Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy Honored

at Lake Ronkonkoma

Welcome to our web site! 

As you can see, we are still filling out some of the many pages available to us, but we are very excited to be able to communicate directly with our ABCO members and all Brookhaven residents in a much faster and more efficient way.  Please be sure to check our calendar for important events and notices.  As always we look forward to hearing from our communities and using ABCO as a resource tool for those communities.  Together we're working to create a strong and consistent voice for all residents and to move in a direction and mold policies that our citizens have indicated they want for Brookhaven.  We hope you’ll log on often as we continue to write more updates about several important issues relevant to all who live in Brookhaven Town. 

Important Town Code changes, affecting the structure of town governmnet will be on the agenda for the May20th Town Board meeting,  ABCO is developing a concensus on the proposals and expects to take a firm position at the meeting.

Yes, we can fight City Hall!  Congratulations to all who labored so hard and so long to defeat the Broadwater LNG Platform in Long Island Sound. Although Broadwater has not thrown in the towel publicly, it sure looks like there is no barge in Wading River's future.  FERC has now been formally requested by Suffolk County, Riverhead, Sotuhold and Brookhaven to reconsider it's approvals since Governor Paterson has rejected the proposal as inconsistent with the protection of Long Island Sound and will present serious adverse impacts for our environment.  ABCO is a long-standing member of the Anti-Broadwater Coalition opposing a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)  terminal in Long Island Sound. Broadwater may continue to 'blow smoke', but that looks like all it will blow in our Long Island Sound. 

Additionally, we'll keep you updated on progress of the Coalition for Open Space at EPCAL.  Because serious consideration must be given to the impact on Brookhaven, the Town Council has unaimously passed a Resolution to formally advise Riverhead Town that Brookhaven Town requests "Interested Agency" status under the State Environmental Quality Review Act Furthermore, the NYSDEC has at long last asserted jursidiction over the entire 2900 acre site and issued a 'stop work' order untill a full environmental inventory can be completed.  NYSDEC is the only logical choice for lead agency status, as it appears that Riverhead is fully intent on permitting projects based on the highest bidder criteria. Stakeholder status for Brookhaven on the 35 story indoor ski mountain as well as other proposals now supported by the Riverehad Town Board is an important step forward for our residnets.  Riverhead Town's sole control of all environmental and community review of the plan to build a recreation destination at EPCAL is unwise.  ABCO has written Govenor Paterson, DEC Commissioner Grannis and members of the Town Government to endorse designation of DEC as the lead agency for SEQRA reveiw and DEC's actions at EPCAL.  EPCAL, located at the former Grumman Calverton facility, is actually only a few hundred yards from the eastern Brookhaven border; surface waters of the  Peconic River, adjacent to the Long Island Pine  Barrens and contains some of the most pristine grassland habitat areas in all of Long Island and the Northeast, including wonderful native habitat, bird, amphibian and aquatic species.  The site is also directly adjacent to the Calverton National Cemetery.  Clearly, the only way to get to EPCAL from the west is by travel there using roadways located, running or constructed through Brookhaven Town. ABCO will continue to advocate for the reasonable and common sense development at EPCAL that will not adversely impact our environment or Brookhaven residents' quality of life.

Last month's rousing reception for Chief Deputy County Executive, Jim Morgo at a Longwood High School Board of Education meeting has caused quite a stir. Opposition to the County Executive's plan to construct more than 1000 housing units within the Longwood School District on land presently owned by the County is finally being heard.  The County annouced that it is delaying by more than a month any decision on the 'choice' of a developer for the project.  ABCO continues to be concerned not only for the scope and location of the project in the Carmen's River watershed; but also that continuing the present process by the County will set precedent and seriously erode and undermine Brookhaven's home rule authority regarding local zoning and planning decisions. This is a project of regional significance, but the town has not been permitted by the county to excercise its own authority to permit or limit high density developments that unduly impact school districts, traffic, precious natural resources or historic areas in the town.  Construction as proposed by Steve Levy will unnecessarily burden the Longwood School District and will raise school taxes for property owners.   In early March, the County Executive and Mr. Morgo had announced that the project would be LIMITED to only 1000 units.  That is 300 more units than the 700 maximum proposed to ABCO more than a year ago by Tom Isles and Jim Morgo. The County is now expected to issue its decision in early June as to which of the two competitors it will permit to go forward.  Suffolk County seems intent on continuing to usurp control of development from local Brookhaven Town authority and to avoid the SEQRA process for as long as is possible.  No SEQRA review has begun thus far.  We will continue to provide important information on the Suffolk County project proposed for Yapank by County Executive.  Both proposals originally submitted included plans for more than 2000 housing units, sports arenas, sewage treatment and new retail etc.  The County's  planned 'destination hub' is centered on land originally acquired through its' powers of eminent domain, and the public seizure of the Glover family farm. The project is also located in central Brookhaven and will bring high density housing to the nearby historic Yaphank hamlet.  The site is also very near our Pine Barrens and the Wild and Scenic Carmens River Recreation Corridor, and Suffolk's jewel; Southaven Park.  No present infrastructure, transportation, shopping or other elements associated with  'smart growth' are present and the project is expected to bring hundreds of additional children to the Longwood School District. The County Executive may finally be listening,  but ABCO believes it wise to allow Brookhaven to decide its own future and agrees that we must take whatever steps necessary to ensure our ability to do so. 

ABCO is also closely monitoring the outcome of the Suffolk County Trap and Skeet Range litigation as well as any plans that may adversely impact the Pine Barrens and communities within Brookhaven.

We'll also keep you posted on the Tallgrass PDD project proposal and the 'final' hardship decision from the Long Island Pine Barrens Commission.  The 'drop dead' final decision was set for April, but was delayed with the support of Town Supervisor Brian Foley and the developer's latest offer to purchase 10 more Pine Barrens credits.  ABCO wonders "when is a deadline really a deadline"? Kevin Ward, President of the Shoreham Civic Association, argued passionately for finality on this matter so that the community, terribly divided over the project, can begin to move forward. Others advocated for the Town to reconsider the zone change in light of pending litigation on the matter. Stay tuned.

ABCO is also supporting development of the Brookhaven  2030 Comprehensive Plan, so continue to look for important announcements and information dates both on our website and also at www.Brookhaven2030.org

The Brookhaven Town Blue Ribbon Open Space Panel is winding up its work at this moment  and a panel's recommendations for new ways to fund Open Space Preservation should be announced shortly,

ABCO will keep members appraised on the Forge River Moratorium, as it is expected to be reintroduced by Sixth Councilman Keith Romaine as early as April 21, the first legally possible date.  We are also monitoring the work of the Carmans River Invasive Species Removal, to ensure the restoration and health of the Carmens River and upper and lower Yaphank Lakes.

Clearly, all  these projects bear close watching, listening and particpation as all  have the potential to change the very heart, character and nature of Brookhaven forever.   As in the past, ABCO will continue to do its' very best to keep you informed and to support or oppose projects or plans that  affect our town, our environment, our residents, and our communities. We need your help and as always appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

ABCO President -- MaryAnn Johnston, President Manor Park Civic Assn.

ABCO 1st Vice President --  Debbie Felber, President Selden Civic Assn.

ABCO 2nd Vice President -- John Sicignano, President Mastic Park Civic Assn.

ABCO Treasurer -- Tom Talbot, President, Middle Island Civic Assn.

Corresponding Secretary - Tom Stock, Board Member Manorville East Moriches Civic Association

Recording Secretary -Don Seubert, Vice President Medford Civic Assn.

Sgt. @ Arms - Johann McConnell, President South Yaphank Civic Association

Director- Thalia Bouklas, Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Assn.

Director -- Ron DiBiase, Board Member, Civic Organizations of the Setaukets

Director -- Erma Gluck, President Coram Civic Association

Brookhaven Town Democrats file lawsuit against GOP

BY PATRICK WHITTLE | This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

May 13, 2008