By Stacey Altherr
It was a long time coming, say many residents and business owners. And although the Lake Avenue project in Saint James’ business district may be on budget and on time (actually, much earlier), there are roadblocks that could mean it may not reach its full potential for a while.
Part one of Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part I
Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part II
Project’s Gyrodyne Problem
One major hang-up may be the hook-up of the sewer line to a viable sewer treatment plant.
For the town to build its own sewer plant could cost as much as $150 million, say town officials, a cost too prohibitive for a town to fund, so they were pleased when they reached out to Gyrodyne about a St. James property the company was looking to develop. Not only would be it significantly less expensive, because the cost would be borne by the business owners hooking into the system, but it could be built in about 3 years as opposed to 8-10 years for a municipal plant to be built, says Garguilo.
The treatment plant would be constructed as part of Gyrodyne’s plans for a boutique hotel of about 90 rooms, an assisted living residence, and two buildings of medical offices, and about 12 acres of preserved open space, say town officials.
The plan was to hook up to a plant on the Gyrodyne Property in Saint James, but state and county approvals are delayed by environmental worries by both Stony Brook and other Brookhaven residents (the plant’s property sits on Stony Brook Harbor).
Among the dissenters of the plant is NYS Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), who sent written comments to the town planner decrying the plant, citing unmanageable traffic on the three roads leading to the property- State Road 25, Mill Pond Road, and Stony Brook Road- and environmental worries regarding Stony Brook Harbor, a protected tidal estuary, as well as concerns the treatment plans would expand to take on even more businesses and industries to stay financially solvent.
“It should also be noted that unlike any other New York harbor, New York State owns most of the bottom of Stony Brook Harbor. This almost 900 acres of state ownership is a public trust that the Gyrodyne project and its sewer effluent must not be allowed to violate,” reads the written comments to the town’s environmental impact statement inquiry.
Town of Smithtown’s environmental impact statement should be issued in the next few months, says Wehrheim. Then, it needs to get county approval.
Calls and emails to Gyrodyne president Gary Fitlin were not returned, but Wehrheim said he has seen the plan. Saying it would be a savings for the town to be able to hook into the proposed Gyrodyne plant, he noted there is still an alternative to hook into a county plant on the south side.
However, “we remain fairly confident it will happen,” the supervisor said, adding that a newly constructed plant would be much safer for the environment than for these businesses to continue with antiquated septic systems.
In Kings Park, where the pipe is already laid and ready to hook into County Sewer District plants, its hookup will allow for more “wet use” businesses, that is water-based businesses, such as restaurants, as well as apartments above those businesses.
Celebration Park
While not in the original budget, both town officials and some business leaders say the lack of parking along Lake Avenue can still cause problems for shops and stores in the area, which have already been sidelined with Covid-19 issues.
To solve that problem, and to further make Lake Avenue a shopping and eating destination, the town is looking to make the old Viking Inn property, which the town purchased last year from the county, a small “pocket” park and municipal parking, says Wehrheim. The Viking Inn was purchased last year for $93,000 for the county after the property fell into tax default.
The park would include a small concession spot, greenery and walking paths, along with the extra parking of about 35 parking spaces.
A group of residents have formed an organization to raise money, which would offset the town’s capital costs, which could possibly reach $7 million, including from concession stand sales. A cost for easements on two neighboring properties that was originally in that cost, will not be necessary now, says Wehrheim.
Ground breaking ceremony originally scheduled for October 29th has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 2pm.