We, the residents of Valley Stream, Elmont, and Franklin Square, are calling on the Town of Hempstead to address the growing trend of out-of-scale residential development that is changing the character of our neighborhoods and placing increasing demands on local infrastructure.

The Issue: Our neighborhood is being targeted by developers who are purchasing modest homes to replace them with massive, 5,000+ square-foot structures on lots originally zoned for 1,500–2,000 square-foot homes. This is not simple home improvement; it is an industrial-scale density shift that our existing infrastructure was never designed to handle.

These projects are creating significant and irreversible damage to our community:

• Infrastructure Strain: Our streets are already at capacity. Adding 10-bedroom, multi-kitchen households to small residential lots has created a parking crisis that compromises emergency vehicle access and street safety.
• Loss of Neighborhood Character: The massive scale of these new builds looms over existing properties, destroying the privacy, sunlight, and quiet enjoyment of our homes.
• Environmental Degradation: The removal of mature trees and greenery to maximize building footprints is creating a "heat island" effect, increasing energy costs for all neighbors and stripping our street of its natural beauty.
• Economic Displacement: These speculative "luxury flips" are driving up property values and tax burdens, making it nearly impossible for young families—including those who grew up here—to build their own futures in Valley Stream and nearby neighborhoods.

Our Goal: Responsible Growth

• We are not asking to stop growth; we are asking for responsible development. We believe that progress should enhance our community, not displace the families that make it great.

We call on the Town of Hempstead to:

• Conduct an immediate review of zoning codes to ensure they reflect the reality of our neighborhood’s residential scale.
• Implement a moratorium on "as-of-right" demolition and construction permits for these out-of-scale luxury developments while zoning standards are being re-evaluated.
• Host a public forum to allow residents a seat at the table in planning a sustainable path forward that respects our infrastructure, our environment, and our long-term affordability.
• Our neighborhood’s future is at stake. By signing this petition, you are telling the Town of Hempstead that we value community stability over speculative developer profit.

Please sign and share this petition to stand up for a responsible future for Valley Stream & Beyond.