2 proposals eyed for industrial Kings Park

Town of Smithtown officials are mulling competing proposals for an industrial section of Kings Park that has vexed authorities and residents for decades.

The area along Old Northport Road -- known unofficially as the Kings Park industrial park -- is lined with dozens of companies such as sand mines, asphalt and construction contractors, composting operations and gravel processors. Many of them operate on parcels that are zoned for houses.

An attorney representing some of the business owners, Vincent Trimarco of Smithtown, has proposed changing the zoning of about 100 acres to allow those heavy industries to operate without violating zoning codes.

"The problem really becomes, [the town] never really made a zoning category that's conducive to people who do heavy industry businesses," Trimarco said in an interview. "My clients want to get their properties straightened out."

But town planning director Frank DeRubeis has proposed rezoning about 270 acres -- including the parcels affected by Trimarco's plan -- to light industrial uses such as manufacturing. DeRubeis says that zoning would "legalize a little bit what is there," but bar new businesses such as asphalt and gravel processing that elicit complaints from residents.

Trimarco's proposal will be the subject of a public hearing Wednesday during a meeting of the town Planning Board. The board will meet at 8 p.m. at the town senior citizen center, 420 Middle Country Rd., in Smithtown.

Area residents say they are sickened by pungent odors they believe are caused by mulch and yard waste on an 80-acre property at 140 Old Northport Rd. that is included in Trimarco's plan.

"It's no way to live," said Laura Schaefer, who lives on Old Commack Road. "People come over, they get sick from the smell."

DeRubeis said his proposal would "minimize the impacts" of the odors and debris by limiting future development of the properties.

Town officials in the past have tried to crack down on Kings Park property owners suspected of flouting the zoning code. But court rulings about 20 years ago said the town's enforcement attempts came too late, because the businesses had been allowed to operate for decades.

Sean Lehmann, president of the Kings Park Civic Association, said town officials have failed to address residents' concerns.

"The town has to sit down and put out the right zoning amendment," he said. "They have to do their job . . . instead of neglecting the area, which is what they've been doing."

Both Trimarco's proposal and DeRubeis' require approval by the Smithtown Town board. Town Councilman Edward Wehrheim, a Kings Park resident, said the town may have to hire a consultant to weigh in on the matter.

"I'm not so sure we're at a point where the town itself can do it. It's just taken too, too long," he said. "We keep going back to the same place and nothing gets accomplished, and that doesn't benefit anybody."

The 2 proposals

Comparing proposals to rezone an area known unofficially as the Kings Park industrial park:

Vincent Trimarco

Role: attorney for property owners.

Location: Old Northport Road, several properties between Town Line Road and Sunken Meadow Parkway.

Acreage: About 100.

Current zoning: Mix of residential, light industries -- which are not allowed to operate outdoors -- and wholesale and service industries, such as car dealerships and shopping.

What he would do: Allow existing heavy industry, including contractors with outdoor facilities.

Frank DeRubeis

Role: Town of Smithtown planning director.

Location: Old Northport Road, 72 properties between Town Line Road and Indian Head Road.

Acreage: About 270.

Current zoning: Residential, light industry, and wholesale and service industries.

What he would do: Restrict parcels to light industry, but property owners could apply for special permits that would allow other uses.