There was hushed applause in town hall last night after Riverhead’s Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved the proposal for the Brendan House, a local long-term care facility for those living with traumatic brain injuries.
Nobody spoke in opposition to the four-bed group home. ZBA officials said the facility complied with the definition of a single-family dwelling use, therefore the proposed use of a currently vacant Sound Avenue farmhouse in the agricultural protection zone is allowed without a variance.
A separate building on the property, planned to be the site of the future house master, would not be a problem as it fit the description of an accessory use to a community residence, according to the ZBA ruling.
In addition to a house master, each resident of the home would have their own aide, who would work on a shift basis and would not reside on the property,.
“Thank everyone so much, really,” said Steve Scerri, the vice president of the project organizers, New Beginnings Community Center of Medford, after the Brendan House was officially approved.
The Brendan House, named in memory of brain injury victim Brendan Aykroyd of Blue Point, is expected to be the future home of Riverhead boy Michael Hubbard, who suffered severe brain injury after a 2011 gel candle accident and is currently undergoing care at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla.
RiverheadLOCAL file photo by Denise Civiletti
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