Riverhead Town raises environmental concerns over Calverton motocross track plan

Riverhead Town will require an in-depth environmental review of a proposed motocross track on River Road in Calverton, where a developer plans to excavate sand and soil from prime agricultural land.

The Town Board is expected to rule that the proposed Duffy MX Motocross Track would have significant environmental impacts. That ruling, known under state environmental law as a “positive declaration,” triggers an extensive review process and requires an environmental impact statement. The statement analyzes project alternatives and identifies ways to avoid or reduce adverse impacts like noise.

The developer proposes excavating an estimated 120,000 cubic yards of sand, gravel and soil from the site to create the motocross track within a pit. The pit, the developer says, would be designed to mitigate noise from vehicles on the track.

PRIOR COVERAGE: Motocross track proposal is back for River Road site in Calverton

Town officials, however, are skeptical that noise mitigation requires excavation of soil, sand and other materials — which would be lucrative for the developer to sell, but damage the property’s prime agricultural soils. Riverhead Senior Planner Greg Bergman said the environmental impact statement would examine alternatives to excavation and off-site transport of material.

“If we just take this on its face and say this is integral and give them more permits, in the event the motocross track goes out of business and closes, then we are basically just left with a defunct sand mine in the middle of” an environmentally sensitive area, Bergman said.

Residents living near the property have warned town officials that the project could bring noise and dust and harm their neighborhood.

Bergman recommended the positive declaration during Thursday’s work session while presenting a staff report on the project. He said the project has the potential to “degrade the quality” of soils in an environmentally sensitive area. 

The land is in a state-certified agricultural district and consists of prime agricultural soils, which could be adversely impacted by the project, according to the Suffolk County Planning Commission. It is also within the Central Suffolk Special Groundwater  Protection Area and the Suffolk County Pine Barrens Compatible Growth Area.

The project would be built on the 15-acre property with an entrance located at 2822 River Road. The site is currently occupied by a single-family home and was previously used as a vineyard. The land is zoned for industrial use, which allows commercial sports and recreational facilities.

Developer Daniel Duffy, who formerly operated 10th Street Motocross in Ronkonkoma, first proposed the River Road track in 2023. The project was delayed by Calverton’s industrial moratorium.

At a Town Board meeting in June, nearby residents voiced objections to the proposal, citing concerns about noise pollution and groundwater contamination.

“This is people from outside of town trying to come in and basically make a quick buck at the expense of the residents,” said Craig Algren, who lives nearby. “At the end of the day, they drive home. They don’t have to listen to the noise.”

Trisha Yakaboski, who also lives nearby and runs a daycare out of her home, said she fears noise and dust would impact both her family and her business.

“I truly believe this is not the location for it. I hope that the powers that be can see that as well and provide the opportunity for this to develop where it belongs, in another location completely away from any residence despite what their zoning is,” she said.

The board has also received several letters expressing similar concerns.

Duffy and his real estate consultant, Victor Prusinowski, maintain that excavation is the best way forward.

“The most efficient way to achieve the noise mitigation is to do some [digging] down and building the berm, which is what we’re proposing,” Prusinowski said.

He added they might be able to compromise, where the developer excavates less. “The goal is noise mitigation, and noise mitigation is part of the site plan process,” he added.

Council Member Bob Kern said he wants the business to succeed, but also wants to uphold his commitment to residents. “I want the sound mitigation to be successful, because I made a commitment to the residents,” Kern said.

Prusinowski emphasized that the property would not be a sand mine, a use banned in Riverhead Town. He said revenues from selling excavated material would help fund the construction of the track, and noted the town receives $3 for every cubic yard of material removed from and delivered to the property — which he estimated would generate between $400,000 and $500,000 for the town.

Duffy said the removal of sand is an “integral part” of the project because he needs the revenue to buy the property.

“We could not do it” without removing the sand, he said. “Absolutely not. You want to put me out of business? That’ll do it.”

Duffy said that motocross sports are continuing to grow nationally and that there is a “huge need” on Long Island.

“As far as the viability of staying in business, I’m not a rich guy, I have literally sacrificed my entire retirement program, sold my house — I am fully committed to this project,” Duffy said. “My son is an integral part of the motocross community. He builds tracks all over the country. One of our major investors knows that there is a need for this.”

Council Member Ken Rothwell suggested the developer put up a performance bond. After the track receives its certificate of occupancy, Duffy would recover the bond. Rothwell said this would prevent the property from being used solely as a sand mine.

Prusinowski called the idea “not onerous.”

“That would be something fair to look at and analyze,” Bergman added.

The project may also require a mined land reclamation permit from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, though it could be exempt if it meets certain criteria, Bergman said.

Currently, the plan does not comply with the requirement that 40% of the land be preserved as natural space. The developer plans to apply for a hardship waiver from the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission.