Polo plan pitched for EPCAL

A father-son Argentinian real estate duo who say they’ve been waiting for three years to pitch a polo-centered equestrian plan to Riverhead town officials got their chance this afternoon at Riverhead Town Hall.

Jorge Justo Neuss and his son German J. Neuss, Buenos Aires-based businessmen and developers, met with Councilman John Dunleavy and Councilwoman Jodi Giglio this afternoon to pitch their proposal to build a polo club, a 10,000-seat stadium, training tracks, stables and fields on more than 700 acres of recreationally zoned land at the Calverton Enterprise Park.

They said they have joined forces with two professional polo teams to form the International Polo Organization “to introduce the highest level of polo to the world.”

They did not put an offer on the table, but they did tell the two Town Board members they would make a cash offer for the site, closing the deal without bank financing.

The Neuss proposal also includes 400 one-acre lots.

“Each owner would be able to build a house and stables with direct access to a polo field,” according to one of the slides in a Power Point presentation given this afternoon.

A preliminary sketch of the site plan also appeared to show a residential subdivision creating an unspecified number of single-family lots. That part of the plan is optional, the senior Neuss said in an interview.

The town’s longtime real estate agent for the EPCAL site, Jack O’Connor, brought the Argentinians to the table. He said the proposal was not contingent upon approval of housing unrelated to the equestrian facility.

Under current zoning, housing is not a permitted use unless accessory to a golf course.

The current zoning may soon be changed, however, since the town recently contracted with a planning and engineering firm to update its master plan for the 2,900-acre site, the former home of Northrop-Grumman Corporation, which built military aircraft there.

Supervisor Sean Walter, who did not attend the meeting, said he resisted putting the Neuss group on a work session agenda because he wanted to first see a written proposal from them.

“This town has seen too many wild ideas for EPCAL, and, quite frankly, has treated too many of them as if they were serious, legitimate proposals. If they [the Neuss Group] are serious, they should submit a written proposal to the town,” Walter said. “We’re not going to go down the path once again of getting involved with people, and tying up this property, without first ascertaining their plans are real.”

Giglio said after the presentation she would support the general concept, if the developers proved themselves to be real — something to be determined by the town through a “qualified and eligible sponsor” hearing.

Dunleavy, who arranged today’s meeting,    agreed.

Jorge Neuss said he is attracted to Calverton by its proximity to both New York City and the Hamptons. Polo, he said, is a sport pursued by wealthy people, who buy horses and hire athletes to compete. The International Polo Organization would put on matches between professional polo teams. It would also offer pro-am competition. The polo fields would be available to amateurs who want to spend an afternoon playing polo — “It’s like golf,” he said. The complex would also include facilities for jumping, a sport many polo players’ wives participate in, Neuss said.