The Brookhaven Town Planning Board has long earned the chagrin of residents and business owners across the Town, with most complaints charging the board with delays, long wait times, goalpost moving, and general bureaucracy.
The Planning Board has consisted of unelected, appointed members, with many residents feeling that the members are out of touch with the communities, especially since there was no requirement that the board collectively represent all hamlets and villages of Brookhaven.
Pursuant to a campaign promise of now-Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), the Town Board has voted to dissolve the Planning Board and will instead serve in its place.
The move seeks to make the planning process more transparent and members more accessible, especially since the Town Council members are already in the business of constituent service. Additionally, the move ensures that each geographic inch of Brookhaven is covered regarding representation in the planning process.
At the February 22 Brookhaven Town Board meeting, the Town Board voted unanimously to amend the town code for this purpose. The new law is now in effect.
Panico says that since Brookhaven represents one-third of Suffolk’s population, it’s only right to “lead by example” by cutting “red tape” and “streamlining” the process. The Board seeks to be more involved in the responsibilities once bestowed to the Planning Board, while also moving away from “older methodology” with respect to local governance.
The Town Board will oversee aspects of the Planning Board’s former duties, including, but not limited to, architecture, landscaping, fencing, lighting, signage, and other facets of construction and planning.
“We cannot and should not simply do things just because it is the way it has always been done,” said Panico.”It’s time to lead and while there will be more work for the Town Board, the times demand it.”
Applicants will now be able to directly correspond with their elected Town Councilmember and the Supervisor.
Last month’s meeting of the Coram Civic Association saw the Board favor the Town’s decision to dissolve the Planning Board.
“The reason why we’re in favor of dissolving the board is because we don’t feel like we have adequate representation on that board to begin with,” said Coram Civic Association President Kareem Nugdalla. “First and foremost, there’s not one person on both boards that are from Coram. They have a lot of power and oversight. It’s supposed to be a checks and balances committee, but it just seems that previous decision-making that was done there has not been beneficial to us here in the community.”
Coram Civic Board Member Frank Muraca said that three of the Planning Board members were lawyers and that while the Planning Board heard their case against certain projects, notably the Beacon House, they didn’t operate in good faith towards Coram.
“They effectively said ‘you might be residents, but we know your community best,’” said Muraca.
The Beacon House is a mixed-use zoning project and a retail shop planned for Coram on a vacant lot on Middle Country Road.
“It should be noted that these reforms are in no way reflective of the work ethic or work product of the members of the Planning Board,” said Panico. “These members have served the Town dutifully in their roles, but we must make these changes because the times demand it. In my inaugural address earlier this year, I meant every word I spoke, and it should be noted that I am doing exactly what I said I would do as Brookhaven Town Supervisor. We are going to move this town forward to a brighter future and meet the needs of our residents and our region’s economy. This is only the beginning of the changes that will come.”