiting the Wyandanch school district. “We are in the final stages of the approval process,” Schaffer said, noting other projects in Copiague, Farmingdale, and Deer Park.

Looking ahead, Schaffer said plans are underway for major changes to Route 231 in Deer Park, including installation of sewers with county and federal funding, a mixed-use overlay district, and redevelopment of traffic patterns. “When I spoke to some private property owners along that strip, they said that the town needs to give them an incentive to invest, which is what we are planning to do,” he said.

Carpenter said Islip “is open for business” and stressed that small business is vital to the town and Long Island as a whole.

“If we’re going to survive, we can’t continue to raise taxes,” Carpenter said. “And as far as cutting services, we’re not about to do that. People want more, they don’t want less. Development—a varied, sustainable development—will allow us to grow our base.”

She pointed to changes in downtown Bay Shore, where new housing and businesses, including the Greenview apartment complex, have transformed the area. “Bay Shore is now bustling with new restaurants, new boutiques—all within easy access to the ferry terminal,” Carpenter said.

The supervisors stressed that careful planning and collaboration are critical to sustaining economic growth while preserving Suffolk County’s unique communities. They also flagged the pressing issue of solid waste disposal at affordable rates.

With Brookhaven’s waste site nearing capacity and Babylon’s not far behind, the region must find alternatives for residential and commercial waste. Train and truck transport remain costly options. “This is the number-one affordability issue we have here on Long Island,” said Panico.

“What we need are people with vision, who have courage, like these five supervisors,” Campolo said.

HIA-LI has focused on economic and regional development for more than 40 years, providing a forum for business leaders to connect and problem solve. For more information, visit hia-li.org.