Scott’s Pointe issued stop-work order, cited by town for building race track without approvals

Scott’s Pointe, an amusement park in Calverton formerly known as Island Water Park, was cited earlier this month by Riverhead Town authorities for building a go-kart track and pickleball courts on its property without permits or site plan approvals, and other violations of town law.

Scott’s Pointe was issued three appearance tickets on June 3 by town code enforcement for violating town laws that require permits and site plan approvals for new construction, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request. The town’s Code Enforcement Division also issued a “stop work” order for the site to halt the future use of the track.

The park was also issued two tickets by Riverhead Fire Marshal Andrew Smith the same day for violating the town code, according to the documents. One violation was for converting storage space into an assembly space without town approvals. The other was for failing to install an emergency responder radio coverage system, which is required by state fire safety law when first responders experience communication equipment issues at a particular site. The fire marshal ordered the installation of the system in February after an equipment test with local first responders, but Scott’s Pointe failed to install the system, according to the documents.

Eric Scott, the president of Island Water Park Corp, which operates Scott’s Pointe, did not return a phone call or email requesting comment today.

The investigation into Scott’s Pointe was prompted by a Riverhead Planning Department staff member seeing a Facebook video of the track, Senior Investigator Rich Downs said in an email. The staff member said the “asphalt track was not on the original site plan and does not have Town of Riverhead approvals,” according to an investigative report written by Downs. 

The video, which was posted on the Scott’s Pointe social media pages the day before the town’s investigation was opened, shows both go-karts and a race car driving and drifting along the track. Its description says the track is “about finished.”

The go-kart track was also featured on a Newsday TV segment and article about Scott’s Pointe published on May 21. The article states the park has a ¾ mile go-kart track, with karts for both adults and children that can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour. 

The Newsday article also says that there will be six batting cages on the property — structures which were also not included in the amusement park’s site plan approvals. 

Violations of the town code carry criminal and civil penalties and are prosecuted by the Riverhead Town Attorney’s Office. In addition to those penalties, an applicant that submits a site plan seeking to legalize existing construction or alterations must pay double the application fee to the town.

“Unfortunately, Scott’s Pointe, a business and attraction that the Town was happy to finally see opened and working toward achieving its potential, prematurely exceeded the scope of approvals granted by the Town,” Riverhead Town Attorney Erik Howard said in an emailed response to a request for comment from RiverheadLOCAL. “The Town Board and various departments invest substantial time and effort into reviewing and processing applications expeditiously, but with due consideration to practical and environmental impacts.”

“In this instance, there is an established process to add attractions, amend site plans or otherwise further develop property that, following an investigation by Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshal, it was evident Scott’s Pointe failed to follow,” Howard wrote. “As a result, they will be held to the same consequences that any other property owner would be forced to face where efforts are made to circumvent the Town Code.”

Situated on a 42-acre site, the park has a 12.5-acre manmade lake originally approved years ago for use by a water ski club. After the developer’s excavation struck groundwater, the State DEC prohibited the use of gas-powered motorcraft in the lake. Island Water Park, as it was then known, changed its plans for the site to eliminate disallowed water uses. It proposed a rope-tow water ski system and nonmotorized water sport vehicles, including canoes, sailboats and kayaks. 

The owner was issued a stop-work order in November 2021 for unauthorized construction at the site. That order came roughly a week after the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency approved financial assistance for the project, by then reimagined as an “extreme water sports park. Financial assistance approved by the RIDA included a 10-year property tax abatement, and mortgage recording and sales tax exemptions.

The recreational facility would consist of an “indoor/outdoor extreme water sports park, including an indoor surf pool, rock-climbing walls, indoor and outdoor volleyball courts, a zip line, spectator seating, obstacle courses, bumper boats, water slides, fitness center, spa, a pro shop and restaurants,” according to the owner’s application for IDA assistance. The park is expected to attract 900,000 visitors annually, according to an economic impact analysis submitted to the RIDA by the applicant. A company executive told the IDA board he anticipated the park would attract “thousands upon thousands of guests per week, potentially a couple of thousand per day,” when it is fully operational.

MORE COVERAGE: Riverhead IDA approves financial assistance for Island Water Park

Last July, the Riverhead fire marshal issued a notice of violation for hosting a Fourth of July party on the site without the required approvals to occupy the site. The business was not issued an appearance ticket for that violation. A RiverheadLOCAL investigation last summer into the amusement park’s social media and town approvals showed people were having parties or engaging with amenities at the Calverton site without required approvals for years before that citation was issued. 

At the time, the town attorney and other town officials said private parties and events held at the site did not run afoul of town code requirements for a certificate of occupancy, since the facility was not open to the public.

MORE COVERAGE: Social media posts showing parties at Calverton water park without C.O. lead to violation notice

Scott’s Pointe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening in November. The project has been heralded by town officials as a tourist attraction that will be an important economic generator for the town, offering a variety of activities including a surf pool, a mini golf course, racing simulators, a restaurant and water sports on the lake.

With Denise Civiletti

Correction: This article was amended to correct a misstatement about the size of the property and manmade lake.