Asphalt Plant, Recycling Facility ? Toby Carlson Explains To KPCA

Toby CarlsonAn indoor- yard waste recycling plant is being proposed for Old Northport Road in Kings Park. The proposal comes from business owner Toby Carlson of Carlson Associates located at 140 Old Northport Rd. in Kings Park.

Mr. Carlson was a guest speaker at the October 3^rd meeting of the Kings Park Civic Association (KPCA).

Mr. Carlson, addressing those at the KPCA meeting, spoke of his family’s history in the community, current plans before Smithtown’s Town Board to build an asphalt plant and his vision for the 50 acres of property he owns on Old Northport Road.

Currently, there are three different types of zoning on the Carlson property, Heavy Industry, Light Industry and 1-acre residential (R-43).  According to Town Planning Director, Frank DeRubeis, there are violations in all three districts. One of the largest uses on the property, processing yard waste, is not currently permitted in the town. Legalizing this operation would require amending the Town Code. 

Carlson was taken to court by the Town for the violations on his property and according to DeRubeis, “As part of a settlement of this issue, the applicant agreed to submit the proper applications for approval of the uses on the property.”

click on image to enlargeCarlson, reluctantly, has submitted a plan to build an asphalt plant on property currently zoned for heavy industrial use. He revealed that mulch, not asphalt was his choice. He stated, “I would like, in my heart of hearts, I like making mulch and I like recycling.”

Carlson made it clear that the tabling of the asphalt plant plan by the Town Board was a good thing stating, “I don’t think another asphalt plant in the area is a good solution, but we do need a solution and we can only do this by working together.”

Carlson’s solution is to amend the Town Code to permit yard waste recycling indoors. “What I have proposed to the Town is moving our most obnoxious uses indoors. Inside a building so when the wind blows it doesn’t catch any dust or pick up any odors. All the odors created in the building get filtered. All the floors in the building are paved and catch the leachate, which gets recycled.”

This statement drew a mixed reaction from the audience. Many expressed their support for this type of facility as opposed to an asphalt plant. Others were not so sure. “Mr. Carlson has admittedly violated Town Code and it’s difficult for me to believe that he won’t continue to do so,” said one audience member preferring not to give a name.

KPCA meeting Oct.3 - click on photo to enlargeBut, Mr. Carlson acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the past and he spoke of bringing the Town, DEC and DEW together to build a facility “that will work in our community and bring us to the next level.” The Town is currently considering the concept of an indoor facility.  A green light by the Town will allow Mr. Carlson to invest in a plan that could eventually lead to a $25-50 million dollar investment. The operation will, according to Carlson, bring tax revenue to the Town and reduce the trucks on Indian Head Rd. and Town Line Road.

Will it work? The devil is in the details. Promised buffers, plantings and berms sound great but often are removed by landowners. Mining has already been done on the residential acres of Mr. Carlson’s property. Neighbors have complained about violations on the property and horrendous odors emanating from the processing of mulch.  Bringing the operation inside seems like a starting point for discussion. But there are other factors: will concrete and other materials be recycled what will be stored outside of the facility, how do you control the odors, how close to residential areas, are some of the questions.

Carlson admits there is a lot of research that needs to take place to see if this is a viable option. Planning Director Frank DeRubeis is supportive of an indoor facility, but he too feels there is a lot more information that needs to be presented.

The biggest problem for some in the audience was trust.  Can they trust Carlson to create a state of the art facility? Can they trust the Town to enforce a new code when current code hasn’t been enforced? And finally can they trust that this will resolve a problem that has been ongoing for a very long time?