Government

Recap: Town Board tables vote on Pataki Cahill contract at EPCAL

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The Riverhead Town Board tabled a vote tonight on approving an agreement with the Pataki-Cahill Group, a “specialized business development firm” headed by former Gov. George Pataki.

The firm would be hired through a professional services contract — meaning no bid would be required — to market property at Enterprise Park at Calverton.

In December, John Cahill made a trip to Riverhead to take a tour of EPCAL with members of the town board.

“There’s tremendous infrastructure on the site,” he said at the time, alluding to its runway and rail spur. “It really is a unique site.”

The land, originally gifted to the town in the late 1990s, has gone largely unsold in the 15 years the town has held it. A 50-lot subdivision at EPCAL has been proposed, though has yet to be approved.

Town officials are banking on income from land sales and leases (though they have said no subdivision would be necessary in order to secure the lease) at EPCAL to balance its budget in 2015 and future years. In December, it got news that the Long Island Power Authority had OK’d a solar project proposed at EPCAL that town supervisor Sean Walter said could cover a $750,000 gap.

Tonight, the Riverhead Town Board also held a public hearing on its latest attempt at regulating flyboarding.

The board is proposing to require the activity, which involves being thrust into the air by a water jetpack attached to a JetSki, to be at least 300 feet from shore. Flyboarding has been a constant topic of discussion since a group called Flyboard LI began offering the extreme water sport near Treasure Cove Marina. Nearby residents complained of the noise.

Other hearings on the agenda tonight involve a new definition of “family” in relation to house zoning and a proposal to require the owner of a vacant property on Founders Path in Baiting Hollow to clean it up. In addition, the board is expected to vote on three police promotions.

Click below for a recap and scroll down for the full agenda and resolution packet for the meeting.

Live Blog Riverhead Town Board 02-18-2015

February 18, 2015 – Agenda by Timesreview

February 18, 2015 – Packet by Timesreview