Update: On March 9, Councilwoman Jane Bonner informed Patch that she has gotten the Rocky Point Drive-In off the list of receiving sites for high-density housing in the Carman's River plan.
Original Report Published March 8:
A public hearing on the Carmans River Watershed Protection and Management Plan was expected to be set after approval at Tuesday's Brookhaven Town Board meeting, but public outcry and concern over high-density housing has delayed the matter.
The board voted 5-2 to table the decision to accept the plan and set a public hearing until the next meeting on March 29. Councilwoman Jane Bonner, C-Rocky Point, voted along with four others to table the acceptance. Councilmen Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, D-East Setauket and Dan Panico, R-Manorville voted against tabling the decision.
Had the plan been accepted as is, 34 sites throughout Brookhaven could have received development from the Carmans River watershed. One of those sites is the former Rocky Point Drive-In location on 25A.
At Tuesday's Rocky Point Civic meeting, Legis. Sarah Anker explained she understands that on that lot, which is 17 acres, they could build 10 houses per acre.
"You could have 170 units on that property," she said. "Everyone here needs to stay vigilant and make sure your desires are met."
Peter Oleschuck, Vice President of the Rocky Point Civic Association, has led the charge in Rocky Point against bringing high-density housing to the area.
"The major impact is going to be in our school system and in our case the Rocky Point School District does overlap and cover many Miller Place and Sound Beach residents," he said. "Rocky Point already has some impact coming to it with Fairfield...that's got to be more children coming into the school district which has to already be maxed out."
Oleschuck urged residents to get informed and let it be known what they want and don't want in the area.
"This is something that the people of Rocky Point should be involved in deciding what it is they want," he said. "Now that exposure is there hopefully people are fast on their feet learning that there is a process here that they need to be active in and get educated on."
