Plans for Enterprise Park at Calverton may take a bit longer than originally intended.
Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter said some problems have cropped up in Albany regarding legislaton introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly that would establish the EPCAL reuse and revitalization district and a revitalization commission to streamline the process for new business.
But, while Walter has reported support in the New York State Senate, he said some issues have cropped up in the Assembly, related to areas that need to be resolved with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
"Things didn't go well last week with the DEC," Walter said. "It went very poorly. We're not getting the legislation out of the Assembly."
Walter said the initial timeline will not materialize and he planned to start "pushing again" in September.
Issues included an area north of North Road, as well as a wetlands area that the DEC pointed out that the town did not "necessarily know about." Other issues included plans to take down a stand of trees and grassland on the eastern runaway, which the DEC did not like. "We are trying to regroup and come up with avenues to comply," Walter said. One avenue, Walter said, might involve maintaining approximately 100 acres of grasslands that the DEC currently does not maintain.
"There's been lots of discouraging news," Walter said. "This will not happen this year, but it might happen next year."
But, despite the setback, Walter said he remained cautiously optimistic. "We'lll get there. This is the largest commercial industrial subdivision probably in the Northeast," he said.
The goal, Walter said, is to receive lead agency from the DEC willinglly.
Councilman Jodi Giglio said Assemblyman Dan Losquadro has said some assembly members are intrigued with the idea but would like to see it expanded to all Grumman bases for redevelopment statewide.
"You hit the nail on the head," Walter said. "I don't have the Assembly onboard right now."
The legislation will facilitate the reuse of EPCAL and provide incentives to attract private business to locate and expand with an eye toward economic growth.
Earlier this month, Win Albany from Governor Andrew Cuomo's office and the Department of Environmental Conservation and had a "phenomenal day. They were very, very encouraging.""
The goal, Walter said, is to apply for a $6 million from the governor's regional economic development council for a map plan, design of a sewage treatment plant and some infrastructure.
On Thursday, Walter said if EPCAL is recognized as a "tranformative project," the DEC would fast track proceedings, Walter said, and said efforts needed to be made to ensure the application was easy to read and the best it could be. "This is huge," he said.
A new would promote redevelopment at EPCAL and streamline the process for new businesses hoping to set up shop on the 2900 acre parcel, where the former Grumman Corp was once located.
The new would be made up of 7 voting members, including the Riverhead town board, a representative appointed by the governor, and one appointed by the Suffolk County Executive. In addition, two nonvoting members would represent local civic and service organizations in Riverhead.
