Support the rule of law: Say no to developers who flout it

An open letter to the Riverhead Town Board:

Supervisor and Town Board Members,

I write in opposition to approval of the Scott’s Pointe amended site plan in which Mr. Scott attempts to legalize a large go-kart truck, pickle ball courts and the conversion of a storage space to a large catering hall—all of which he built without required permits and approvals from the Town. To do anything other than disapprove this plan and require Scott to tear out these illegal facilities sends the wrong message to developers and to all citizens that laws, rules and regulations don’t matter. Moreover, this is not a first-time offender—he is a serial offender who blatantly thumbs his nose at this town, curries favor with users of his facilities, and essentially does whatever he wants,  pays a fine and then moves on to his next illegal addition.

I read the myriad letters of support Mr. Scott recruited from happy users of his facilities. Set me to wondering if they will all get free admission for a day.  They all say what a fun place it is and how good it is for the economy, the tax base and creation of jobs.  About the only point that is factual in these assertions is that this place may indeed be a lot of fun. But as for jobs, it has created a paltry number—80% fewer than they told the IDA they would hire—and very few are held by locals.  As for the economy, folks by and large go there, spend their  money eating and playing at the site and then go home.  And as for adding to the tax base—not so.  Scott’s Pointe has received tax abatements from the IDA, which is another tawdry story. Even though Scott violated the lease and project agreement with the IDA , the IDA has done nothing to claw back the tax benefits.  And now Scott’s Pointe has amended its application to the IDA relying on the illegally built go-kart track,  pickle ball courts and catering hall. That tells us right there that Mr. Scott has complete confidence this Town Board will legalize his additions by approving the amended site plan.

The reality is this public hearing is a sham. The minute the Board settled the court case against Scott’s Pointe, the die was cast. For a paltry settlement payment of $50,000 Mr. Scott will get to keep his illegal additions. I say paltry because Mr. Scott claims to have spent $38 million on this development.  If this Town wanted to send a message loud and clear to developers that they must follow the law, this town would have proceeded with its lawsuit which was a clear winner given the long list of blatant violations by Mr. Scott over the past 20 years.

Illustrative of the thinking on the part of developers in this town is the letter of support in this record from Frank Fisher—a developer who urges this board to approve this amended site plan.  In his letter, Fisher moans and groans about how difficult it is to get permits and approvals from this Town.  What he fails to say is that he too has allowed businesses at his property on West Main Street to operate without permits and without certificates of occupancy.  Rule breakers, after all, have to stick together.

I’m sorry if developers don’t like jumping through the required hoops to have projects properly permitted and approved.  If they are unwilling to do so, then this Town Board needs to tell them to go elsewhere.  But no, this Town Board seems to tolerate all kinds of shenanigans from developers—do what you want, pay the fine if you are caught, and carry on.

There can be no more blatant example of ignoring the law, paying a fine and then getting what you want than Island Water Park.  If you are people of integrity who support the rule of law, there is no way you, this board, can justify approval of this amended site plan.  Sure, lots of things are fun that are also illegal, but in our society it is the law, not the degree of fun derived from breaking the law, that is supposed to carry the day.

I ask that you say NO to Mr. Scott; tell him to rip out his illegal additions.

Kathleen McGraw

Northville