The Village of Upper Brookville was incorporated in 1932 at a time when many of the villages along the north shore wanted their own local control pertaining to land use, preservation of natural resources and quality of life issues. Over the years we have had dedicated residents who served with distinction on the Boards of Trustees, Planning Boards and Boards of Zoning and Appeals. Under their stewardship, the Village has tried to achieve fair and balanced plans for development while preserving and protecting what people moved here to enjoy.

This part of the North Shore of Long Island was blessed by nature with an abundance of open fields, rolling hills and old growth woodlands. At the time of incorporation, the original Village was about three square miles with a population of 332 persons residing in about fifty houses. Today the Village is about four and one third square miles with a population of just over 1800 residing in about 618 homes. The Village has in its midst Planting Fields Arboretum which accounts for 15% of the land area. The Village also includes two cemeteries. Planting Fields and the cemeteries are tax-exempt properties. Together they account for approximately 20% of the land area within the Village.

Upper Brookville is a residential community of single-family homes located in either the two-acre zone or the five-acre zone. There are two nonconforming properties, specifically a nursery and a gasoline station, which predate the Village's incorporation and, thus, are grand fathered. In the 73 years since its incorporation, Upper Brookville has developed as a country residence community. It is important to note that the Village's strict zoning has been encouraged by the Nassau-Suffolk Comprehensive Development Plan, the Tri-State Planning Commission and the New York State Legislative Commission on Water Resources. The Village of Upper Brookville is located on the Harbor Hills terminal moraine where the bedrock is 600 feet below sea level. As a result, this area provides excellent groundwater recharge and storage that are used as the water supply source for much of Long Island. Since Upper Brookville is in the critical watershed area of Nassau County, various studies recommend that this area be protected by applying the strictest land use management policies and by encouraging local zoning for densities no higher than two acres or more per dwelling.

Your Mayor and Village Trustees will continue to guide development in the Village of Upper Brookville in accordance with the broad regional planning objectives for its land area and in a manner designed to protect the interests of its residents and preserve the natural resources and quality of life in the Village.