Carmans River plan stirs ripples of debate

Residents who spoke Tuesday at a public hearing about a proposal to protect the Carmans River were divided between those who supported the plan and those who characterized it as a giveaway to developers.

The plan's most-debated provision would restrict future building near the river by increasing the amount of property needed to construct a single house. Property owners would be able to sell so-called development credits to developers, who would use the credits to build elsewhere with greater density than allowed by current zoning.

Erma Gluck, president of the Coram Civic Association, said the plan's goal of preventing sprawl would backfire.

"I wholeheartedly agree the Carmans River should be preserved," she said. "It should not be done at the expense of border communities."

But Johan McConnell, president of the South Yaphank Civic Association, said the plan presents a viable way to preserve the river and rudder new development.

"Do we want to stay in the same mode of development we are in now, or do we want to save this beautiful river and its watershed?" she said.

The river is one of the Island's four longest and extends from Middle Island to Bellport Bay.

Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko ordered the plan and has floated it as a tool to steer new building away from 9,100 acres of sensitive Carmans River watershed. A group of environmentalists, developers and political leaders crafted the plan.

The plan would allow greater density on about 10,000 acres of commercial and industrial lands elsewhere in Brookhaven. This would allow the construction of multifamily homes and affordable housing -- as many as 7,500 new homes in all.

The plan also includes 25 recommendations that range from expanding the nearby Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area to providing stricter management of invasive plants.

Lesko defended the plan as "a revolutionary way of looking at land use."

He added the plan will "place density where everyone agrees it should go -- on our main thoroughfares."

Members of the study group that crafted the plan said it will be revised and offered for another public hearing. Pieces of the plan will later be written into legislation, offered for public comment, and voted on by the town board.