Editorial: Revised plan good for Carmans

Now that developers and environmentalists have agreed on key revisions to a plan to protect the Carmans River, it's time for the members of the Brookhaven Town Board to do the right thing: Treat it as a regional imperative. Don't pick it apart, based primarily on how it affects your six districts.

This evening, Supervisor Mark Lesko will ask the board to set a March 29 public hearing on the plan. The board must start with that. But once it does, there's still ample potential for mischief.

A year ago, a study group pulled together by Lesko proposed to move development away from the still-clean river and into other, less environmentally sensitive areas -- especially in downtowns. Builders would transfer their rights to develop land in the watershed and use them to build multifamily housing elsewhere.

But town approval of the plan was delayed by controversy over the areas where the rights could be used to build at greater density. A major part of that problem was reluctance by board members to accept multifamily housing in their districts.

The revised plan cuts the number of areas from more than 100, including some unrealistic ones, to 35. It gives developers certainty about where they can build, and removes a level of town approvals. Between development-rights transfers and a new town plan to buy open space, it saves 3,500 more acres.

This plan is a smart balancing act. It would be a real shame if excessively parochial concerns by board members derailed it now.