The long-sought housing development proposed by the Family Community Life Center inched closer to the finish line Tuesday.
The Riverhead Town Board concluded a public hearing on zoning changes the developer says are required to make the project viable — and meaningful for people in desperate need of affordable housing. The changes also expand the number of properties eligible for development under the zoning.
If the changes are adopted, a 12.5-acre site along Northville Turnpike, adjacent to First Baptist Church of Riverhead, could be developed with approximately 80 affordable rental apartments and five owner-occupied condominium units.
The Community Benefit Zoning Use District, enacted by Riverhead in April 2016, allows a maximum of 11 dwelling units per acre with the purchase of land preservation credits, if certain conditions are met.
The zoning is an “overlay district,” which means it can be applied to eligible properties in other zoning districts. Under the current code, properties are eligible if they are at least 10 acres in size, have road frontage of at least 800 feet on a state or county arterial highway, and if the parcels are within the Riverhead Water District and Riverhead Sewer District or are close enough that they can be served by those districts.
The eligibility requirements, taken together, restrict the number of properties across town to which the overlay district can be applied.
The major code change that was the subject of Tuesday’s hearing was the elimination of a mandate that all rental housing developed under the code meet the income requirements for “workforce” housing — a minimum of 80% of the area median income as defined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Many local working people cannot meet that minimum. If the proposed change is adopted the new minimum would be 50% of the area median income, with a maximum of 130% of the area median income.
The 2025 HUD Area Median Income (AMI) for Nassau-Suffolk is $164,900 for a four-person household, $148,400 for a three-person household, $131,900 for a two-person household, and $115,450 for a one-person household.
Other key provisions of the amendment include: allowing the developer to build an onsite wastewater treatment facility as an alternative to connection to the Riverhead Sewer District, removing the requirement for a Town Board special permit, establishing architectural design standards, reducing open space requirements, and lowering the maximum building height from 50 feet to 35 feet.
The Family Community Life Center, a nonprofit affiliated with the First Baptist Church, is partnering with residential developer Georgica Green Ventures on the project, called Northville Commons. The nonprofit and the church agreed to construct low-income housing in a master development agreement they signed with Georgica Green Ventures in October 2020.
Last month, the project was awarded a $1 million state grant.
A majority of the current Town Board has indicated support of the zoning amendments and the Family Community Life Center/Georgica Green Ventures plan.
The current underlying zoning of the site is Residence A-40, which allows, as of right, one single-family dwelling unit per 40,000 square feet, or by Town Board special permit, one dwelling unit per 20,000 square feet with the transfer of development rights.
The hearing on the code change drew little public comment. Proponents and supporters of the Family Community Life Center/Georgica Green Ventures proposal, including Family Community Life Center President Shirley Coverdale, First Baptist Church of Riverhead Senior Pastor Charles Coverdale and Georgica Green Ventures principal David Gallo were in the audience, but none spoke about the proposed zoning code amendments.
Harriet Gilliam of Riverhead asked about the specifics of the existing overlay district, including how many properties in town are eligible for the overlay district.
Riverhead Senior Planner Greg Bergman said under current code, he estimates there are only three properties that could be eligible for the overlay district, all in central Riverhead, “generally located in the vicinity of the First Baptist Church.” If the proposed code change is adopted allowing the alternative of an onsite wastewater treatment system, Bergman said he estimates a total of eight parcels would be eligible, including one in Wading River, some in Calverton and one parcel in Jamesport.
Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, spoke in favor of the project, focusing on the reputation and capabilities of Georgica Green Ventures which, he said, “has a tremendous track record as affordable housing developers.” He said Georgica Green Ventures has won more than five plus Smart Growth awards given by Vision Long Island, for projects in Nassau and Suffolk, including on the East End.
“This group knows how to build projects and also secure the proper financing. So they’re an excellent partner,” Alexander said.
Georgica Green Ventures built the Riverview Lofts mixed-use building on the corner of McDermott Avenue and East Main Street in Riverhead and has proposed another mixed-use building on West Main Street.
Cindy Clifford of Riverhead spoke on behalf of the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association favor of the zoning and the Family Community Life Center/Georgica Green Ventures development plan.
“We’re counting on your votes to adopt the revisions in the community benefit zoning, clearing the way for the FCLC to fully and finally, benefit our community,” Clifford said. The project will help retirees and young adults remain in the town rather than have to move away to find housing they can afford, she said. It will also provide a community center for the town, which the town has been seeking for years, Clifford said. The community center will serve multiple age groups and fill many needs and functions, she said.
“Today’s vote to adopt the updated CBD zoning will finally set the FCLC project into motion, creating an affordable housing community anchored by an activity center offering all sorts of activities and welcoming everyone,” Clifford said.
The board closed the hearing but kept the record open for written comment through the close of business on Aug. 15.
Alek Lewis contributed to this story.
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