Town Board Votes Unanimously To Approve Zoning Change For Heartland Town Square Project

The Islip Town Board unanimously voted to approve a zoning change for for the Heartland Town Square project on Tuesday night.

During a special meeting, the board approved the application to change the zone from Residential and create the Pilgram State Planned Redevelopment District for the land located at the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center.

The 450-acre property was purchased by Jerry Wolkoff back in 2002 for a total of $20 million and he has been trying to launch the development since then.

The project will create retail and office space and residential units which would cost local taxpayers a total of $3.7 million for the first five years of development.

The zone change will allow for the construction of 9,000 apartments, 3.2 million square feet of office space as well as 1 million square feet of retail built over the next 32 years.

At the last public meeting held in April, hundreds of local residents and business owners spoke out both for and against the project.

Town Board candidates Jason Fenley and Samuel Gonzalez, who both attended the meeting, stated that they express "tentative concern" for the project.

“Workforce housing and high tech jobs are a winning combination for Long Island, and would fuel an economic multiplier effect in both Brentwood, Bay Shore and beyond,” Gonzalez, a Brentwood resident and union leader said. "The potential job growth and economic benefits for Brentwood and beyond could be substantial, but it will all depend on holding the developer accountable."

Fenley stated that "given the track record of the Town Board," residents – especially residents of Brentwood and Bay Shore – have reason to be concerned.

“During the last five years, this Town Board has presided over the biggest toxic dumping scandal in Long Island history, approved numerous development projects against the will and best interests of the community, implemented a disastrous parking meter program in Bay Shore that has residents up in arms, hired convicted felons, and mismanaged MacArthur Airport, a potential economic driver that is now little more than an drain on Town resources," he said "Are they equipped to handle the largest development project in the entire state?"

At the last meeting, Brentwood resident Elton George spoke out in favor of the project.

“This is what our community needs,” George said according to Long Island Business News (LIBN). “I’ve been living in this community for over 30 years and I think this is something that’s going to be awesome for our community.”