In Calverton, life as we know it is under attack

To the Editor:

I’m writing to express my family’s sincere concerns about the vast number and scope of projects that are slated to happen in and around the immediate vicinity of our home on Nicholas Way in Calverton.

Growing up in Riverhead and having deep farm-family roots, I remember a time when Riverhead was a small town. Clearly that was long before Route 58 became multi-lane, long before the Tanger Outlets, Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, BJs and all the other major developments we have witnessed change the face of our once-small community. Not that many years ago we didn’t have the traffic impacts on back roads as everyone follows their “Waze” GPS to avoid the usual congestion. Summer and fall harvesting holidays grind our town to a standstill.

I understand that progress cannot be stopped, but I cannot see how the current course of action and associated buildout, many of which are happening without the guidance of our “long-awaited” master plan update, can be implemented as a rush. Again, the board should have voted for a moratorium to stem the tide, but alas that was a decision they didn’t make. I feel that in every way, life as we know it in our once-small town is under attack.

You ever wonder why so many want to build so much out here? Certainly it is that Riverhead is a “cross-roads” between the Hamptons and the North Fork. But perhaps the big developers realize that they can come in and perhaps bully us around with their high-priced lawyers and credentialed engineering firms, promising jobs that are not going to town residents and taxes that we never see. What do we actually get? More traffic, more light pollution, more crime, more demands on our town employees and first responder resources. Not a good tradeoff in my opinion.

Realize that once we go down this path and allow the projects that are slated to happen go forward we can NEVER GO BACK. Things will be forever changed in our town.

I’m sorry, I cannot see how any of the slated projects are so drastically needed (or in some way different) than ALL the other projects that have been developed. Four more restaurants on the current Long Island Cauliflower lot on the corner of Rout 58 and Mill Road? Really? We need another Dunkin Donuts and two more fast food joints? Come on. Will those minimum wage jobs keep our kids here or provide high enough wages and benefits for those already here who need employment? Again, I doubt it.

While we are at that — when are any of these projects going to actually kick in to absorb the tax burden from us residents whom have already made investments in our homes, schools and communities? I for one have not seen my taxes go down – our police, fire, EMS, schools, town workers need more funds to do the valuable work that they do for our community. Where will those funds come from? Commercial projects are called “tax-payers” for a reason. Yet, not in this town. Perhaps I should I ask the IDA for a tax abatement for the three jobs (from our three kids) that I will create with my little 2,100-square-foot home. I’d bet that looking at the ratio of jobs to square foot, I’m going to produce more jobs in my home than many of these commercial projects who have “promised” same. Yet they get the break (10 years on average) – and we get the bill.

Perhaps we should consider putting weight limits on Twomey Avenue — like the 16,000-pound weight limit Middle Road currently has, and do it from Manor to Riley, thereby keeping the 18-wheelers that rip 40-50 mph through residential streets off them? Why isn’t that being considered – that doesn’t involve the master plan and is well within the Town Board’s ability to legislate into the town code?

Some specific items of concern:

Riverhead Logistics Center – 640,000 square feet, 50 feet tall and absolutely in a residential neighborhood – trucks in and out all hours of the day and night – more damage to small roads already in bad shape. There is absolutely no way this project should move forward. Yet apparently all we have now is hope that this will be stopped.

EPCAL Cargo Airport and Industrial Hub – 10 million square feet and jet planes on final approach over our heads, as well as tractor trailers running 24/7. Funny, I thought that when they wanted to put a working airport in like MacArthur shortly after Grumman left that the residents said no in a referendum, as they didn’t want planes overhead again. I also recall one of the options being a NASCAR track and the local residents threw that idea out as well as they didn’t want the added traffic that a once a month race would draw in. What about that revenue? Funny how what’s old is new again!

Ostad Industrial Subdivision – across from entrance of Manor, which will apparently be full of backed-up tractor trailers from the buildout of the Riverhead Logistics Center – is anyone looking at the overall impact of all these projects having simultaneously on this town?

Lastly, the request from the Riverhead Ciderhouse. It was made very clear to John King that when he was allowed to buildout what he has back in 2014 that he was never to have what he is now currently requesting. We won’t even get into the expanded outside area that was never approved (he never even asked permission for). Apparently it is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission? Why is this even being considered?? Is it that apparent that the Town Board and/or Planning Board “forget” the past? Enforce the rules and Town Code!

When the town start to apply common sense?

Our community and our way of life is being threatened and the Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board members are the only people who have the power to do something to protect us.

Mark Gajowski

Calverton

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