EPCAL development is the biggest project Riverhead will ever see. It has the potential to stabilize our town budget, bring jobs and benefit the residents of the Town of Riverhead. It will also have impact, good or bad, well beyond Riverhead.
What is CAT planning to bring to Riverhead? Well, we really don’t know. But we should.
There are too many unanswered questions. Without answers how are we to be sure CAT’s plans will be in Riverhead’s best interest? An airport? Maybe, maybe not. Shouldn’t we know? Of course we should.
EPCAL is a New York State designated Urban Renewal Area. In 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Calverton as an Opportunity Zone, a new federal program designed to boost private investment in underserved urban and rural communities via tax benefits such as tax deferrals on capital gains and investment profits. This should be considered a huge economic opportunity for Riverhead. What is the vision for the end product? Is it going to benefit Riverhead? Can we believe that time (and money) was spent playing around drawing up a fictitious proposed site plan? What are they thinking? Again, we really don’t know. But we really should know.
Another question: It appears CAT would like to redefine the wetland area. Our wetlands help to prevent flooding and tidal erosion. They help to prevent loss of our prime soils. They also serve as a natural habitat for many species of plants and animals. To arbitrarily relocate such a large area of wetlands is to attempt to mess with Mother Nature and put Riverhead residents at risk.
Kudos to Supervisor Jens-Smith and Councilwoman Kent for working diligently to secure outside counsel to get us some answers. The review process is in place. Let’s make sure we get the answers to our questions. The residents of Riverhead deserve to know.
Patricia Snyder is a Democratic candidate for Riverhead Town councilwoman. She lives in Riverhead.
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