Hearing set on 3-month extension of Calverton industrial moratorium: Town Board wrap-up

The Riverhead Town Board scheduled a public hearing this week on a local law to extend its moratorium on industrial development in Calverton another three months.

The public hearing will be held during the Town Board’s meeting on July 2 at 2 p.m.. The resolution was passed unanimously by the board, although it isn’t known whether the extended moratorium law has the three votes required to pass. 

Riverhead planning staff have recommended extending the moratorium — which was originally for six months — to give the town time to adopt the new comprehensive plan and adopt new town laws necessary to change the development regulations of industrial zoning in Calverton. The town’s current moratorium is set to expire on July 12, and captures development applications and land subdivisions that require significant environmental review. If the extension is approved by the board, the moratorium would instead expire on Oct. 12.  

The town’s consultants on the comprehensive plan have said the Town Board could vote to adopt the plan as soon as August. Planning department staff said the changes to industrial zoning, which includes the rezoning of certain properties to light industrial and the creation of a new zoning district for properties along Middle Country Road, are a priority to adopt after the plan is approved.

In other action at this week’s board meeting, the Town Board:

• Accepted the retirement of Chief Fire Marshal Craig Zitek, who will be leaving effective July 7. 
• Granted preliminary site plan approval for a 84,250 square foot, 40-foot tall industrial building at 901-923 Burman Boulevard, located within the Calverton Enterprise Park.
• Approved a project to convert light fixtures at Town Hall on West Second Street to LED lights. The cost of the project materials is estimated to be $51,354, according to the resolution passed by the board. The town is eligible for rebates from PSEG, including  a basic rebate in the amount of $27,514, an additional rebate of $6,879 as qualified through being a disadvantaged community, and a potential incentive for completion rebate of $6,879 or $9.35/fixture if completed by Nov. 1, according to the resolution.
• Scheduled a public hearing for July 16 at 2 p.m. to amend the town code to allow traditional barber poles.
• Rejected bids for residential solid waste collection and disposal service and authorized the town clerk to public and post a notice for re-bid. Previous bids were not found to be in the best interest of the town, according to the resolution.
• Postponed a hearing on a special permit application to legalize portables at the Riverhead Charter School high school campus on Sound Avenue in Northville. Supervisor Tim Hubbard said the charter school hired a new attorney and asked the hearing be postponed.
• Held a public hearing on legislation to create a Community Preservation Fund Water Quality Improvement and Pollution Prevention Committee to recommend the use of community preservation funds for water quality and wastewater projects. Nobody commented during the hearing.
• Scheduled a public hearing for July 16 at 2 p.m. on a special permit application to construct a two-family dwelling at 4592 Middle Country Road in Calverton.
• Set a public hearing for the site plan application by Hildreth Real Estate Advisors to construct a one-story 70,445 square foot warehouse building at 1001 Scott Avenue, located within the Calverton Enterprise Park. The Town Board also assumed the lead agency for the environmental review of the project and determined the project would not have a significant environmental impact.
• Reappointed Frank Petrignani and George Gabrielson to the recreation advisory committee for a term to expire on Sept. 1, 2025.
• Approved special event applications for: Iglesia Familia De Dias (Religious Service); Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research (Run for the Ridley 5K); and Water Drinker Farm (Garlic Fest).