Two public comment sessions have been scheduled on the 170-unit apartment complex proposed for the former Sears site on East Main Street.
The sessions will be held during the next two regular town board meetings, on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. and on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. The purpose of the comment sessions, known as “scoping sessions” under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, is to help the town board define the issues and potential impacts the developer will be required to address in its environmental impact statement for the project.
The proposed development by Metro Group Properties Inc. at 203-213 East Main Street — the 1.42-acre site of the old Sears building and three smaller stores, which were all razed in 2016 — includes 3,442 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 170 rental apartments on the four stories above.
The apartments will consist of 32 studio, 85 one-bedroom and 53 two-bedroom units, according to a draft scoping statement submitted by the applicant on Sept. 4.
“The applicant has not determined whether to set aside some or all of the 170 residences as ‘affordable’ units,” according to the draft scoping statement prepared by Metro Group Properties’ planning consultant, the Melville-based firm of Nelson, Pope & Voorhis.
The applicant proposes to provide 88 parking spaces on site, to be made available on a monthly basis to building tenants. The site is located within the Riverhead Parking District and under the current town code the developer is not required to provide any on-site parking.
If the parking schedule were applied for the residential units — the town board is considering a code amendment that would do just that — the developer would be required to provide 1.5 parking spaces for each dwelling unit. The town board held a public hearing on the proposed parking code amendment March 20 but has not yet adopted the new provision.
Among the issues the draft environmental impact statement will analyze, according to the applicant’s draft scoping statement, are impacts on: downtown parking and traffic; the natural environment; historic structures; community services (such as police and fire protection, public water supply, recreational facilities); the public school district; and visual resources. Impacts during project construction will also be assessed, as will the cumulative impacts of this proposal when other pending projects are taken into account.
The proposed site is adjacent to a mixed-use, five-story building already under construction, consisting of 116 rental apartments and ground floor retail and restaurant uses. Also located within the parking district, that project will provide 55 on-site parking stalls.
The Metro Group Properties environmental impact statement will study several alternatives uses for the site; state environmental quality review law requires an examination of alternative uses. One alternative proposed for study is a 100-room hotel, allowed under the current zoning by special permit of the town board. Another alternative to be studied is a mixed-use development that conforms to the East Main Street Urban Renewal Plan’s recommendations, which would limit building height to three stories and maintain southward vistas from the north side of the street, according to the draft scoping statement. Another alternative for study is townhouse development, which is a permitted use in the DC-1 zoning use district where the site is located. The last alternative proposed to be studied is a mixed-use development with on-site parking provided “to meet the number of spaces required by the anticipated changes in the town code parking standards.”
The draft scoping statement has been circulated to involved and interested agencies and departments.
Under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, the town board must adopt a final scoping statement within 60 days of submission of the draft scope by the applicant, unless the applicant agrees to an extension.
Town officials said last week the draft scoping statement will be posted on the town’s website.
Metro Group Properties Inc. initially submitted a site plan application last year. The town board on April 3 classified the proposal as a type I action under SEQRA and requested lead agency status for coordinated review of the application. On May 1, the board issued a positive declaration, requiring a full environmental impact statement.
The final scoping statement will spell out the issues that the draft environmental impact statement will be required to address. When the DEIS is submitted, the town, as lead agency, will determine whether it adequately addresses the issues defined in the final scoping statement. If it does, the town will circulate the DEIS to involved and interested agencies and will accept public comment on the document. The board may hold a public hearing on the DEIS, but that is optional. Public and agency comments must be addressed by the applicant in its final environmental impact statement. Once accepted as adequate, the town board as lead agency must adopt a “findings statement” before rendering a decision on the application.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
