The Riverhead Town Board last week adopted a new rate structure for the water district, approved a special permit for a new outlet center and appropriated American Rescue Act funds for the downtown security camera program.
The Town Board adopted a two-tier rate structure for the district, which means customers using water at a higher rate per thousand gallons will have to pay more over certain gallonage thresholds in a three-month billing cycle.
Rates will increase across the board, from the current $1.78 to $1.95 per thousand gallons for the tier-one rate. The tier-two rate, which goes into effect after a customer goes over the threshold, will be $2.75 per thousand gallons. Currently, the $1.78 rate per thousand applies no matter how much water is consumed. The rate is scheduled to increase to $1.83 per thousand on Oct. 1, under rates approved by the Town Board in 2020.
Water District Superintendent Frank Mancini urged the board to adopt the increase last month to cover the rising cost of chemicals and other expenses. Manini estimated around 20% of the district’s total customers will exceed first-tier thresholds in a billing cycle and move to a second-tier rate. The new rate structure will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
The Town Board approved a special permit to build Dries-Specchio Manufacturer’s Outlet Center, which is to have 13 stores and will be located between two existing Tanger properties off Route 58.
[See prior coverage: Plans for independent outlet between Tanger properties return to Town Board]
Plans to develop the land were proposed in 2004 and gained approvals, but nothing was ever constructed and the special permit granted by the Town Board then expired. The special permit states that the applicant must complete construction and begin the use within three years. The applicant also must obtain approval from the Planning Board and other agencies.
The board appropriated $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to continue the town’s program of installing security cameras in the downtown area. The money will be used to put cameras in the downtown riverfront area; riverfront municipal parking lot area adjacent to Peconic Avenue; municipal parking lot area east of Griffing Avenue and north of Main Street; the area adjacent to the north side of Grangebel Park; Main Street adjacent to Grangebel Park; and additional security cameras at police headquarters on Howell Avenue, according to the resolution.
The board also appropriated $200,000 of ARPA funds to repair the roof of the Riverhead Senior Center on Shade Tree Lane.
Riverhead received $1.72 million from the latest round announced last month by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Aguiar said in an interview last month that the funds will also be used for a water storage tank and to improve walkways at town parks.
[See prior coverage: Riverhead to receive another $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds]
The Town Board adopted an amendment to the zoning code to allow for single-family housing in the Business PB zoning use district, located along Roanoke Avenue. New residential uses were previously eliminated as permitted uses in the Business PB zoning use district in a code amendment that implemented the recommendations of the 2003 comprehensive plan.
The board approved the special event application for two events. The ‘Long Island Zombie Shoot’ will take place at Island Water Park from Sept. 16 through Oct. 31; and the African American Educational and Cultural Festival’s Motown fundraising concert will be held at Grangebel Park on Sept. 17 from 3-7 p.m., with a rain date of Sept. 18.
The board also promoted Town Investigator Richard Downs to the position of senior town investigator, with a raise in pay from $98,578.40 to $102,058.12 a year; and promoted Ordinance Inspector Nicole Buckner to the town investigator position, with raise in pay from $76,204.21 to $78,629.12 a year.
The Town Board retroactively authorized legal action against the owners, tenants and occupants of 430 Union Avenue in Riverhead for alleged “violation of various sections of the Code of the Town of Riverhead and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention, Building and/or Property Code,” according to the resolution. The owner of the property is Lyle Pike of Southampton, according to county deed records.
It also designated the property 330 Baywood Drive in Calverton, a property currently the subject of mortgage foreclosure action according to county records, “blighted” in accordance with the town code and set a Sept. 7 public hearing to consider allowing the town to remedy the violations of the code and charge the cost or expense of the remediation to the owner of the property.
The board also authorized the community development department to apply for a number of grants for water district improvement projects and extensions. During the meeting, residents lobbying the Town Board to bring public water to areas in Calverton and Manorville urged the town to sign an inter-municipal agreement with Suffolk County Water Authority to strengthen its grant application. See separate story: Riverhead to seek more water extension grants, as patience of Manorville residents wears thin
The public also got the opportunity to comment on a proposed amendment to the zoning code to allow and regulate battery energy storage systems within the town. The code drew questions and criticism at the hearing, with some residents urging the board to analyze the subject in its comprehensive plan before adopting the code and allowing the facilities in town. See separate story: Proposed battery energy storage code draws questions, criticism at public hearing .
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