Editorial - Businesses On Old Northport Road Are Not Victims

Hank Carlson addressing the Town Board Aug. 15A walk down memory lane. Hundreds of people turned out for the August 15th, 7pm Town Board meeting.   People were being turned away due to overcrowding. Kudos to the women who never gave up and fought for evening meetings. The League of Women Voters, Joanne Grey, Lenore Cernitz, and Zabby - some of the names that come to my mind as I remember the battle to provide access for working people to our Town government. It’s hard to believe but prior to 2006 there were two 2pm town board meetings a month and no televised meetings. The public’s expectations were so different.

It does not require a huge stretch of the imagination to believe that things were really different forty years ago when Hank Carlson relocated his precast business from Main Street, Kings Park to Old Northport Rd. What hasn’t changed is the fact that Mr. Carlson was an astute business man forty years ago and remains so today. Presumably, Mr. Carlson worked out a deal that was very favorable to himself and business.  Another thing that hasn’t changed is the 1 acre zoning on the residential property that is owned by Mr. Carlson. 

Try as he might to paint himself and his businesses (according to Carlson’s bookkeeper there are seven businesses operating from 140 Old Northport Rd.), as victims, his claims do not pass the “smell test”.

According to Town Planner, David Flynn, the Carlson’s, Hank and son Toby, own approximately sixty five acres of property on Old Northport Road.  Approximately 14 acres are zoned for heavy industry, 11 acres are zoned for light industry and 40 acres zoned residential.

Homeowners in the area have repeatedly complained about the noise, the stench and the hours of operation on the property.  The outdoor storage of mulch is not a permitted use, but there it is on site. Aerial photos show the extent of the mining on Mr. Carlson’s property including residentially zoned areas.  Saida Ralda de Pantaleon,  bookkeeper for the Carlson’s, mentioned the $158,000 a year  paid in property taxes to the town. Presumably, that covers the entire sixty-five acres. A lot of money? Not really. Averaged out it’s less than $2,500 per acre. Who else in Smithtown pays so little and gets to maintain their own fiefdom violating town zoning at will? 

As the public becomes more sophisticated about what happens in the Town and more willing to speak up before their elected officials, more stories like this are likely to come to the forefront.  An updated master plan, long overdue, is necessary to resolve the “march of the residents” questioning the legality of businesses near their homes. Residents have every reason to expect the Town Board to be vigilant in enforcing the current zoning and code. They must be wary of what may pass as quick fix “economic development” and “tax revenue” generating plans.

Shame on you Mr. Carlson for blaming the Town for your prosperity. Congratulations to the women who fought to make town government accessible.

Pat

Comments

[Michael DiFrancesca]

Fantastic. I would love to honor those women