Mastic Beach residents said they see a brighter future for their former village as they discussed a $500 million downtown redevelopment plan during a Brookhaven Town public hearing last week.

But the 3½-hour hearing Thursday night at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville also brought out residents' deepest worries, including what they described as rampant drug use, prostitution and overcrowded housing that some fear could undermine the effort.

The town is proposing to rezone about 37 acres and 140 parcels in a triangle-shaped section of Mastic Beach's blighted Neighborhood Road business district. Rezoning the area would pave the way for up to 630 new homes, including apartments and town houses, and a total of 130,000 square feet of retail space. Plans also include new sewers and storm d

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