Seafield Still Doesn’t Understand Blue Point’s Position

The Blue Point Community Coalition (BPCC), a registered civic association, is again writing to state the rationale for opposition to the proposals put forth for the St. Ursula Center in Blue Point, NY by Seafield Inc. Currently, the information distributed by Seafield and the opinion articles written in support of the subject have, quite frankly, missed the point and misrepresent the community’s concerns. This is an issue of irresponsible development and the impact it has on the community.

Seafield’s original proposal was to open a 76-bed inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center. This was opposed as it would require a zone change from A1 Residential to a NH-H (commercial health facility). When it was clear that the inpatient facility would not have support to receive the zoning, Seafield changed their proposal to a 100-bed sober home. This alternate business option was described by John Haley, COO Seafield Inc., in the November 30, 2017 article in LongIslandAdvance as “more disruptive to a community.” This is viewed as a threat because Seafield did not get the outcome they preferred for the treatment center. Threats to a community when a company does not get its way is not the manner in which reputable companies should act. Nevertheless, the BPCC is undeterred. A 100-bed sober home would require zoning change. It does not fit the character of the neighborhood in scale or function. It is not anywhere close in operational size or occupancy to the other sober homes operated in Blue Point, and it would undermine the basic purpose that the zoning ordinance seeks to achieve. Therefore, the BPCC opposes this use and zoning change as well. To be clear, the BPCC is against any change in zone. The BPCC would be against apartment buildings, a strip mall, or any other project requiring a change in zone from the A1 residential zone.

The fact that Seafield believes they can threaten, misrepresent, and wage a proxy war through certain media outlets is the specific reason zoning laws exist. They exist to protect the community from large corporate entities that have more resources at their disposal. Just like our neighboring community in Sayville and their fight against Island Hills Development, we cannot allow irresponsible development to proceed.

Seafield has continually ignored that the John J. Foley center in Yaphank is available and the owners (Brookhaven Memorial Hospital) are willing partners. As a former nursing home, the facility is properly zoned, has three times the number of beds available, and can be ready in under half the time of any proposal at St. Ursula. If the sole goal of Seafield is to make an impact on the terrible opioid epidemic, this is the ideal location.

In conclusion, we state it clearly and unequivocally: The BPCC is against irresponsible development and any change in zone to the St. Ursula land. Both proposals put forth by Seafield require a change in zone and will change the fundamental character of the community. Therefore, we say NO to Seafield and their development plans.