BFJ Planning has been hired by the Town of Islip, NY to update its Comprehensive Plan which was adopted in 1977.  Given the significant changes that have occurred in the Town since the current plan was adopted, the BFJ Team will be producing a complete replacement of the prior plan. 
  
 The Town of Islip is located on the south shore of Suffolk County on Long Island, NY. It is the 3rd largest Town in the State with an estimated 339,949 people (2021 US Census) living in interconnected communities.  The Town is proud of its diverse population, businesses and industrial parks, healthcare and educational institutions, great access to open spaces and waterfronts, proximity to public transportation, a legacy of arts and culture, notable historic assets, MacArthur regional airport boosting local jobs and tourism, and much more. Approximately a third of the Town’s area is water (59.17 square miles) with 50 miles of coastline.
  
 Given the size of the Town of Islip, the scale of its comprehensive planning needs, and various topical urban planning challenges, BFJ Planning seeks NYU Wagner Capstone involvement on a specific and discreet project component. A desirable deliverable is one that that could be organized as a section or appendix of the overall Comprehensive Plan. A Capstone “deep-dive” into a planning area could enrich the Plan’s content and overall recommendations. 

Note: The timing of a September start is expected to work well.  The Town is currently working to establish a Comprehensive Plan Committee while we begin initial existing conditions research. 

Based on an initial discussion with our Town of Islip client, three proposed topical areas to focus on a discreet project component were identified as: 

(1)   Missing Middle Housing – This would seek to address housing affordability issues, promote inclusivity through housing options, and maximize land use. A deliverable could investigate housing typologies and targeted locations. 

(2)    Green Infrastructure and Sustainability – As a coastal community, there are various climate, stormwater, and flooding considerations that could be focused on through various investigations. 

(3)    Transportation and Mobility – Potential sub-topics for deeper analysis include: Micro-mobility and alternative transportation, enhanced north-south connectivity, and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategies around the Town’s multiple LIRR stations. 

These early ideas are presented with the intention to collaboratively discuss with NYU as well as the client as the project progresses and priorities become clearer. 

BFJ Planning would like to both provide an opportunity to mentor Capstone students through the project process, while also ensuring quality deliverables that are of added benefit to the Town of Islip's Comprehensive Plan. Outcomes should help to refine planning goals/objectives that are identified later in the process, while also producing recommendations and/or concepts that are actionable.