Light Calender for Sachem at Planning Board

The Town of Brookhaven's Planning Board had a light agenda on their calender this week, especially regarding towns in the Sachem area. 

A decision is still pending regarding Omnipoint Communications' proposed plan to open a store in Ronkonkoma. As previously reported, their plan calls for the construction of a 15,000 square foot building to house their new store to be located at the intersection of Hawkins and Gatelot Avenues. The hearing was closed on June 21.

The main topic of discussion at the meeting was the proposed Merrin Chabad Center on Nicholls Road north of Sycamore Street in Setauket. The proposal is for a 33,000 square foot facility that will be used as a temple, a community center for Hebrew school, nursery school and summer camp. The plan also includes an amphitheater. The applicant, Rabbi Chiam Grossman, appeared before the Board with two representatives. After their presentation, several members of the community, including a representative from Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld's office, shared their concerns with the Board.

"...The local community ...they are not against a temple, per se, at this location but their concerns are directly based upon the size and scope given the totality of the amenities..." the Councilman wrote in a letter read by Stacy Duerr, his legislative aid who appeared on his behalf.

Every resident who addressed the Board wanted more information about the project and felt both they and the Board were being misled by the applicant's classifying this as strictly a house of worship. The two main concerns they had was the omission of one of the uses for the center, as a summer camp,  not being disclosed in the proposal, while the other was why a temple needed an amphitheater.

"My wife and I have spent our whole lives improving our property and being part of the community. I am concerned of what such impact this proposed community center will have on noise, property value and traffic," said 33-year resident John Capelli.

A member of the Citizens of Stony Brook read a county covenant which calls for the land surrounding the proposed site "to remain an open space in its natural state in perpetuity for water and air quality". The Board decided more time and more information was required to make their decision so the matter was adjourned until Aug. 23, 2010.