There is currently a $400 million allocation in Suffolk County’s Capital Budget program under consideration for the project designed by JLL, a prominent development firm, along with legislation in the Suffolk County Legislature and Town Board of Islip designating JLL as the Master Developer of the project.
The money would be spent on the project itself and the various subject projects that comprise the program. At the same time, the Legislator representing much of the surrounding community and portions of Ronkonkoma itself, Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holbrook), still has concerns, even after the latest community input session.
“Between 85%-90% of the community input cards we received were negative,” stated Piccirillo. All this he expressed has been prepared before an application before the Town of Islip Planning Board. Piccirillo added, “Where is the benefit for the surrounding community?”
“Earlier this month the Bohemia Civic was briefed by the County and the Developer on the Midway Crossing Project,” said DawnMarie Kuhn, President of the Bohemia Civic Association.
“The size and scope of the midway project is ridiculous. Dumping a three-billion-dollar project in the middle of a quiet suburban residential community is really upsetting. As a fourth generation and lifelong Bohemian, I treasure our large properties, beautiful nature, and our suburban way of life; and understand what a project of this size and scope will do to our community.”
Kuhn went on to state that “When the Bohemia Civic executive board met with the County and the Developer there were unfortunately more questions than answers.”
A legislator neighboring the project, Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), also expressed concerns over the impact on existing communities. “My concern is that there are no parameters set regarding more traffic – there are only two roads heading north,” said the Legislator.
At the same time, the project is under litigation from Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy (R-Nesconset) over the RFQ process first filed in 2017. After Kennedy’s request to audit, the Bellone Administration charged that it was outside of the scope of his office.
While Kennedy prevailed in the lower court, the case is currently in appeal, thereby preventing any enforcement on the part of Kennedy’s office.
“I still have the same questions I had five years ago,” said Kennedy. “They should provide all other submissions – including the application of the local preference requirements.”
With much of the funding already in place, the project feels as though it is in full swing even as there are still community input sessions being held to gauge public opinion on such a development – a development that includes retail, a sports venue, a STEM center, along with other alterations to the area.
The next community input session is on August 31 at the Holbrook Fire Department’s Headquarters on Terry Road from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
With a yearly economic impact expected to reach the low billions, the project does have support from the Long Island Regional Planning Council and other development-oriented bodies, as previously reported.
