August 2023
Dear Friends and Supporters:
Although things may have appeared to be quiet over the past few months, the Coalition has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure continued progress in the fight to prevent the massive development proposed for the Gyrodyne site from moving forward.
GYRODYNE’S MEGA DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS TIED UP IN COURT:
The Coalition has made clear that if Gyrodyne’s subdivision plan is approved based on a flawed review that does not satisfy legal requirements for a “hard look” at environmental impacts, it would have no choice but to challenge the process in court. Accordingly, in April 2022 the Coalition joined the Village of Head of the Harbor and 23 nearby property owners in a lawsuit to block the Gyrodyne mega development from moving forward. That case is still pending, as the judge originally assigned the case has retired and the matter has been reassigned. The next scheduled court date is in September, and updates will be provided quickly as information becomes available.
STRONG SUPPORT CONTINUES FOR COMPROMISE PLAN TO PRESERVE THE FAIRGROUNDS:
The Coalition continues to support the Village of Head of the Harbor Mayor Douglas Dahlgard’s call for the entire Gyrodyne site to be preserved as a public park. If that is not possible, however, hundreds of local residents have expressed support for the Compromise Plan that would preserve Flowerfield Fairgrounds as open space by clustering any development approved only on parts of the Gyrodyne site already occupied by parking lots and buildings. Elected officials including County Executive Steve Bellone, Legislators Rob Trotta and Kara Hahn, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilman Jonathan Kornreich are all supporting the Compromise Plan as a way to avoid a drawn out legal battle over the misguided plan to pave over the Fairgrounds with a massive commercial development. The County and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have agreed that preservation of the Fairgrounds is a top open space priority and have engaged the Peconic Land Trust (PLT) to assist in the preservation effort. PLT has completed an appraisal to establish the value of the property as the first step in the preservation process.
ENVIRONMENTAL BOND ACT PASSES:
Last November, voters approved the State’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which allocated $650 million for open space preservation and could provide the funding needed to save Flowerfield Fairgrounds. The Coalition’s goal continues to be a real solution that will avoid years of litigation – to see the Fairgrounds preserved for the community and to make sure that Gyrodyne is fairly compensated for the value of the property.
TOWN OF SMITHTOWN COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN NEARING COMPLETION:
In 2019 the Town of Smithtown began the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan to guide future land use decisions throughout the Town. In January and February 2021, many community members commented on the Draft Plan during the community outreach meetings. The Town Board amended the Draft Plan in response to these comments and held a public hearing in August, 2021. Members of the Coalition and its environmental expert testified that the development of the Gyrodyne property as proposed would be inconsistent with several key recommendations included in the Draft Comprehensive Plan. Unfortunately, the amended Draft Plan failed to acknowledge or address the obvious and glaring inconsistencies between the Plan recommendations and the Gyrodyne subdivision proposal.
In May, the Town Board accepted the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the Comprehensive Plan. The Board is expected to approve SEQRA Findings and adopt the Plan sometime this Fall.
Please click on the below link for Joseph Bollhofer’s comment letter to the Town on the major deficiencies with the Draft Comprehensive Plan and the issues that need to be addressed prior to its finalization and adoption.
While all of the progress made so far in advancing the effort to preserve Flowerfield Fairgrounds is a result of broad based community support, the battle is far from over and your continued support is necessary if we are to be successful.
Here’s what you can do to help:
- Consider making a donation to the legal fund, and urge others to do so.
- Call, e-mail or write to elected officials in the Town of Smithtown to express your concerns regarding the conflict between Gyrodyne’s proposed development and the Draft Comprehensive Plan.
