September 2022

Dear Friends and Supporters,

The Coalition has been working tirelessly to prevent the massive development that has been proposed for the Gyrodyne site from moving forward. While we are a long way from being able to declare victory in the fight to Save Flowerfield Fairgrounds, there is significant progress to report.

GYRODYNE’S MEGA DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS TIED UP IN COURT:

The Coalition has made clear for several years that if Gyrodyne’s subdivision plan was approved based on a flawed environmental review that does not satisfy legal requirements for a “hard look” at environmental impacts, we would have no choice but to challenge the process in court.  On April 26, the Village of Head of the Harbor, Coalition and 23 nearby property owners filed suit in New York State Supreme Court to block the Gyrodyne mega development from moving forward.

SUPPORT IS STRONG 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 development on parts of the Gyrodyne site already occupied by parking lots and buildings.  Elected officials including County Legislators Rob Trotta and Kara Hahn, State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, 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 FIRST STEPS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE THE FAIRGROUNDS ARE UNDERWAY:
Gyrodyne issued a statement in April confirming that the company would welcome offers to purchase either all or part of the Flowerfield property on an “as is” basis.  Under the Compromise Plan, approximately 40 acres of the site that includes Flowerfield Fairgrounds would be purchased and preserved as open space. The first step in the process is for an appraisal to be completed to determine the value of the property which is currently underway. The Coalition is working closely with elected officials at both the county and state levels as well as a prominent land preservation organization to make this a reality.

While these are all positive developments, THE BATTLE IS FAR FROM OVER, AND WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

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 let them know you support the
  Compromise Plan to preserve Flowerfield Fairgrounds.

For information on how to donate and/or contact elected officials is on our site.

Thank you again for working with us to preserve and protect the quality of life in our community.