Charles Wang, Local Officials Make Progress On Lighthouse Plans

Wang Hopes To Begin Lighthouse Development Construction By April Or June '10

Islanders Owner Charles Wang, RXR Realty Chair & CEO Scott Rechler, Nassau County (NY) exec Thomas Suozzi and Hempstead, New York, Supervisor Kate Murray Friday agreed to "work as a team to expedite approvals" for Wang's Lighthouse development, according to Eden Laikin of NEWSDAY. In the first meeting between the four, they "collectively sketched a preliminary timeline of events in the approval chain that could get a decision on the project to Wang" by his October 3 deadline -- the start of the '09-10 NHL season. Murray Friday said that the town board "would vote on the Lighthouse Group's draft environmental impact statement -- reviewed by town consultants over three months -- at its July 7 meeting." If the draft is "deemed adequate for public review," it will be sent to various state agencies and 15-60 days after that, a "public hearing will be held." The four also agreed that "over the next 10 days they will work out a timetable for the rest of the project's many required approvals and make it public." Murray, who for months had said that it was "inappropriate to meet with developers who have a pending application before the town board, which has yet to vote on the project," Friday said that she was "pleased with the dialogue." Murray: "It was a great meeting -- a watershed moment." Murray added the parties now are all on "the same page" (NEWSDAY, 6/6). Wang Friday said, "I hope to put a shovel in the ground by April or June (2010)." Wang added that he has "not spoken to any city" about relocating the Islanders. Wang: "Our goal has always been that we want to be on Long Island" (NEWSDAY, 6/6).