Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Riverhead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Summit property code violations resolved
The chair reported that a property with seven code violations got a stop-work order, has paid all fines and permits, and the applicant can start work only after filing maps with Suffolk County.
Disabled Veterans Tax Exemption Local Law
The board held a hearing on a full town property tax exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans, covering about 200 local veterans. Veterans gave emotional testimony supporting it; the hearing stays open until Nov 15 before adoption.
Jamesport minor subdivision and 1980s anti-subdivision covenant
A 6.27-acre parcel can't be split into two lots unless the board amends a decades-old covenant meant to protect Main Road's traffic safety. The board is waiting to hear the applicant's case before deciding.
Breezy Hill crushing facility environmental study rejected
The board revisits its October 15 finding on whether Breezy Hill Group VI's draft environmental impact statement is adequate — a step in the environmental review of a large development proposal.
Calverton water main extension funding
A developer will pay the full $347,000 to relocate a water main blocking a future industrial warehouse site at 1001 Scott Avenue; water ratepayers pay nothing. Hearing open through Nov 15.
CPF regional counsel agreement (tabled)
The board tabled the agreement hiring Mary Wilson, Esq. as regional CPF counsel after residents questioned the $400/hour fee, travel-time billing for a Florida resident, and why an out-of-state attorney was chosen. It will come back for more discussion.
Business PB zoning modernization
The board scheduled a public hearing on rewriting the hamlet center, village center, business center, and business CR zoning districts plus supplementary use regulations — the first step in a major land-use code update.
2027 Town Budget
The 2027 budget proposal carries a 1.79% tax levy increase — well below the 2.79% state cap. Written comments are open through Nov 15 before adoption.
LCT Vineyards farm stand in Aquebogue
A longtime grape grower wants to sell wine, native plants and local goods from an existing barn on weekends, with no on-site tasting or consumption. The board supports the concept but wants water, electric and property-line questions resolved first.
Bluff-area development standards at 888 Sound Shore Road
A homeowner can now add a small addition to a cottage inside the coastal erosion hazard area at the Sound Shore Club seasonal community in Wading River.
Breezy Hill DEIS inadequacy amendment
The board tidied up its October 15 environmental review finding on the Breezy Hill project, adopting a corrective amendment to that resolution.
Bluff-area development standards in Wading River
A Sound Shore Club cottage owner seeks to add 23.5' x 10' onto an existing cottage inside a mapped coastal erosion hazard area — a permit the board grants only after weighing shoreline risk.
Post-July 4 Storm Recovery and Yard Waste Relief
The board declared a public emergency to immediately clear the yard waste pile that ballooned after the July 4th storm, so the facility can keep accepting debris.
Youngs Farm Development Rights Acquisition
The board accepted appraisals for a joint purchase of development rights at Youngs Farm — a step forward in preserving the farmland.
Tri State farm stand on Main Road
LCT Vineyards wants to open an outdoor seasonal farm stand at its Union Avenue property, using an existing barn's electricity. A farm stand like this supports local agriculture but brings parking and seasonal traffic questions.
Commercial Fire Protection Compliance
The Fire Marshal's office has transitioned to an online platform to track commercial fire system inspections, which has generated some questions and confusion among local business owners.
Downtown Parking Utilization Plan
The town is exploring temporary parking solutions, such as adding spaces on Heidi Behr Way, to help local businesses survive construction disruptions from major downtown projects.
Affordable Housing Funding
Riverhead’s planned Northville Commons just got a $3.67 million boost from the state. That money helps move an 80-unit affordable housing project forward—meaning more below-market homes could actually get built. If you care about rent costs or local construction, this is a real step, not just talk.
Home occupation in detached structure requires Town Board special permit
Even if the ZBA grants the variances, running the cleaning business office from the detached garage would need a separate special permit from the Town Board — another full hearing process.
Additional parking on Heidi Behr Way
The board is exploring adding parallel parking along Heidi Behr Way downtown. A quote in the packet prices linestriping 19 spaces and one hatched area at about $4,725.
Election Voting Guide
Early voting for the Nov. 3 election is happening now at Riverhead Town Hall, and Suffolk County voters can cast a ballot at any early voting site. Before you go, check the hours, locations, and what you need to bring—it’s mainly about making voting fit your schedule.
Commercial signage review along town corridors
Five sign applications were on the ARB docket, covering businesses on Old Country Road, Heroes Way, the Tanger outlets and Main Road. The board's decisions shape the visual character and lighting of these commercial corridors.
Signage and traffic circulation at Mill Road/Route 58 commercial center
Five sign applications were on the ARB docket, covering businesses on Old Country Road, Heroes Way, the Tanger outlets and Main Road. The board's decisions shape the visual character and lighting of these commercial corridors.
Brownfield cleanup grant
North Shore Sprinkler Supply is legalizing paving, drainage and landscaping work done without town approval after a 2023 state environmental violation. The work is largely done and drew praise from the board for its appearance.
Shared parking reduction for mixed-use shopping centers
Big shopping centers are required to build parking for peak demand that rarely happens — the old Walmart plaza uses at most 26% of its 954 required spaces. The proposal would let any reviewing board grant up to a 20% parking reduction with real traffic data, potentially freeing land for redevelopment.
Retail parking ratios and assessment of outdoor commercial use
Board members questioned whether a roofing/construction business is operating from a home the owner is converting to a two-family, citing a fleet of trucks, extra electric meters and a Justice Court conditional discharge barring commercial activity. The hearing was adjourned for investigation.
Stiffer penalties for landmark demolition and alteration
The current $1,000 fine for demolishing a historic landmark hasn't been updated since 2006 and clearly isn't scaring anyone off — the Spices building came down overnight for that amount. The proposal would raise demolition fines to $10,000-$15,000 and add tiered fines for alterations, with civil and Supreme Court remedies as backstops.
Wading River four-family dwelling dispute
Bruce Brenner is appealing the building inspector's finding that his Wading River property is a legal three-family dwelling, not four-family. Old town records from the 1950s-60s are being reviewed; decision expected December 10.
Extension of lapsed zoning approvals
Several projects around town — a restaurant addition, a garage, a Jamesport subdivision — got extra time because construction or approvals lagged past their original deadlines.
Indoor agricultural facility at 645 Grumman Boulevard
A 126,000-square-foot indoor growing facility is planned for 645 Grumman Blvd. in Calverton, with ten acres of pine barrens preserved. The board set parking at 121 spaces based on an expert workforce analysis.
Notice deficiency in off-site parking appeal
A Lincoln Street parking case got bumped to November because it wasn't properly calendared and noticed — a procedural slip that delayed the applicant and the public's chance to weigh in.
Vietnam Veterans Recreation Path Praised
Bruce Kagan congratulated the board on the nine-mile veterans memorial path around Calverton Enterprise Park, calling it the jewel of the East End, and flagged future trail expansion interest.
2027 Preliminary Budget Amendments and Tax Levy Reduction
The 2027 preliminary budget carries a 1.79% tax levy increase, comfortably under the 2.79% state tax cap. The hearing stays open for written comment until November 16.
Golf course zoning district and golf cottages
The board is refining its golf cottage proposal after public pushback: 600 sq ft units, max two attached, no restaurants/spas, no residency. Planner Bergman proposed rezoning four more golf courses (The Rock, Cherry Creek, the Woods at Cherry Creek, Long Island National) to RA-80 so all courses can use the cottage/TDR tool — a hedge against courses closing and becoming subdivisions of up to 83 houses each.
Riverhead LIRR Train Station Disrepair
Warren McKnight presented photos of peeling paint at the train station and demanded the town pressure the MTA; the board agreed to send a letter, using the tactic that previously got potholes fixed.
Crown Recycling Enforcement Activity
Code enforcement opened 82 complaints and issued 146 violations in April, with unpermitted construction and junk vehicles big issues. Two new part-time officers start June 8 to boost residential patrols.
Petrocelli Master Developer Closing and IDA Benefits
A resident questioned whether a law firm representing both a developer and the town creates conflicts, and whether the Master Developer can actually complete the downtown project. It's a question of confidence in the town's biggest redevelopment effort.
Sandy Pond Trade Shops vs. Commercial Storage
John McAuliff questioned whether the approved 'trade shops' at Sandy Pond golf course were meant to allow contractor storage rental, arguing the large buildings hurt the site's aesthetics.
ICE Enforcement and OLA Safety Law Debate
OLA of Eastern Long Island and a long line of residents urged the town to adopt a local law governing how ICE operations interact with local police — transparency, identification of agents, and limits on town resources. The board took no action but heard roughly a dozen speakers.
Verizon tower at 285 Hubbard Avenue
A new 120-foot stealth tower is proposed next to homes and Fire Station 2. Staff wants landscaping to screen the tired Verizon maintenance yard and an FAA compliance report; the tower could later grow to 130 feet under the code.
Baiting Hollow Golf Club cell tower flag debate
Elite Towers wants a 140-foot monopole on Sound Avenue, but the residential zoning doesn't allow it — a use variance is needed. Visual impact along the scenic corridor is the big question.
Water district rust complaints and flushing program
Rusty, discolored water hit hundreds of Wading River and Calverton customers, ruining some residents' laundry. An engineered overnight flushing starts October 18 to clear iron particles from the mains, and the district is investigating what disturbed the system.
Walmart supercenter expansion at 1890 Old Country Road
Walmart wants to add a grocery section and about 27,000 square feet to its Old Country Road store, turning it into a supercenter with EV chargers and online pickup. The board wants the parking lot trees kept and a less boxy building design before the plan moves ahead.
Sound Shore Guild bulkhead replacement
The board reviewed awarding the bid for the bulkhead repair, with work expected to start within weeks, plus a budget transfer from community benefit funds.
Andersson Acres subdivision school district split
A revived ~70-acre subdivision across the LIRR tracks won approval of its 35-lot yield map and 33-lot cluster sketch plan, preserving just over 70% of the land and splitting between two school districts.
Historical markers at three town sites
The town historian wants markers honoring the town's oldest business, the Aquebogue Park area, and the Wading River Congregational Church, timed to America's 250th anniversary. A foundation grant would cover the roughly $5,000-per-marker cost, so taxpayers wouldn't pay. Board members were supportive but want the wording fixed first.
Sweezy Avenue two-lot subdivision variances
A family wants to split a ~12,600-square-foot lot into two ~6,300-square-foot lots so a new house can be built for their daughter. That's far below the 40,000-square-foot RA-40 minimum, and the board's attorney flagged that the lots were merged before the family bought the property in 2015. The board reserved decision and floated the town's new accessory dwelling unit law as a workaround.
8-foot fence variance at proposed Wading River house of worship and cemetery
The team building a house of worship with a cemetery on five acres on Route 25A wanted an 8-foot deer fence to keep deer — and the ticks they carry — away from grave visitors. The board unanimously said no, citing precedent and the fact that deer clear 8-foot fences anyway.
RVAC Ambulance Barn Project and 75-Year Lease
A new ambulance corps building is moving forward — $6.4 million raised toward an $8-9 million modular facility, entirely through donations and ambulance billing, not taxes. Construction bid expected out next month.
Preservation of 1458 Middle Road, Calverton
After a year of advocacy, the town is paying for an appraisal of the 5.3-acre Koblenski farm parcel — the first concrete step toward preserving it as open space rather than seeing it anchor a 500-home development. Residents hope the historic farmhouse and kettle holes can be saved.