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In The News
25A Corridor Study
The Town of Brookhaven has initiated a corridor study covering the length of 25A from Mount Sinai to the Brookhaven Town line in Shoreham. A steering committee, which includes Civic Director Woody Brown and Miller Place School Board President Ann O’Brian, was selected by the Town and convened over the summer. The initial effort was to choose finalists from a number of contractors who had bid on the job. The winner of the contract was BFJ Planning.
The contract will be executed in two phases over the coming years. The 1st phase will be a visioning process with a charrette and public workshops scheduled for each of the hamlets along the study area. The 2nd phase will be an analysis and implementation phase.
The goals of the 25A Corridor Study are loosely stated as the following though individual hamlets can have additional and/or different goals:
1. Improve vehicular and pedestrian safety
2. Coordinate Town Planning with SCDPW and NYSDOT Transportation Planning
3. Redevelop Blighted Parcels
4. Revitalize existing Hamlets and Preserve unique attributes
5. Strengthen neighbor businesses and encourage walkable/green Hamlet Centers
6. Assess development pressure/ensure open space/community amenities
7. Maximize citizen participation
8. Integrate & Update into past hamlet Studies
9. Coordinate with Brookhaven 2030 Comprehensive Plan
The steering committee has been asked to help form a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), in each hamlet, comprising 15 – 20 people who have knowledge of the community, a willingness and the ability to meet regularly, and will provide leadership in helping the Visioning Phase (Phase 1) of the project. Meetings will begin in January.
If you are interested in participating on the Community Advisory Committee – please contact Woody Brown at wbrown@millerplacecivic.org or 631-764-4608.
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Special Events
Community Forum
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A Message from the President
Dear Neighbor,
The RT 25A Corridor Study Community Forum being held on February 27th is an extremely important use of your time, and I’m going to tell you why. I know how difficult it is to give up several hours of a weekend but consider doing so for this one day.
You cannot leave this one up to the Civic Association. The Town of Brookhaven knows we speak our minds regularly regarding what we think is best for Miller Place. They need to hear from all of you. A large resident turnout is imperative.
The town appears to have a vision of what our hamlets should look like in the near and distant future. This vision may or may not be the same that you believe is appropriate. Although this study focuses on RT 25A it actually influences our entire hamlet. We’re hearing hamlet center terms like increased density (up to 25units/acre meaning additional building height) and affordable/workforce housing. While some of the aspects of the smart growth concept are actually quite good, increasing population in Miller Place is not what we need. This would negatively influence our neighborhoods, school district, travel options, and our quality of life. If logical rezoning is recommended for selective property with accompanying open space and fair use of transfer development rights perhaps sensible decisions could be made. Not only do we have to deal with what is built in Miller Place, but in every hamlet east and west of us as those residents travel to and from work and shopping on this highway. We need to pay attention to what’s being discussed by our neighbors as well.
The town considers our current hamlet center to be the intersection of 25A and Miller Place Road and the thought is to expand this into a green hamlet center (AKA downtown) with radiating zones of increased density, walkable shopping, and on-street parking. I don’t feel you can change current zoning to establish a downtown that did not evolve on its own through the years with population growth. There wasn’t a downtown in Miller Place when we all moved here and I don’t want one developed next door to me now. I don’t want one developed next to you either. We have historically been a bedroom community and access to a downtown shopping experience is available short miles away in Port Jefferson, Patchogue, Riverhead and Rocky Point. Our 1996 Hamlet study refers to a Hamlet Center with a recreation focus, however the current definition is much different.
Some of you may feel differently. Residents did state their interest in a downtown area being developed at meetings held for the DeLea Sod Farm property. This type of planning is occurring all over the country, but typically on vacant or blighted land. The now defunct Planned Development District considered for the DeLalio Sod Farm property in Shoreham was essentially the same concept, creating much dissention among neighbors. Because of that, Councilman Kevin McCarrick proposed a Corridor study for Shoreham and we asked him, why not include the whole area through District 2? Councilwoman Jane Bonner proposed just that when she came into office. The controversy lies in just what this corridor study has morphed into due to the influence of the town’s 2030 comprehensive plan. Some worry that decisions are already made and community involvement is just for show. I am cautiously optimistic and believe we will be listened to by those making the decisions.
Can we use more of a commercial tax base? Absolutely, but not at the expense of the residents who are already here. Should traffic be slowed down along this stretch of roadway? Absolutely, but not to the point that traffic will be funneled through adjacent residential neighborhoods on Echo Avenue and North Country Road, especially through our Historic District and by our school campuses. Are consistent building appearance, architectural integrity and signage positive aspects of any new planning? Yes, absolutely, and the civic has strived to influence exactly that for years. Would additional tree plantings and medians along 25A calm traffic and improve safety? Probably, however we all continue to feel that increasing police presence would provide the strongest deterrent to speeding and reckless driving. Medians would increase safety by eliminating the craziness that occurs with vehicles utilizing the center lane incorrectly. An enhanced streetscape would facilitate a stronger sense of hamlet beautification and definition. Bicycle lanes and sidewalks have been discussed. Although I do not ride my bike or walk on 25A there are those who do, so developing a safer option for both would seem appropriate. Rails to Trails will eventually come to fruition nearby as another alternative.
This is my slice of the newsletter and my opinion. What NEEDS TO HAPPEN is for BFJ Planning and the Town of Brookhaven to hear YOUR opinion. There is much information for them to share, and for you to mull over and react to. This is your chance to impact the future of our community.
In response to a direct question, Tom Chawner of the TOB Department of Planning, Environment and Land Management’s Planning Division stated that none of this is already established. He stated that they are looking for community feedback to learn which of these ideas is appropriate to Miller Place. If we don’t give him that feedback the town will surely make those decisions for us.
Go to www.route25acorridorstudy.com to review what will be presented at the forum. If you can’t attend please forward your opinions to us at 25A Corridor Study. Thank-you to George Cosmai and Nikki & Keith Cagno-Angerame for their comments. We are hoping more of you will write in. Thank-you also to the following civic volunteers who attended the Working Group/Community Advisory Committee meeting along with myself and Civic directors Woody Brown, Mike Guido, and Ed Parthe: Nick Aliano, Marie and Peter Campisi, George Cosmai, Mark Larson, Jan McEneany, and Carol and Sy Williams.
It’s your turn to speak up. Please participate. This is in all our backyards.
Kathy Rousseau
2009 Civic Membership Dues
It's time to renew your membership.
This is your community and your continued support is our main source of funding. You can mail a check to our address. Better yet, consider attending our informative community meetings. If you have any questions regarding your membership status - please use the "Contact Us" link and we'll respond promptly.
Thank you!
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Meeting Schedule
Sept 28-cancelled
Oct 5th Meet the Candidates instead
Rose Caracappa Center
7:00 - 9:00 PM
__________________________________
Oct 26
Guest 1: Dr. Agatha Kelly
Miller Place Superintendent of Schools
Introduction to our membership
Guest 2: Tullio Bertoli,Brookhaven Town
Planning, Environment & Land Management Commissioner
Miller Place High School Library
7:30 - 9:30 PM
__________________________________
Nov 23
Fred Drewes
Avenue of America Presentation
6th Precinct Officer
How to keep your home safe from intruders!
Yes, there is crime in Miller Place
Miller Place High School Library
7:30PM
__________________________________
February 27, 2010
9:30am-1:30pm
Miller Place Hgh School Cafeteria
__________________________________
March 22, 2010
Open Forum/Community Updates
Route 25A Corridor Study Discussion
Miller Place High School Library
7:30PM
__________________________________
April 26
To be Announced
__________________________________
May 24
To be Announced
Miller Place High School Library
7:30PM
__________________________________
BRING A NEIGHBOR
All are invited.
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