Country Pointe Estates at Kings Park moves closer to reality after Smithtown vote

Plans for a condominium development in Kings Park advanced after Smithtown's planning board recommended approvals for zoning variances.

The planning board voted to recommend that the town's zoning board of appeals approve variances for Country Pointe Estates at Kings Park. The vote was 3-2. Beechwood Smithtown LLC is developing the project.

The project calls for developing 288 residential condominium units on 71 acres of land consisting of flats, townhouses and single-family dwellings. It would also include a 12,900-square-foot community building, a sewage treatment plant, recreational amenities and other infrastructure, according to documents provided by the town’s planning department. The project is on a lot on the northwest corner of Old Northport Road and Lawrence Road.

Town officials and developers say the project is key to diversifying the area's housing stock. Some residents have objected to the proposal, calling it too large for the community. The Smithtown Town Board voted last December to approve a zoning change for the project, shifting it from single-family residential to planned residential development.

During a recent hearing, residents raised several points of concern.

Joe Reid, of Kings Park, said he lives across the street from the proposed development.

"You're going to significantly increase the traffic on Old Road, which is a small residential road, you're going to increase traffic on Old Northport Road," Reid told the planning board. "I sit there quite often trying to turn onto that road because of the backup of traffic already, and now you're going to introduce another 600 or so cars onto this area. It's going to have a significant impact."

Vincent Pizzulli, the attorney for Beechwood LLC, spoke at the hearing and pointed out that the town reviewed an environmental findings statement that covered many of the residents' concerns. 

“If you want to really learn and get accurate information about how the project evolved, how it was proposed and what kind of impacts it will have, I invite everyone to get a copy of the SEQRA findings statement and read it," Pizzulli said. He referred to the State Environmental Quality Review Act. 

Elizabeth Maffe, who lives directly across the project lot, opposed the development. She noted that 
"most of the surrounding people, if not all, are against" the plan. 

Jessica Toner, of Kings Park, said Old Northport Road's traffic was "crazy" and the road "could not handle more people."

As part of the variance request, the developer is seeking to alter environmentally sensitive land, including steep slopes.

In an Oct. 30 memo, planning department staff said steep slope disturbance “is not anticipated to adversely affect adjacent properties, as most of the affected slopes are located within the interior of the site.”

The zoning board will review the matter at its meeting on Nov. 17