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Town of Brookhaven

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Three-dimensional rendering of the proposed redevelopment project at Jefferson Plaza. Graphic courtesy Valentin Staller

By Sabrina Artusa

Brookhaven Town Board approved the long-contested Staller Associates rezoning application for the Jefferson Plaza property in Port Jefferson Station Sept. 26. It was a crucial step signifying the progression of Staller’s plan to repurpose the plaza into a residential property along with commercial usage.

Staller Associates is an Islandia-based privately-held real estate company engaged in the development, ownership and management of commercial and residential real estate on Long Island.

Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) announced the approval of the zone change from J2 Business to Commercial Redevelopment District, thus allowing Staller to begin planning for the apartments building. 

Jefferson Plaza in its current state. File photo

Brookhaven residents have been divided over the prospect of this project. Some are unhappy with certain details, such as design, and desire more deliberation before making what they view as a hasty decision to rezone.

“We are not saying this project won’t be good for the community … that’s a blighted shopping center,” said Lou Antoniello, treasurer of Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, during the public hearing. “This project is not ready to be approved tonight. I don’t understand the rush to push this thing through.” 

Others stand wholly against developing more housing complexes and rezoning, while some are ardent proponents of revitalizing the largely unused plaza. 

Joseph Stallone spoke on behalf of the Long Island Builders Institute. “We have some of the best schools in the country and we are sending our young minds to North Carolina and Florida and Virginia,” he said. “As someone who grew up here, I would like to stay here and I would love to stay at a development like the one Staller has proposed.”

Ira Costell, president of PJSTCA, had hoped that the developer would have involved the public more throughout the process, instead of just on a rudimentary level in the early phases of the process. He said that, in the beginning, he and his organization met with Staller, but then went almost two years without direct contact. 

“We want to find a way to get behind this proposal, but we find that the process really failed us,” he said. 

The CRD zoning code was amended in 2020, and this new version is at the root of resident apprehension. CRD zones are “designed to achieve economically beneficial and socially desirable redevelopment which is more creative and imaginative in its land use,” the Brookhaven Town Code reads. 

The CRD label dictates that “civic space and recreational areas, including squares, private plaza, greens and public parks, shall be intermixed throughout the development for social activity, recreation and visual enjoyment.”

Indeed, Staller Associates intends to integrate a public plaza, a health club and a restaurant into the plaza in addition to the residential complex in this corridor off Route 112. 

Staller has previously announced that 20% of the units will be used only for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Kornreich said that Staller will likely enter into a form of partnership with a special-needs housing advocacy group to do so. The realty business has a property in Farmingdale, where it administer the same policy. 

Aesthetic cohesion is a major area of concern for Brookhaven residents who say that the influx of apartment buildings will make Port Jefferson Station lack a consistent architectural theme. To many, this rezoning increases the threat of overdevelopment. 

Kornreich assured those present that the appearance of the buildings is not set in stone. “A lot of these issues that were brought up by people at the [PJS/T] civic association — things related to the density, things related to the site, layout things related to the architecture — all these things will be worked out later in planning,” he said. 

“The site plan has not been drawn up yet in that level of detail” he said in regard to concerns over fire safety, which he said will be worked out later in the process. 

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Photo from Town of Brookhaven

Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich have announced the completion of two paving projects in Port Jefferson Station.

In the first project, crews completed drainage maintenance and replaced damaged concrete aprons and Belgium block curbing prior to resurfacing Ashley Court, Barraud Drive, Casey Lane, Iowa Avenue, New Jersey Avenue, and Wisconsin Avenue. The total cost for this paving project was approximately $227,000. The second project included the resurfacing of Gladysz Way at a cost of approximately $48,000.

“Both of these paving projects had been on my radar for some time,” said Superintendent Losquadro. “The roads that were resurfaced are now safer and smoother for residents, motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.”

Councilmember Kornreich said, “Thank you, Superintendent Dan Losquadro, for making our roads smoother and our community safer!”

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Photo from Town of Brookhaven

Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Losquadro, Councilwoman Bo Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro and Councilwoman Jane Bonner have announced the resurfacing of Hawkins Path from Hawkins Road to County Road 83, as well as Hawkins Road from North Bicycle Path in Selden to Hawkins Path in Centereach.

Prior to paving, crews replaced approximately 3,700 linear feet of curb, nearly 300 square feet of concrete sidewalk and approximately 4,000 square feet of aprons, in addition to installing ADA-compliant handicap ramps, at a cost of approximately $290,000.

The milling and paving cost for this project was $380,000; the total cost for this paving project was $670,000. “Hawkins Road is a main artery in Brookhaven Town, crossing two council districts and serving as a main access point for teachers, students and staff attending Stagecoach Elementary School,” said Superintendent Daniel Losquadro. “It is now safer and smoother for all motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.”

Councilwoman Bonner said, “Resurfacing Hawkins Path and Hawkins Road makes travel so much safer for everyone. Fall is a busy time for the men and women of the Highway Department, but the residents of Brookhaven Town can rest assured that infrastructure improvements are a year-round priority for Superintendent Losquadro.”

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TOB Historian Barbara Russell (right,) researcher Lynne Scofield, (left) and interim president Suzanne Johnson (second from left,) in front of the Davis Town Meeting House. Courtesy TOB

Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle has launched his “Talking History with the Town Clerk” video series, which features an in-depth tour of the Davis Meeting House, located in Coram.

This house served as the former clerk’s office during the early days of the Town of Brookhaven. The debut video features insights from town Historian Barbara Russell, who provides historical context about the landmark.

Constructed in the 1750s, the Davis House was owned for over 250 years by direct male descendants of Foulk Davis, who settled in Southampton in 1642. Historian Davis Erhardt identifies Elijah Davis (1727-1802) as the likely original owner, who operated the house as a tavern-inn.

By the 1790s, the house became the seat of the Town of Brookhaven government, for over 80 years. In the mid-1800s, it served as a temperance house and by 1890, it transitioned to a private residence.

The Brookhaven Town Board officially designated the Davis House as a landmark on April 15, 1986, recognizing its historical significance. It was named a New York State landmark in 2000 and a National Landmark in 2001.

Significant restoration work was completed in September 2012, including roof replacement, masonry repairs and the reconstruction of a timber-framed front porch. These efforts were part of a broader initiative to preserve the building’s historical character. Today, the Davis House functions as a vibrant community center, hosting various local events and programs.

The Davis Meeting House, located at 263 Middle Country Road in Coram, offers historical tours every second Sunday of the month. For more information, call 631-804-2256.

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Stock photo

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico has announced that the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau  will host a “Money Matters Mondays” Financial Literacy program for youth ages 16 to 24 years old. This event is perfect for young individuals looking to gain essential financial skills that will help them navigate their financial futures with confidence. 

The three free workshops will teach young people how to set goals, build a budget and save money.  Sessions will be held in the first-floor Meeting Room-South at Brookhaven Town Hall, located at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville. Each workshop runs from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. 

The “Money Matters Mondays” schedule is as follows:

September 16: How to set financial goals, create a budget, and save your earnings for what you want.

September 23: Understanding, building, and improving your credit score.

September 30: Investing 101 with a Financial Advisor: Learn how to start investing early to build wealth and how to take advantage of company matches for retirement.

The featured speaker at the workshops will be Kate Travers, Chase Community Manager. Refreshments and giveaways will be available at each workshop. 

To secure your spot, please register online by September 9 by visiting brookhavenny.gov/327/Youth. For more information, call 631-451-8011.

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Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico has announced that the Town of Brookhaven Department of General Services, Division of Veterans Services, and the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency will host the first annual Veterans Resource Fair on Monday, September 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will be held in the 2nd floor Media Room at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill in Farmingville. Representatives of the following agencies will be in attendance:

  • Brookhaven Town Veteran Services Division’s mission is to serve our Veterans and their families by gathering and providing information on benefits available through the Veterans Administration, State, County and local governments.
  • Suffolk County Veteran Services Agency is committed to aiding our county veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as their dependents and survivors through the pursuance of veterans benefits at the county, state and federal levels and referrals to other agencies for possible assistance with dignity and respect.
  • “Healing Through Art” Veteran and East End Artist Joh Melillo has found solace from PTSD through the art of painting. By offering free workshops for veterans who also suffer from trauma, John teaches the practice of painting, and the veterans create and take home their very own artwork.
  • The mission of the Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project is to assist Veterans, service members, and their families to achieve and sustain personal health, wellness, and purpose in their post-service lives through the support of trained Veteran peers.
  • Long Island Cares proudly provides Veterans programs ranging from food assistance and job help to personalized referral services.
  • The mission of The Long Island State Veterans Home is to provide high quality and compassionate health care services for veterans and their families.
  • Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program prevents homelessness by helping very low-income Veterans and their families gain access to the resources they need in order to successfully transition to, or maintain, permanent housing.
  • Paws of War’s mission is to honor and support our veterans, active military members, and first responders with services that enrich their lives through the rescue and training of service dogs for independence, adoption of companion animals, rescue of overseas animals in war zones, and other essential services to assist our heroes in need.
  • Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management coordinates the county’s response to natural and man-made disasters. OEM personnel are responsible for development of the Comprehensive All-Hazards Emergency Management Plan, the operation of the county’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and work with local, state, and federal officials in all aspects of shelter management, planning, resource management, and emergency response and recovery activities.
  • Suffolk County Community College Veterans Resource Center assists veterans in maximizing their benefits, supporting a successful transition to college life and achieving their educational and personal goals.

For more information about the Veterans Resource Fair, please call the Brookhaven Town Department of General Services at 631-451-6331.

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From left to right: County Legislator Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, TOB Supervisor Dan Panico, TOB Superintendent of Highways Daniel Losquadro, Representative from the Governor's, office Thalia Olaya, and in front, Gloria Rocchio, Ward Melville Heritage Organization President, at a Stony Brook Village press conference. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Toni-Elena Gallo with contributions by Lynn Hallarman and John Broven

Photo gallery to come.

According to the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center, Stony Brook recorded 9.4 inches of rain, in the 24 hours between Sunday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 19, amounting to a rainfall that is not just a once in a lifetime event —but a one-in-a-thousand year-event.

At a Monday press conference, County Executive Ed Romaine (R) spoke about the shock many Long Islanders experienced.

“This storm was not predicted for northern Suffolk,” he said. “This storm was over Connecticut and probably traveled south. When you get almost 10 inches of rain, that’s a once [in a lifetime event]. Unfortunately, these once-in-a-lifetime events seem to be coming more than that. I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this.”

“It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather,” the county executive added.

Stony Brook

In Stony Brook village, Harbor Road was split in half, and the pond at Avalon Nature Preserve ran off into nearby Stony Brook Harbor, taking dead fish and turtles with it.

“We have put drones up to document the before and after. We believe the damage will [amount to] $25 million, minimum. A minimum, between cleanup that’s required [not just here, but] other parts of the county, like Rocky Point,” Romaine said.

“We will document everything that we do, and all the expenditures that will be made, because we will be seeking some hope of state [and] federal reimbursement, because this is a huge hit on local government, on the town and on the villages along the North Shore,” he added.

At the press conference, Gloria Rocchio, president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, expressed her sadness and frustration, but was able to provide a small glint of hope.

“We did have a structural engineer come already, to check the [historic] Grist Mill … and it is, [fortunately] structurally sound. It was built in 1699. In 1750 the dam broke for the first time, and then once again in the 1800s, and the last time it broke was 1910,” she said.

Over at Stony Brook University, Judy Pittigher, an office administrator at the Renaissance School of Medicine, suffered an office full of water damage and a collapsed ceiling, forcing her to work from home for, at least, the remainder of the week.

“The squares of one doctor’s tile roof collapsed; the floor is disgusting, covered in mush. By the time I got there, half the rugs had already been pulled up … anything on them was destroyed, like boxes. One box had this past graduation’s programs, and someone picked it up and put it on my desk, and it was sopping wet,” she said.

Smithtown

In Smithtown, the Nissequogue River dam broke from the nearly 10 inches of rain. Two residents were saved by members of the Smithtown Fire Department, as they were trapped on the second floor of their home.

This is despite the town’s recent stormwater and drain infrastructure upgrades. However, Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) said that Smithtown was lucky, in comparison to the nearby villages, as a result of these proactive measures.

Rocky Point

Rocky Point was extensively impacted, as well.

“I tried to take a tour of most of the damage this morning … and several catchment basins overflowed,” Romaine said. “I went down Hagerman Landing Road, and the tops of all the cars in sight had mud. The mudslide that came down Hagerman Landing Road was, easily, 7 to 9 feet. It left its mark on the trees, and the houses, right up to the windows. We had to rescue someone down there from their rooftop.”

Port Jefferson

At about 3 a.m., Monday, a rush of stormwater cascaded down Main Street, past CVS, affecting local property and flooding the Port Jefferson fire station.

According to Fire Commissioner Thomas Meehan, the flooding rose to about 36 inches in the station, bringing sewage and other debris into the building.

“We were just recovering from the flooding we had three years ago,” he said.

Port Jefferson village officials assisted the fire station in the initial cleanup in the early hours of Monday morning.

Several businesses along the Main Street corridor were impacted, including Theatre Three [see editorial].

Huntington

According to a Town of Huntington press release, “The Highway Department took to the roads at the early onset of the storm. After surveying the town, they reported approximately 10 sink holes and minimal trees down. Flooding, however, was the predominant issue, with the town reporting heavy flooding in a few areas.”

All areas will be rebuilt

The Town of Brookhaven’s superintendent of highways, Dan Losquadro (R), explained how the topography of the North Shore created a disastrous alignment of storm conditions.

“Water picks up velocity, as it travels down into these natural drainage points,” he said. “Many of these areas were built a very long time ago. They just have catch basins, and do not have sumps recharge basins, as we call them. [Even so] recharge basins, optimally, can only store 8 inches of water, and a catch basin, no more than 2 to 3.”

“This exceeded even the capacity of a modern sump. So, we saw our systems completely overwhelmed by this volume of water in such a short period of time,” he elaborated.

As for what’s next, Losquadro said, “We will get into the engineering and estimating phase, throughout the day, and, probably, for days to come. We have, unfortunately, been through this process with FEMA, and the state before, even back to the recovery from [Hurricane] Sandy. We will do our best to secure funding, from the higher levels of government, to ease the burden on our local taxpayers because as the county executive and the supervisor [Dan Panico (R)] rightly pointed out, many of these projects are beyond our ability to fund on a local level.”

“This process will take a great deal of time,” Romaine said. “[This damage behind me] will require permitting, not only from D.C., but from the EPA, and from the Army Corps of Engineers as well.”

Both Losquadro and Romaine expressed that the parts of the county hit by this storm will be built back “stronger and better.”

“We will clean this up, whatever it takes. These are our communities, these are our friends, our neighbors. We’re one county, one people and we will work together,” Romaine said.

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Sanitation truck. File photo

By Peter Sloniewsky

In June, waste-incinerator Covanta agreed to pay the Town of Brookhaven $1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company trucked hazardous ash to the town’s Yaphank landfill. While the settlement is pending in the Nassau County Supreme Court, town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) said he has “no reason to believe that it wouldn’t be approved.”

The lawsuit was filed in 2013 by whistleblower Patrick Fahey, a former Covanta Hempstead employee, on behalf of local governments that sent municipal waste to the Covanta plant in Westbury. Brookhaven accepted the resulting ash at its Yaphank landfill.

Covanta, which announced in April a name rebranding to Reworld Waste, has denied any wrongdoing.

Fahey’s attorney, David Kovel, has said that his client “doesn’t think the town is acting in the best interests of its citizens” in agreeing to settle for $1 million, and opposed the settlement with a court filing. Kovel added that only the state Attorney General’s Office has standing to settle, and that “it is astonishing that the Town of Brookhaven would sell out its citizens” by accepting such a “sweetheart” settlement.

Members of the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group shared similar sentiments in a June 6 statement at a Brookhaven Town Board meeting. Group co-founder Monique Fitzgerald said, “It is despicable that this settlement would give Covanta a pass, while continuing to force community members to carry the burden,” adding, “This agreement comes without any input from the community.” She noted that Covanta would be absolved of any future financial responsibility for pollution cleanups in the area.

BLAR group has also called for the immediate closure of the landfill, which was previously slated to be closed in 2027 or 2028, and for there to be an immediate cleanup of the North Bellport community’s air, land and water. Town officials have yet to provide a firm timeline for closing the Yaphank facility.

Panico, when asked whether the town will earmark the settlement money for the benefit of the North Bellport community or for remediation at the landfill, said, “We’re doing work far in excess of that $1 million figure. Our commitment to the people of North Bellport is long-standing and strong.”

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From left, James Loglisci, Suffolk County Department of Health Services; Mark Long, Suffolk County Department of Health Services; Supervisor Dan Panico; Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and Deputy Suffolk County Health Commissioner, Anthony Figliola. Photo courtesy of TOB
From left, Brookhaven Suffolk County Health Commissioner Anthony Figliola, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico and Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich. Photo courtesy of TOB

On July 30, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico and Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich  joined Deputy Suffolk County Health Commissioner, Anthony Figliola  and James Loglisci and Mark Long from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services at Brookhaven Town’s Port Jefferson Marina to review and learn about the Suffolk County Marine Water Quality Monitoring program.

The Suffolk County Office of Ecology routinely monitors the quality of marine surface waters throughout Suffolk County as part of various environmental and management programs. These activities were initiated in 1976 under the “208 Study” (Section 208 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972), a comprehensive water quality management program calling for the development of a plan to meet established water quality goals.

“Suffolk County’s Marine Monitoring Program is as interesting as it is impressive. Far more is known now than decades ago about the health of our waters and the sources of degradation. While there is a great deal of work to be done, the continual measuring to obtain metrics of the conditions is essential to understanding and improving our water quality. Port Jefferson and Setauket Harbors are two beautiful and treasured features of Brookhaven Town, and we appreciate the partnership with Suffolk County,” said Supervisor Panico.

“Thank you to Anthony Figliola and the Suffolk County Health Department for continuing to keep a close eye on the waters of Port Jefferson and Setauket. Today, Supervisor Panico and I joined the County’s team to test various sites in and around the harbor complex. They are out on the water all year round, in all weather, taking samples and testing to make sure contaminants and algae are being monitored at all times. Thank you to these hard-working men for your role in protecting public health and our maritime environment!” added Councilmember Kornreich.

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Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich and town historian Barbara Russell shake hands in front of a new historical marker, with West Meadow’s environmental educator Nicole Pocchiare. Photo by Mallie Jane Kim

By Mallie Jane Kim

Brookhaven Town officials unveiled a new historical sign at West Meadow Beach July 19, to mark the location of a summer beach community of bungalows that was removed in 2005.

The seasonal community, built along Trustees Road, had a contentious history, yet for those who enjoyed access, the string of nearly 100 beach bungalows was a place of rich memory of summer beach life.

“If you don’t tell the history, you lose it,” said Barbara Russell, Brookhaven’s town historian, who headed up the application to the Syracuse-based William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which granted the sign. Russell said growing up, she knew cottage owners and spent time visiting the unique community. 

“My grandparents, my parents, me and my children have wonderful memories of the cottages here,” she said. “My six grandchildren absolutely never knew them.”

The new marker, which sits near the entrance of what is now the Trustees Road walking trail, reads, “West Meadow beach summer colony, private cottages built here on town-owned leased land starting in 1905. All but four of 93 cottages razed in 2005.”

Some area residents who remember the divisiveness of the private cottages, especially in the last few years before most of them were razed, question the move. 

“Why memorialize the cottages?” wondered Setauket resident George Hoffman, who worked for the Town of Brookhaven during those last years, and currently sits on the West Meadow Beach Advisory Committee. “It was a very contentious thing.”

One concern is that the brief, neutral wording may gloss over the whole story.

“I hope that this new sign — that doesn’t say much — does not cause us to forget that during the almost century-long cottage era, most of the people of Brookhaven Town were denied access to their own public land, which was leased to a favored few,” said Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket).

The sign that previously marked the spot simply acknowledged that the “West Meadow Beach Cottages Historic District” was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 — an unsuccessful last-minute effort to save the bungalows, which were already scheduled for demolition by then. 

The cottages started as tent platforms the town rented out, including to people fleeing the city due to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, according to documents on file with the U.S. Department of the Interior. Lessors were later allowed to build structures on the lots, which they rented originally for $10-20 per year.

In the intervening years, there were questions of whether the leases were given out as political favors or in sweetheart deals to the well-connected, and the fact that private cottages were built on public parkland led to multiple lawsuits and appeals over decades, culminating in their ultimate removal. 

After a judge ruled in favor of removing the cottages in the late 1990s, Englebright, then a state assemblyman, authored legislation that solidified the timing of removal — allowing cottage residents to finish a prearranged lease term, and for the town to use that lease money to fund the removal of the structures and restoration of the parkland. He said his local office had to install security cameras and a panic button because of threats and harassment over the issue.

He added that over the years, he heard stories of cottage owners themselves being hostile to residents trying to access the area. 

Englebright himself remembers an incident from his 20s, before he got involved in politics, when he was out on the water in a dinghy and a surprise summer storm drove him into that stretch of West Meadow Beach. He said a cottage owner with two German Shepherds confronted him.

“He said, ‘Get the hell off my beach,’” Englebright recalled, adding that after he apologized, the man repeated his demands and sent his dogs after him. “They drove me into the water, which was still breaking waves over my boat and myself.”

He added, “That was before I learned that, in fact, it wasn’t his beach.”

Englebright suggested a second sign could tell a more complete version of events. “The way in which courageous civic advocacy ultimately created the magnificent park that we have today deserves to be remembered,” he said. 

Town historian Russell doesn’t see the neutral sign wording as a problem.

“You can’t ever tell the whole history in five lines,” Russell acknowledged, adding that she hopes long-stalled plans to restore one of the remaining cottages will result in an education center that can tell a more complete story. Or, perhaps one of the local historical organizations could take up the task. The Pomeroy sign, she said, is to pique interest.

“This is just to get your attention and say, ‘Oh, there were cottages here once,’” she said. “There was a whole summer community here once.”

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