During last Thursday’s meeting, the Town Board unanimously voted to amend the draft scoping document for the Town of Smithtown Comprehensive Plan, in reflection of revisions made to the draft Master Plan based on public input. On Thursday June 8th, 2021, the Town Board also voted to accept the Planning Advisory Report as an amendment to the Draft Comprehensive Plan, which outlines the revisions made based on the community input. A 30-day public comment period, advertised by the Town Clerk is now open through 5 pm on Friday, July 9, 2021.
“We set out to update our Comprehensive Master Plan, with full transparency and an eagerness to involve the community. These amendments reflected in the updated plan and environmental scoping documents, are the direct result of community involvement. They spoke. We listened. Now we must take the necessary steps to properly adopt that input into the final product.” – Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
Amended highlights include:
• Maintaining a Light Industry Zone throughout most of the Townline Road/Old Northport Road Industrial area. Residents in both Commack and Kings Park addressed concerns during the draft public input meetings requesting the town’s cooperation in conforming the area.
• The updated revisions incorporate the recommendations of the Suffolk County Bike Master Plan into the town’s plan.
• Recommendations for the zoning of the New York Avenue School property have been modified to protect current residential zoning, the preservation of the athletic fields and historical structures.
• Neighborhood Business zoning allows for retail use to continue.
• The modification and streamlining of the process for obtaining a Certificate of Existing Use (CEU) so that any property owners who are deemed non-conforming as a result of the recommended amendments, can easily obtain the CEU.
About the Draft Master Plan Public Outreach:
The Town conducted six virtual community outreach meetings, one in each hamlet, to review the details of the draft Master Plan. Community members gave input on the draft plan in writing and public commentary via the zoom meeting. In consideration of these comments the Town Board amended the draft Plan during the June 8, 2021 meeting. A detailed breakdown of these amendments are described in the Planning Director’s June 2, 2021 Planning Advisory Report. A revised draft SEQRA scope has been issued to reflect the amendments.
The community at large is invited to review and share comments pertaining to both the Draft Comprehensive Plan and SEQRA document.
Important Upcoming Dates for the Master Plan:
• Town Board public hearing on the amended draft Plan is anticipated to be scheduled for July 13, 2021
• Final SEQRA scope to be issued late July/August
• Draft Generic EIS anticipated fall 2021 (mandatory public comment period following the completion)
• Comprehensive Master Plan and GEIS revised as necessary to address comments
• Town Board public hearing on Final Comprehensive Plan and acceptance of Final GEIS anticipated late 2021/early 2022
• Adoption of SEQRA Findings and Final Comprehensive Plan is anticipated in early 2022
