Town leaders: Carmans plan at crossroad

A Carmans River protection plan that has factionalized Brookhaven's town board and drawn heavy criticism from the public is scheduled for a last-chance vote tomorrow.

The measure, supported by Supervisor Mark Lesko and a group of environmentalists and developers, promises to protect the 10-mile river by steering building out of its watershed. Developers would be allowed to build denser development in other parts of town, in exchange for their property in the watershed.

Brookhaven's town board is scheduled to vote whether to accept the plan tomorrow -- one of several steps the board must take before the plan reaches final approval. If the plan is not accepted tomorrow, it will die because the town will have missed a state-mandated deadline, Lesko said.

"We need to decide what plan, if any, is going to be put forward," Lesko said. "We really have no choice but to decide by Thursday."

Dozens of residents spoke against the plan at a March 6 board meeting. Residents who attended a public work session meeting yesterday said they remain opposed to the plan, which they described as a giveaway to developers that was crafted without enough public input.

Don Seubert, a member of the Medford Taxpayers & Civic Association, said the Carmans plan should be overhauled. "They should have a comprehensive watershed plan. All the watershed, and all the communities," he said.

Lesko might also lack the four votes he needs on the seven-member town board to accept the plan. At least three board members -- Connie Kepert, Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld and Daniel Panico -- have voiced opposition to the plan, and it is unclear how the board will vote.

Fiore-Rosenfeld added that he sympathizes with residents who feel they weren't consulted. "The public process was completely upended," he said.