A Calverton property owner long been mired in litigation with the Town of Riverhead has introduced a new proposal for his land on Route 25.
Builder Vincent DiCanio said he is now looking to build a 135-unit assisted living facility at his Calverton Manor property across from Splish Splash, where past proposals have included a 120,000-square-foot “big box” shopping center, a YMCA, retail stores, apartments and mi. READ
A plan that could pave the way for an assisted living facility on Mill Road was largely opposed last night in Town Hall, as residents feared the impact of increased development at the site and farmers spoke out against the fact the future of agriculture as a viable industry in town could be sacrificed as a result. READ
Despite opposition from some residents who feared noise and traffic and even suggested moving it to EPCAL, the Riverhead Town Board on Wednesday night approved the “Freak Out” music festival proposed by Nile Rodgers Productions for the weekend of Aug. 12-14.
The board also approved a ban on 24-hour operations in three zoning districts, including the one where 7-Eleven is proposing a store at the Vinland Commons in Aquebogue.
An attorney for 7-Eleven said afterward that its “highly likely” that 7-Eleven would file a lawsuit challenging the zoning amendment.
The town is already in court with Vinland Commons over that project.
The board also held a 2-hour public hearing on a zone change proposal to allow assisted living on a Mill Road property. (see separate story)
To read more about Wednesday’s Town Board meeting, click below to read a recap of News-Review reporter Tim Gannon’s live blog of the meeting.
Click below to follow or comment and scroll down for the full meeting agenda and resolution packet.
An assisted living center is now being planned on a 10-acre property in Jamesport that had previously been proposed for a commercial development with two bistros and professional offices. READ
The Town Board on Tuesday agreed to donate land for a new town animal shelter and to offer preference to town residents and Sandy victims to live in downtown’s new subsidized Summerwind housing complex.
No specific site for the land to be donated to the Riverhead Move the Animal Shelter nonprofit group was mentioned in a resolution approved by the board at its meeting Tuesday. The MTAS group is raising money to build a new shelter in town.
As for the Summerwind vote, it passed 4-0 with Councilwoman Jodi Giglio abstaining since she is part owner of the project.
The town also held a hearing on proposed animal control regulations that would, among other things, give the town discretion as to whether to accept surrendered dogs at the town’s existing animal shelter. These regulations are meant to conform with North Fork Animal Welfare League rules, as the nonprofit human group prepares to take over the town shelter on March 1.
The board also rejected, 3-2, a resolution to re-send to Suffolk County planners a zoning change proposal that would allow for a Concordia-owned assisted living facility on Mill Road property in Riverhead.
Board members approved a resolution to name two new town ballfields in Calverton after two fallen soldiers from Wading River.
The board took up other items as well. News-Review reporter Tim Gannon blogged live from the meeting. Click below to see what he had reported.
BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | Architect Martin Sendlewski (left) pitches the apartment building plan to Town Board members Thursday.
The Town Board discussed a 48-unit apartment building proposed for downtown’s West Main Street at its 10 a.m. public work session Thursday.
News-Review reporter Tim Gannon covered the meeting live. (Click the blog box below.)
BARBARAELLEN KOCH | The Long Island Science Center would move if apartments get built.
Brooklyn-based Tricon Development is in contract to purchase the building that currently houses the Long Island Science Center and replace it with the new five-story apartment complex, according to Martin Sendlewski, the architect for the project.
The Long Island Science Center is hoping to find another location in downtown Riverhead, he said in an interview with the News-Review before Thursday’s meeting started.
The units will each have their own parking space, located underneath the complex, so it will not impact the downtown parking district, Mr. Sendlewski said.
Unlike Summerwind — the 52-unit apartment complex Mr. Sendlewski also is involved with on Peconic Avenue — the new project would not have a commercial component and be market value, rather than “workforce,” housing.
The developer is considering having leases and possibly sales of the units, he said, and they hope to complete the project by March 2014.
The board also discussed the possibility of the Calverton Enterprise Park being used by the FAA for a regional air traffic control center, with Supervisor Sean Walter expressing serious reservations about submitted information to the FAA that would allow the agency to decide if it’s interested in the EPCAL site.
The rest of the Town Board disagreed.
The meeting started at 10 a.m.
A proposal to build an assisted living complex on Mill Road may not be going anywhere.
A majority of Riverhead Town Board members declined to resubmit the zone change application for the project to the Suffolk County Planning Commission, which urged denial of the charge in October.
The Town Board would need four votes to override the planning commission denial, and doesn’t appear to have even three votes in favor of the zone change at the moment, based on the discussion at Thursday’s work session..
The board also agreed to give its blessing to the Long Island Rail Road’s plan to lease out part of the Railroad Avenue train station to a taxi cab company.
The company also wants to park cabs overnight in the LIRR parking spaces next to the station.
News-Review reporter Tim Gannon reported live from the work session.
Click here to read the recap.
