Board reviews draft finding statement for 131-acre Calverton industrial subdivision; staff seeks applicant follow-up

Riverhead planning staff presented a draft finding statement June 18 for the Calverton OAD industrial subdivision, a major application proposing to subdivide roughly 131 acres west of Splish Splash into seven lots and associated infrastructure.

Staff member Greg explained the proposal would create three large industrial building lots (roughly 36.3, 35.38 and 17.4 acres), a 4.7-acre stormwater/recharge and sewage treatment plant site, a 20.4-acre open-space preserve in the southern wooded portion, and a 4-acre reserved site intended for a potential future Riverhead Water District supply well. The board earlier issued a positive declaration in 2022 and accepted a final environmental impact statement May 7, 2026.

Greg summarized the EIS findings: the SEQR review identified potentially significant impacts across land, groundwater, air, plants and animals, transportation, energy, noise, odor, and consistency with community character. Proposed mitigation includes construction of turn lanes and signal improvements on Middle Country Road and exit 71 ramps, stormwater pollution prevention plans, an on-site sequencing-batch reactor sewage treatment facility to reduce effluent nitrogen below 10 mg/L, and a 50-foot landscaped buffer along arterial frontages.

A substantive question for the board was phasing and permit timing. The applicant asked to tie some mitigation permits to issuance of building permits for individual lots; staff cautioned that subdividing and filing a map would create lots that could be sold, and the board should consider whether the project sponsor must secure outside-agency roadway and DPW/DOT permits before the map is signed. Board members agreed the point warranted further discussion with the applicant and asked staff to bring the applicant back for follow-up before adopting a final finding statement.

Greg noted minor technical edits were needed (sanitary-flow calculations) and reiterated that approvals from outside agencies — including NYS DOT and the Suffolk County Department of Public Works — would be required as conditions of final subdivision approval.

The board thanked staff for the thorough presentation and asked for applicant representatives to return for further discussion; staff intends to prepare a resolution for adoption once the outstanding technical and interagency coordination questions are resolved.