Carmans River plan will develop and protect
Town of Brookhaven supervisor, Mark Lesko, right, and others looks on as Dr. Lee Koppelman, political science professor at Stony Brook University Hospital, talks during a press conference in February, where officials announced a plan to protect the Carmans River. Credit: Photo by James Carbone
The Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations does not speak for us or for other civic associations ["Carmans 'protection' plan really about development," Letters, April 20]. The Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan is about both protection of the environment and the development of these lands. It is time to allow the builders to develop the land.
The plan states that its intention was to promote clear water and to protect land. This area has abandoned buildings, graffiti and makeshift homes for the homeless. This attracts the wrong people.
We have the property across from the Middle Island Library that has abandoned buildings. We have an old restaurant that is boarded up. We have abandoned buildings on the north side of Middle Country Road and County Road 21, where there were plans to build that have been held up by lawsuits. We have had two major building fires.
We encourage the building of Artist Lake and other plans that will help to better us as a community while planning for the future.
We do not need more study groups and more individuals speaking up who do not reside in Middle Island, and certainly do not speak for us as an association. We wait for the Town of Brookhaven to show some action, and to stop procrastinating. We have been extremely patient.
Roslyn Muraskin, Middle Island
Editor's note: The writer is the chair of the Birchwood at Spring Lake Civic Association.
The letter demonstrates a misunderstanding of the preservation plan. If we're going to preserve the river, we must move the development away from it. If government preserves land, it has to pay for it or allow the owner to transfer the right to develop elsewhere.
What is needed now are constructive suggestions from all stakeholders to both finally protect the river and accommodate needed development where it belongs. Missing this opportunity to preserve the Carmans River now would be something all of Brookhaven's residents would regret for generations.
Reggie Seltzer, Bellport
If Brookhaven Town confiscates the lots in the Carmans River area, there will be many lawsuits, as they will not pay market value.
I will be one of the people filing a lawsuit.
Robert Henck, Shirley
Sarra Sounds Off Ep 36: Champs crowned in lax and flag football On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg talks with Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson about county champs crowned in boys and girls lacrosse, and Jared Valuzzi reports on the Long Island flag football championship.
