Building Department Opens Additional Mobile Offices

Hurricane Sandy’s powerful winds, driving rain and damaging storm surge have long since subsided as the one-month anniversary of the storm approaches, but the devastation remains for many Town of Hempstead homes, properties and low-lying communities.

As residents start down the road to recovery here in America’s largest township, Supervisor Kate Murray and the town Building Department have taken numerous steps to help people rebuild their homes, including streamlining the building permitting process, providing door-to-door home inspections and establishing mobile offices throughout the township.

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“The Town of Hempstead Building Department has worked tirelessly to inform and
assist all residents affected by Hurricane Sandy, helping them to rebuild their homes and get their lives back on track,” stated Murray. “As the town seeks to recover from this storm, our dedicated Building Department staff will continue its work at Hempstead Town Hall and in various mobile offices located throughout the town.”

Actions taken by the town include waiving building permit fees for “in-kind”
reconstruction and replacement of Sandy-damaged homes, as well as eliminating a town requirement that homeowners obtain a variance prior to increasing their home’s foundation height to comply with FEMA flood height guidelines. Also, permit fees are waived for homeowners using a temporary trailer during construction.

The Building Department is also conducting door-to-door home inspections pertaining to structural safety, as well as distributing permit applications. What’s more, the Building Department’s Planning Examiners have also extended hours of operation (8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday) and established mobile offices throughout the town, maximizing the department’s reach and efficiency as part of the hurricane-recovery effort. Employees will be on hand to answer questions, provide permit applications and discuss regulations.

Mobile Building Department offices will be at the following closest locations between the hours of 12-6 p.m. on the indicated dates:

Tuesday, Dec. 4

• Merrick Road Park (2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick)
• Newbridge Road Park (2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore)

• Seamans Neck Park (2700 South Seamans Neck Road, Seaford)

• Wantagh Park (1 King Road, Wantagh)