The Riverhead Town Board on Tuesday adopted sweeping changes to the town’s outlet zoning district, held a public hearing on proposed no-parking restrictions near Sound Avenue and Twomey Avenue, and scheduled two more public hearings on parking regulations.
The board voted unanimously to adopt a local law implementing “wholesale” changes to the outlet zoning code adopted in 1992 to allow the Tanger Outlet mall to be developed.
Use restrictions in Manufacturers Outlet Center zoning code, even after previous amendments, prevented the Riverhead outlet mall — once one of Tanger’s most profitable properties — from competing in today’s retail market, according to Senior Planner Greg Bergman. The highly specific restrictions made it harder for Tanger-Riverhead to attract tenants, he told the board during the board’s April 9 work session, where he reviewed the changes adopted Tuesday.
See prior story: Riverhead weighs major rewrite of outlet zoning code to allow more uses at Tanger
Hearing on ‘no parking’ areas on Sound Avenue
The board also held a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed amendment to Chapter 289 of the town code to prohibit parking near the intersection of Sound Avenue and Twomey Avenue.
Town Attorney Erik Howard said the amendment was recommended by the Traffic Safety Committee and is intended to improve sight lines for drivers turning from Twomey Avenue onto Sound Avenue. The proposal would prohibit parking on both sides of Sound Avenue for 200 feet east and west of Twomey Avenue, and on both sides of Twomey Avenue for 200 feet south of Sound Avenue.
Warren McKnight of Riverhead spoke in favor of the amendment, saying parking in the area can become chaotic, especially during the fall season. He said the restriction would improve public safety, but questioned whether it would be enforced.
Written comments on the proposal will be accepted until July 17.
Public hearings on parking code changes set
The Town Board also scheduled two public hearings for July 21 on additional parking-related code amendments.
One proposed local law would amend the town’s two-hour parking regulations for certain downtown parking areas. The other would prohibit parking on the south side of Sound Avenue from Northville Turnpike east for 1,000 feet.
Debt pay-downs approved
Authorized the use proceeds from the expected sale of 127 E. Main Street to pay down the town’s Town Square bond anticipation note. The resolution states that the sale of the property to J. Petrocelli Riverhead Town Square LLC is expected to close in July for $2.625 million, with $660,000 of the proceeds contractually designated for various Town Square projects.
Approved a budget adjustment to pay down 2018 Series B bond refunding debt using $92,059 from the sale of the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall and $7.2 million from Community Preservation Fund balance.
Supervisor Jerry Halpin called the CPF debt action “exciting,” saying the town is paying off the debt.
In other action Tuesday, the Town Board:
Appointed Salim Massoud chairperson of the town’s Anti-Bias Task Force. Massoud was reappointed to the task force in April. The chair had been vacant following the resignation of Mark McLaughlin in February.
Approved several special event applications:
- Concerts in the Park at Grangebel Park on Aug. 12, Sept. 16 and Oct. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. (Riverhead Chamber of Commerce).
- Hallockville Hootenanny at 6038 Sound Avenue on Aug. 15 from noon to 7 p.m. (Hallockville Chamber of Commerce)
- Prayer service at Grangebel Park on Aug. 1 from 5 to 9 p.m., with Aug. 8 as a rain date (Iglesia Pentecostal Familia de Dias).
- Fireworks, July 18 at about 10:30 p.m. Jamesport Fire Department).
Ratified approval of fireworks and designated an alcohol vendor for the town’s America 250 event held July 4 at South Jamesport Beach.
Amended and approved a resolution authorizing an additional alcohol service vendor for the 2026 Alive on 25 street festival. The resolution was amended on the floor after officials said the July 9 Alive on 25 event had been postponed because of storm cleanup and preparation issues, and an Aug. 12 rain date conflicted with preparations for the Polish Town Fair. The amended resolution authorizes the vendor for Aug. 6 and a second date to be determined.
Accepted a proposal from H2M Architects and Engineers to prepare a map and plan for water district facilities related to the proposed Town Square splash pad. Councilwoman Denise Merrifield said she was excited about the project.
Accepted two donations from George and Janice Gabrielsen: flowers and plants valued at about $500 for Town Beach beautification, and a $2,000 monetary donation in memory of Kristina Gabrielsen to support recreation program participants and future parks and recreation improvements.
Accepted a $313 donation from the Riverhead Police Benevolent Association for sponsorship of the Riverhead Police Athletic League Bike Rodeo.
Authorized a license agreement with Advanced Climate Resources LLC for a textile recycling bin at the Youngs Avenue yard waste facility. Merrifield said the bin will accept textiles and shoes that cannot be donated for reuse. The bin is part of the town’s Climate Smart Communities initiative.
Tabled a resolution that would have scheduled a public hearing on amendments to Chapter 293 of the town code, which governs waterways and water-related activities. Howard said the item was supposed to be pulled from the agenda because he wanted to discuss it at a work session and make additional changes before proceeding.
Halpin and board members thanked town police, fire departments, ambulance volunteers, highway crews, building and grounds, water and sewer personnel for their response to the storm.
Halpin said the town would temporarily open its yard waste facilities to all residents from Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12, to help residents dispose of storm debris following the severe July 4 storm. Residents will not need a yard waste sticker during that period, but must show proof of residency. Normal yard waste rules still apply, including single-axle vehicles only and no dump trucks or commercial vehicles.
Officials also announced that the July 9 Alive on 25 event was postponed because of ongoing storm cleanup and preparation issues.
Public comments and correspondence
Several letters submitted to the Town Board urged the town not to impose a blanket moratorium on battery energy storage systems, arguing instead for code updates that would allow BESS projects to move forward with safety, groundwater and stormwater-runoff protections. The letters, submitted by business, labor, environmental and renewable-energy advocates, appeared to be part of a coordinated campaign, with several using similar language about grid reliability, clean energy, local jobs and avoiding a blanket moratorium.
Wading River residents also pressed the board to address helicopter noise, saying helicopters continue to fly inland over residential neighborhoods instead of following the mandatory North Shore route over Long Island Sound. Patricia Berry, who also submitted a letter to the board, said helicopter noise has become “unbearable” in Wading River. Councilman Ken Rothwell, the board’s liaison to the helicopter noise task force, said he would reconnect with John Cullen and reconvene the task force.
Several residents continued to raise concerns about the proposed Peconic River Hotel and Town Square project, including parking impacts, the pending sale of 127 E. Main Street and the future of the Long Island Science Center building. Speakers questioned whether the hotel can proceed without a finalized parking plan and urged the town to provide more public information about the project’s impacts.
Other speakers urged the board to hold a public work session on OLA of Eastern Long Island’s proposed public-safety and accountability law related to immigration enforcement. Residents asked the town to publicly compare OLA’s proposal with Riverhead’s existing police and town protocols and to address how the town would respond if federal immigration enforcement activity occurs in public places, including near schools.
Residents also raised concerns about: funding of the Even-Year Election lawsuit, proposed duck blind regulations, no-parking signs, conditions at the former 4-H camp property in Reeves Park, accessibility issues, and disposal of storm-damaged debris following the July 4 storm.
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