Town to Oak Tree Dairy site developer: Revise housing plan

Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said he has asked the developer behind a controversial senior complex proposed for East Northport to withdraw the application for a zoning change.

He made the comments during and following a town board meeting last week at which residents requested the withdrawal of the proposed 444-unit senior complex on Elwood Road on the 37-acre Oak Tree Dairy site.

"I have requested that they pull the application and resubmit when they have a plan that is sufficient or they think has a better opportunity to be reviewed," Petrone said during the meeting.

Steven Krieger, a principal with the developer, BK Elwood LLC, a subsidiary of the Engel Burman Group of Garden City, said he had no comment when reached by phone.

After the meeting Petrone said that by the end of the summer, he would invite the developer to submit a new application.

"But they have certain rights," Petrone said. "We just can't say we're going to vote it down. On what basis?"

He said an "inappropriate" or a rushed vote against the project could mean a judge could overturn the decision.

At the July 9 town board meeting, residents asked the board to ask the developer to withdraw the application completely.

"We told the developer that it was too extensive," and are not in favor of it, Petrone said during the meeting.

The developer's application is now before the town's planning department, which has asked for a revised plan. Until the developer turns in a revision and the planning department analyzes and makes a recommendation to the town board, the board cannot vote on the proposal.