Residents balk at apartment complex plan

Residents criticized a proposal for a 96-unit affordable apartment complex in Port Jefferson Station Monday, causing the Brookhaven planning board to balk at permitting the project.

Developer James Tsunis wants to build Jefferson Meadows -- which would include one- and two-bedroom apartments, a health club, 2,000 square feet of office space and a small business -- on eight acres near the corner of Route 112 and Jefferson Avenue.

The project would be among the first developments approved under the town's "Blight to Light" program, which provides developers with incentives to build on dilapidated properties.

But a battery of residents objected to the proposal Monday, citing concerns that the apartment complex would lead to choked traffic, burden the school district with students and oversaturate the area with rental units. Others said the development is a half-mile from the nearest shopping area and not conducive to the town's goal of redeveloping downtowns.

"I'm not opposed to turning over my backyard and improving it, like the Blight to Light program is intended to do," said resident Diane Lenihan. "This overdevelopment will forever change the face of Route 112 as you drive up and down that street."

The planning board could have issued Tsunis a special permit he needs to break ground. But the board decided to revisit the issue on Oct. 17, after board members gather more information about the project.

It will be the subject of another public hearing that day, and will be open for written comment in the meantime, said board Chairman Vincent Pascale.

Attorneys for the developer defended the project. The apartment complex would replace a shuttered car dealership and bring tax revenue to the town, said attorney Timothy Shea of Hauppauge.

While some residents said the redevelopment of the property would result in cutting down trees, attorneys for Tsunis said less than a third of the property is wooded.

"It'll be an attractive development of a property that is currently in foreclosure," Shea said.

But resident Frank Guidice said the apartments are wrong for the neighborhood."This will surely create a negative impact on the property values of these homes," in the area, he said. "This is an insult to the community."