Supporters Laud Proposed Community Center; Some Say Cost to Schools Too High

Scores of supporters turned out on Wednesday for a public hearing on a zone change that would help to build a proposed Family Community Life Center in Riverhead, a multi-use facility that would benefit the entire East End.

The project also got a major boost last month as elected officials spoke out in favor of the project.

The proposed complex, planned for almost 20 years by the First Baptist Church of Riverhead, encompasses a 68,830 square foot "community benefit district," including a community pool, media center/theater, a 24-hour childcare facility, a senior citizen wellness and day care center, and a sports and recreational compound. In addition, the plan calls for 132 one- and two-bedroom apartment units to frame the center complex, that would be used for workforce housing.

The facility would be sited on a 12-acre Northville Turnpike site owned by the church.

The outpouring of support came from all corners of the community during the public hearing, as the Riverhead town board considered passing legislation for a new overlay zoning district that’s needed before the project can move forward.

But some still raised major concerns.

Ann Cotten-DeGrasse, president of the Riverhead Board of Education, said while she and the BOE had no problem with the project or with the zone change, she was opposed to the project being tax-exempt.

The district, she said, has been shouldering the burden of the two percent tax levy cap, and with a loss of 50 teachers over the past three years, DeGrasse said the district was pushed to the limit.

The cost of educating one child in the district adds up to $15K or $16K per year, she said. And, with a "surprise" new 200 students registered this year, she said. "We are packed to the limit."

"If you open workforce housing on tax exempt land, we do not receive any taxes," she said.

The district also has a $78 million bond that was passed to bring facilities up to speed, she said.

Resident Steve Romano said he supported the project but asked for specifics about what cost the taxpayer would have to bear.

Realtor Larry Oxman had questions involving the zoning itself, not the specific project.

"You have to be really careful that it's not just for this piece, but that it applies liberally to other parts of town," he said.

He had questions about language and a suggested 800 square feet of frontage and asked that it be reduced "drastically."

He agreed, that like Shirley Coverdale, executive director of the FCLC, who said that 1700 signatures on a petition supporting the project demonstrated the need for affordable housing and suggested the legislation be "tweaked and adopted."

"It's disingenuous to focus on such uses in the intent, unless it’s required in code," she said. "I'm sure language like that helps garner public support, but I'm not sure if it's honest."

Angela DeVito, of the Jamesport-South Jamesport Civic Association, said the center could help the strained school district save money on sports programs and provide activities for kids in grades K through 4 that have been cut. Pre-K programs would mean better prepared students, she said.

A crowd of others came to support the project, and the proposed community benefit zoning use district, including Edgar Goodale of Riverhead Building Supply.

"Riverhead has seen its share of large, commercial development, most of which was built with little or no connection to the local community. This project today could not be more intertwined with our community." He added that there is a critical affordable housing shortage and the mixed use development could help.

"There is no downside," he said.

Supporters also came from Peconic Bay Medical Center and Suffolk County National Bank to pledge their support.

Advocates spoke to benefits including services for seniors, young people, day-care facilities, adult care providers so that parents can go to work, a wellness center to reduce health care costs, and desperately needed affordable housing for working families.

Jennifer Appel, general counsel to the Long Island Housing Partnership, said Superstorm Sandy highlighted the need for multi-family affordable housing.

"This code will keep young families and seniors in this part of Riverhead," she said.

Rev Enrique LeBron of the Riverhead United Methodist Church said he has seen single mothers trying to raise kids on low-income jobs, who are sacrificing groceries to pay mortgages, and seniors living alone in houses, struggling to pay bills, who need a place to socialize.

He spoke of local youth who need places to explore culture and skills. The Latino community, he said, could also benefit from FCLC.

Union reps also asked that local workers be hired to construct the project, which they supported.

Southampton Town Councilwoman Bridget Fleming sent a letter in favor of the FCLC.

Downtown business owner Barry Barth said he feels the FCLC would be "beneficial" and help provide day care for his employees and activities for seniors.

"We urge the town board to adopt this because the community benefit district will enable smart growth and mixed use development." to help seniors, young people, and all East End residents, Coverdale said.