Why reverse what took so many years to accomplish?

The Town Board indicated during its last work session that it planned to move forward to enter into a settlement agreement with well-known developer, Charles Mancini, and his company Calverton Manor LLC, which owns the land just west of the intersection of Manor Road and Route 25 in Calverton. But why the desire to settle these 7-to-8-year old cases now? And what would the Town be giving up?

Well we compared what the settlement gives away against what’s allowed under the current zoning, which was a result of the comprehensive land use plan that hundreds participated in and that cost the town beaucoup bucks. The current zoning would allow a cluster of small buildings with shops and possibly offices and bistros, 9 single-family homes, and 21 acres of open space. If the Town settles, we’ll still have the same amount of open space but the rest of the land will be built out with a bunch of very large buildings including lots of big stores, at least one requisite chain-size restaurant and bank, and apartments. The first floor footprint of the commercial buildings would jump from approximately 45,000 sq. ft. to 100,000 sq. ft. (over 153,000 sq. ft. with second floors) and the buildings could be 9 times as large as permitted under the current regulations. Yes NINE times! We can also expect the parking lots to be about twice as large: a real asphalt jungle. Which project do you think would be better for Calverton?

It’s a matter of scale and, as Town officials like to say whenever they talk about development, “balance.” The current rural corridor and agricultural protection zoning use categories actually seem to preserve balance so that Riverhead has a fighting chance to retain its treasured rural character. The old zoning didn’t do that and that’s why it was changed on this and so many other properties. So why reverse what took so many years to accomplish?

Mr. Mancini confirmed what I think many of us intuitively knew at Thursday’s work session when he basically admitted that he was confident that he and the Town could come to an agreement because this board was so business friendly. Well I don’t blame him for being confident; I would be if I were in his shoes. In fact, I think he hit the nail right on the head.

This isn’t about old lawsuits that suddenly and magically, after all these years, became so strong that the Town is now compelled to settle. This isn’t about the Town not following the proper procedure or willfully refusing to process this site plan back in 2003, both of which the Town denied in their official response papers to the court under the prior administration before the town, under this administration, seemingly reversed its position. This is about supporting business expansion and development, period; regardless of other interests and impacts and despite the comprehensive plan.

Unless we change direction, the time is coming when we might as well use copies of the comp plan and town code as fuel for a bonfire because it won’t be doing this town a bit of good for anything else.

Dominique Mendez is president of the Riverhead Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. She lives in Wading River.