North Fork Resort

The developer seeking to build a resort hotel and spa on the L.I. Sound in Riverhead is courting homeowners in a neighboring condo complex with the offer to pay for access to their sewage treatment plant and to share costs of expansion, upgrade and operation of the plant going forward.

A public hearing on the proposed agri-tourism resort code that was scheduled for Feb. 21 has been canceled, as town officials discuss changes sought by the farming community to ease restrictions on preserved land.

The emails and other documents provided by the Town of Riverhead on Jan. 24 in response to RiverheadLOCAL's Dec. 1 Freedom of Information Law request can be read by clicking on the document links.

Zoning changes to accommodate possible development projects are not new or unusual, Supervisor Tim Hubbard says in this guest column. Amendments are "frequently... advanced by some combination of staff members, residents, developers or business owners."

A developer that wants to build a luxury resort and spa on the LI Sound in Riverhead, paid its own lawyer and planning consultants to prepare code changes and environmental review documents the town needs to allow the proposed resort to be built, records obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request show.

The Riverhead Town Board is considering amending the zoning code to allow the development of a resort and spa uses on areas north of Sound Avenue, from Baiting Hollow to the Southold Town line.