Riverhead · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Town of Riverhead public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2027 Preliminary Budget Amendments and Tax Levy Reduction
Six amendments trimmed the proposed 2027 tax increase from 2.79% to 1.79% by shifting one-time purchases to fund balance and cutting excess reserves. Supervisor Halpin abstained on four, warning of a repeat of the 2022 under-budgeting that cost $2 million.
Calverton water main extension funding
Engineering services and bid notices for water main installations at boundary extensions 95, 96, and 97, Forge Road, and Summerwind are on the September 1 agenda.
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.
Breezy Hill crushing facility environmental study rejected
Breezy Hill Group VI wants to convert a nonconforming residential property into a C&D debris processing facility with concrete and asphalt crushing. About 60 residents showed up to oppose it, citing noise, dust, truck traffic, and property values. The ZBA can't decide until the Planning Board's environmental review is resolved, so the hearing stays open.
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.
CDBG Funding for Local Nonprofits
Four nonprofits pitched for federal block grant money: a school social worker program, a soup kitchen serving 250+ meals a week, a veterans equine therapy program, and a youth business program. Written comments are open until October 24 before the board decides.
Summerwin stop-work order update
The board gave preliminary approval to 16 clustered homes on 30 acres in Aquebogue, with two agricultural reserves and a ban on commercial cannabis growing there. Neighbors won protections on the right-of-way and open space, and the developer will pay $75,000 in parks fees.
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.
North Fork Transmission Line Home Rule Stand
The board unanimously declared that the Suffolk County Water Authority's transmission line route via Main Road is NOT immune from Riverhead zoning — a significant assertion of local control over a county project.
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.
RD Pilesgrove LLC subdivision restart at 3544 Sound Avenue
A 2008-approved, 12-lot clustered subdivision on 35 acres of farmland and woodland on Sound Avenue never got finalized, and its approval expired in 2009. The new owner must start over under today's stricter rules, including the 70% open-space preservation goal and possible workforce housing obligations — and neighbors will get a new public hearing.
Roanoke Avenue parking garage funding and design
A long-awaited federal RAISE grant contract is expected within weeks, unlocking $2 million in county funds to design the multi-deck parking garage near downtown.
Payment in lieu of parking (PILOP) program
Consultants propose letting downtown developers pay $18,000 per parking stall instead of building on-site parking, with the money locked into a dedicated fund for public parking — including the planned Roanoke Avenue garage. Downtown already shows a deficit of roughly 144 to 278 spaces at existing occupied apartment projects, and more development is coming.
Preservation of the 4-H Camp property
The town is weighing whether to buy into preserving the 145-acre 4-H camp property with Suffolk County and the Peconic Land Trust. Supporters gathered nearly 300 petition signatures; critics like Ken Zilnicki argue the price — roughly $110,000/acre versus the $69,000 the trust paid — is too high and the land would generate tax revenue if developed.
Private Special Event Legislation
Winery owner Charles Massoud and Farm Bureau director Bill Zalakar blasted the draft 31-page special events code for targeting farms with fees, penalties, and financial disclosures. The board says agriculture is being pulled out as the code is rewritten.
318 East Main Street deli site plan and permit violations
Councilmember Waski wants steeper fines for owners of long-vacant downtown buildings, saying the $5,000 commercial blight fine has become a cost of doing business. A code amendment raising penalties will go on a future agenda.
Bail reform impact on policing and costs
Councilmembers Kern and Waski pressed Chief Frost on how state bail reform releases arrestees the same day, driving repeat arrests and officer time off the street. They want the monthly police report to show how many arrestees are released immediately so the public understands the cost.
Planet Nugg cannabis dispensary access reconfiguration
A resident says the board's August approval of a weed-delivery dispensary next to his home was void — the building was over the 4,000 sq. ft. informal-review limit, no public hearing was held, and the license went to a different company. He's demanding a stop-work order and rescission.
Proactive code enforcement expansion
Councilmembers Waski and Rothwell proposed hiring part-time evening code enforcement officers to proactively sweep the town for overcrowded housing, cars on lawns, unregistered vehicles, and trash — arguing fines will make the positions pay for themselves. Safety of children in overcrowded homes was a central concern.
Brenner four-family dwelling dispute on North Country Road
A Wading River family has spent decades trying to get the town to recognize their house as a legal four-family dwelling. The board is demanding hard proof — leases, tax records, photos — before ruling, and a neighbor says the parking situation is a genuine safety hazard on a dead-end road.
Downtown parking during construction
Theater and hotel owners say downtown parking is already maxed out on show nights, and building the planned parking garage could cut spaces in half for a year — potentially shutting businesses down. They want the town to sequence construction to minimize disruption and consider interim solutions like shuttles.
Downtown parking enforcement and handheld ticketing
The town wants to replace its patchwork of stickers, hang tags, and handwritten tickets with one integrated digital system — handheld ticket devices, license plate readers, and online permits. An RFP is being drafted with a goal of launching in early 2027. This affects everyone from downtown shoppers to beachgoers.
JPD Calverton warehouse redevelopment
A longtime local broker wants to build a 3,900-square-foot warehouse on a half-acre Main Road lot where warehouses aren't allowed, arguing low water allocation makes other uses unfeasible. Tara Lane residents fear traffic and parking will spill onto their shared right-of-way.
Peconic Bay Medical Center maternity expansion
The hospital's maternity wing expansion and facade upgrade got town approval, with a resident-driven amendment requiring native, non-invasive landscaping. Neighbors also raised noise concerns about rooftop HVAC equipment.
Roanoke corridor zoning changes
A proposed code change would add commercial uses, apartments, and 10 p.m. hours of operation in the Roanoke corridor. Councilwoman Waski publicly announced she does not support it, and dozens of published letters from residents oppose it.
New Riverhead Ambulance District building
A new ambulance headquarters at 1111 Osborne Avenue will replace the aging building, funded by $6.5 million in private donations plus RVAC ambulance billing revenue — designed to cost taxpayers nothing. The board bonded up to $8.1 million as the backstop.
Federal funding for police vehicles
Congressman LaLota secured $250,000 for the Riverhead Police Department to buy four new vehicles. That means updated patrol equipment without hitting local taxpayers.
Town Board Meeting
The Town Clerk's office is getting price quotes for AI-powered transcription of meeting recordings, possibly bundled with the town's existing Civic Plus services.
Formation of town HazMat response team
The town now has an official HazMat response team and emergency response plan — better protection when hazardous material incidents happen.
Business PB zoning modernization
Bob Nelson flagged empty second-floor apartments and vacant doctor's offices on Roanoke Avenue under PB zoning, urging the town to revisit the zoning in its upcoming master plan.
First-time homebuyer down payment assistance
About $380,000 is available to help eligible first-time homebuyers in Riverhead through the Community Development Department, funded by developer fees.
Downtown stormwater plan and highway barn progress
The highway crew has been working out of a dilapidated building with no working bathrooms for years. The town plans to award the construction contract and bond the project over ten years using CHIPS money, with no property tax increase.
Brother Bear Canna correspondence
The cannabis farm wanted an 8-foot deer fence and more paved coverage than the agricultural zone allows. The board said no, finding the community detriment outweighed the benefit — a win for the Calverton residents who packed the room.
Peconic Hotel Sale and Parking Garage
Completion of Town Square will create parking pressure downtown, and residents want to know who pays for a garage. Grant money is already allocated for a garage, paid parking rules are being drafted, and any bonding would sit in the parking district.
Helicopter Noise Task Force Reconvened
Residents say low-flying helicopters over Wading River are unbearable, with hundreds of complaints logged. The board agreed to reconvene the helicopter task force and push the FAA on the North Shore route before its July 29 review.
Downtown Parking Time Limits
Parking dominated the hearing: the hotel relies on valet service and borrowed spaces behind the Suffolk Theater until a town parking garage is built, and no parking agreement is finalized yet. Residents pressed for a timeline on the garage, which remains unfunded.
Future of Alive on 25 festival
After questions about whether Alive on 25 is worth the police and staffing costs, business owners rallied in support. The board agreed to keep the events, plan them earlier in the year, and explore additions like a restaurant week and moving the Fourth-before-the-Fourth back downtown.
Post-July 4 Storm Recovery and Yard Waste Relief
After the severe July 4 storm, the yard waste facility opens to all residents July 8–12 with just proof of residency, and Alive on 25 was postponed. Crews are still clearing trees and downed wires.
Town Square Splash Pad
Resident Ron Harari pressed the board on the total cost of the town square project, the hockey rink subsidy, and aquarium tax benefits; the supervisor said he had not received the requested figures and pointed to the pending FOIL.
BESS (Battery Energy Storage) Correspondence Wave
A 5-megawatt battery storage facility is proposed near a residential neighborhood. Council members are worried about fire safety, air quality, and the access road cutting through a wetland buffer, and want revisions before any approval.
Calverton Industrial Subdivision (OSTAD) SEQR findings
Suffolk Cement Products wants to split 26 acres at the old sand mine into industrial lots, but steep slopes cut right through the building envelopes. Staff wants alternative sketch plans and won't finalize until the state signs off on mine reclamation.