The developer of a proposed 412,000-square-foot industrial park on Middle Country Road in Calverton was directed by the Riverhead Planning Board last week to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement to analyze the cumulative impacts of its proposal in combination with several other industrial proposals now pending in the Calverton hamlet.
The Planning Board on Aug. 18 had accepted the Final Environmental Impact Statement of HK Ventures, but had not yet adopted the findings statement that concludes the environmental review process mandated by state law.
Last week’s unusual move by the planning board came after members of the public complained that the project review previously undertaken by the town failed to assess the cumulative impacts of the HK Ventures proposal with other major industrial warehousing proposals now pending in the Calverton Hamlet. Since the the Great Neck-based developer first filed its application to build eight industrial buildings on a vacant, 30-acre industrially zoned parcel adjacent to Tractor Supply in Calverton, several other large industrial applications have been filed for sites in the Calverton hamlet proposing major warehousing/logistics uses.
The directive also came after Jamesport resident Barbara Blass pointed out to the Planning Board that the Final Environmental Impact Statement did not analyze cumulative impacts of the project in conjunction with those of multiple solar energy production facilities built or under construction in the Calverton Hamlet, a review that was required by the Planning Board’s adopted scoping statement for the project.
HK Ventures is one of several large industrial projects in Calverton currently seeking approvals the including the 130-acre, 38-lot Calverton Industrial Subdivision on Middle Country Road, the 641,000-square-foot Riverhead Logistics Center on Middle Road, 151,000 square feet of storage facility space on the corner of Manor Road and Middle Country Road in Calverton and a 75,000-square-foot warehouse expansion on Middle Country Road in Calverton.
Keith Brown, the applicant’s attorney, objected to the move before the Planning Board vote last Thursday, calling it a delay “when we’re at the one-yard line,” when the board should be adopting a findings statement allowing the project “to move onto the next phase.”
HK Ventures started its application two years ago, Brown said. “And and to send us back to look at these three projects that all came in after we filed it. It’s really it’s just unacceptable in terms of they should be looking at our project, not vice versa,” Brown said.
Brown said the project will “a fantastic addition to the town, not just for the tax rateables, but in terms of the users, right, the contractors that don’t have a place to go and able to to move goods from western Long Island to the East End it’s perfectly positioned for that and there’s nothing else out there.”
He warned that the setback might “kill this project” because of “contractual obligations” the applicant has. Requiring a supplemental EIS will have “a dramatic impact because other things are in the works.”
Planner Greg Bergman told the board the supplemental EIS could be ready for adoption in less than two months after it is submitted by the applicant. Neither a public scoping session nor a public hearing on the supplemental EIS is required, he said. A 30-day public comment period is required.
“I wish government would move that fast. We all know the wheels of government don’t,” Brown said.
Planning Board Member Joseph Baier told Brown if HK Ventures didn’t do this cumulative impacts analysis, the board would have to wait for the other applicants to finish their traffic impact studies before acting on the HK Ventures application.
“What I’m driving at — I think this is the easiest way out,” Baier said. You’ll do it the most efficient way, too. I mean you have all the data,” Baier said. “We know that we’ll do the best we can here to move it along.”
Planning Board attorney Eileen Powers interjected that the applicant is also being required to look at the cumulative impacts the solar facilities as well.
Member Richard O’Dea asked Building and Planning Administrator Jefferson Murphree if he had anything to say about the matter.
“No, I’m good,” replied Murphree, who was not seated at the table with Bergman and Brown.
“I think if this happened two months ago, twelve months ago, it wouldn’t be an issue. At this juncture, at this time, it’s a major problem,” Brown said.
Baier moved the resolution to require the supplemental EIS. The board voted unanimously to approve it.
Planning Board Vice Chairman Ed Densieski said he agrees with a lot of what Brown said but the additional review is needed. “These other projects are coming down the pike. You’re way ahead of them. I get it. But I do think this is important,” Densieski said. “The traffic is going to be a big issue. I would advise staff not to waste any time, to treat the applicant as good as you can,” Densieski said. “I advise the applicant to bring in information as soon as possible. And we’ll try to help you,” he said, before casting his vote.
Correction: This article has been amended after its initial publication to correct an error in the location of the HK Ventures property.
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