Planning board approves site plan for 1175 West Main Street with conditions

Riverhead’s Planning Board approved a site-plan on June 18 to allow a heating and air-conditioning business to occupy 1175 West Main Street, a property formerly used by Buoy One and a spa.

Heather, a town planning staff member, told the board the application follows a Zoning Board of Appeals special exception (appeal 2026-001, Feb. 26) that changed the site to the new nonconforming use. Billy Imperial of New Dwell Architecture, the applicant’s design professional, said the project will limit new construction, focus on façade repairs and repaving, formalize one-way circulation through the lot, and delineate employee and customer parking.

The board’s conditions include a plan revision to relocate a van-accessible stall between spaces 17 and 18, corrected directional arrows for the curb cut, confirmation that all existing and proposed lighting is dark-sky compliant, and a plan note identifying the location of any exterior mechanical equipment. Heather said she had referred the plan to the fire marshal; the chief raised no circulation objections but asked that any security gates include emergency access codes.

Board members also discussed landscaping and buffering for the neighboring residential lots. Staff recommended evergreen plantings along the south side where space allows and noted the applicant proposes a chain-link fence with privacy slats; the board left final plant selection to staff discretion. The ARB will review exterior materials next week and any changes can be incorporated into a revised plan.

The board moved and seconded resolution 2026-036 granting site-plan approval as amended and the motion carried.

The project will proceed with the conditions recorded at the meeting; staff said outstanding items (fire marshal comments and ARB input) will be addressed in plan revisions before final filing.