Opponents of Sayville housing proposal weigh in at Islip Planning Board meeting

The latest version of a plan to build housing on the defunct Island Hills Golf Club received an icy reception at an Islip Planning Board meeting Wednesday, when scores of protesters showed up to oppose the proposal and elected officials criticized it from the audience.

At the end of the five-hour-plus meeting, the board tabled discussion on the proposal. It will consider whether to support or oppose the project at a later date, then pass that recommendation on to Islip’s town board for a final decision.

Rechler Equity Partners bought the 114-acre Sayville property in 2014. The town board rejected the firm’s first proposal to build 1,365 apartments in 2021 amid fierce resident opposition. 

The developer then put together a tentative project blueprint that included 925 units. But the company ultimately killed that concept rather than seek town approval in 2023 because resident pushback persisted, Newsday reported at the time.

At Wednesday's meeting, the company pitched its new proposal that calls for 890 units and includes a slew of other changes meant to alleviate resident concerns ranging from increased traffic to the environmental impact.

The firm needs Islip Town to change the current zoning, which allows for fewer than 100 homes on the site, to make the project happen.

But the opposition was not appeased: Protesters packed the sidewalks around Town Hall. Inside, most of the roughly 150 people who signed up to speak opposed the project, and even some Suffolk County legislators weighed in on the revised redevelopment outline.

"I respectfully request that this board deny this application and that you go back to the drawing board and come up with a better plan that better suits our children, our environment, our community and our residents." Legis. Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) said during public comments.

Supporters speak out

The project also had supporters among the speakers at the meeting. Mike Florio, the CEO of the Long Island Builders Institute, urged board members to back the project, arguing it's necessary to help curb soaring housing costs and that the plan has "evolved thoughtfully" since its inception.

 "[Long Island has] reached a record high for home prices. … It’s the result of a deepening housing crisis, one that is pushing out young people, burdening families and making it harder than ever for seniors to stay here," Florio told the board. "It’s clear — we must act now. [This project] directly addresses this challenge."

Gregg Rechler, the managing partner of Rechler Equity Partners, contends the firm has addressed many areas of community concern in the latest project, which is now called South Bay Village.

Opponents like John Tafe, who leads The Greater Islip Association and helped organize Wednesday’s protest, have criticized the project for being too dense and not fitting in to the single-family character of the surrounding neighborhoods. Legis. Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) also leveled that criticism when he spoke at Wednesday’s meeting.

The new proposal reduces density by 35% compared with previous versions, and more than a third of the proposed housing would now be for sale rather than for rent, according to Rechler. He also said the development would contain no buildings taller than three stories.

Factoring in schools, roads

Bergin and other opponents also have expressed worry about whether the project could overburden the Connetquot Central School District because of the possibility of more students and area roads because of increased traffic congestion.

Rechler said 55% of the homes in the new proposal would be for adults 55 and older, who are more likely to be retired and less likely to have younger children. The firm argues that would reduce traffic during rush hour and lessen the impact on the school district.

The developer also estimates the project would generate between $4 million and $5 million in new property taxes for the school district to offset any increase in students.

At the end of Wednesday's meeting, the developers promised to return next month with answers to specific concerns and questions raised by residents and board members. The next planning board meeting is Aug. 13.

"We appreciate the opportunity to present our vision for South Bay Village this evening," Rechler told Newsday via text. "This reimagined concept is the result of extensive community outreach resulting in a 35% reduction in density, the creation diverse housing with multiple options including single-family homes, age-restricted housing and sewer capacity for downtown Sayville."