OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Smithtown Town Board Meeting - September 18, 2025

Town Board — Thursday, September 18, 2025
BodySmithtown, New York
SessionTown Board
DateThursday, September 18, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:30

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We're ready, men.

0:01

All right.

0:05

All right, good afternoon, everyone.

0:07

Welcome to our September 18th meeting.

0:09

Please stand and join us with the pledge.

0:11

I pledge allegiance.

0:18

One condition on the die.

0:23

Roll call.

0:24

Supervisor Well.

0:26

Here, Councilman McCartney.

0:27

Councilwoman Lowick.

0:29

Councilwoman.

0:30

Yeah.

0:30

Councilman Lowman.

0:31

Yeah.

0:33

Okay, we will begin.

0:34

Uh we have one site plan today.

0:36

Mr.

0:36

Trotter, you're up.

0:40

Good afternoon, supervisor, members of the town board.

0:42

I'm Liam Shadow with the planning department, and I have one site plan to present this afternoon to the board acting as the board of site plan review.

0:49

The applicant is the guide dog foundation.

0:52

The subject site is located on the north side of Middle Country Road between Lindner Place and 50 Acre Road in Smithtown.

0:59

And the proposals for the demolition of a 13,000 square foot animal boarding puppy development facility and the construction of a new 31,950 square foot one-story animal boarding puppy development facility with associated site work.

1:14

This is an aerial of the subject site.

1:20

So I guess you can see this is Middle Country Road right here.

1:22

A few years ago, the Guide Dog Foundation purchased this repair garage.

1:26

They demolished it a couple of years ago, and we'll be utilizing this corner for the new development, the puppy development center.

1:33

They plan on building the new facility, and then after the building, the construction is complete, they'll you know move up all the pubbies and equipment and whatever into the new building and then demolish the existing facility.

1:47

This is the proposed site plan.

1:49

Uh so you can see this is the footprint of the proposed building.

1:52

They'll also be doing a uh redevelopment of the parking lot on the north side of the site.

1:57

This will be like a grass turf overflow parking area.

2:01

And the uh the corner where the building stands now, that'll just be topsoil seated and be land bank parking.

2:09

They are uh the applicant is proposing to maintain a small uh existing parking area on the uh off middle country road.

2:18

They'll keep that just for extra parking for access to the rear of the facility.

2:25

This is the proposed elevations of the building.

2:29

They'll use a composite wood siding and a two-tone uh fiber board cement siding as well.

2:36

And this proposal went to the board for a zone change.

2:40

Uh the zoning line was it used to be 200 feet off Middle Country Road, uh, and earlier this year the town board approved his own change to relocate the zoning line to 300 feet, and that way the the new building will be entirely within the WSI zoning district.

2:55

The proposal also went to the Board of Uh Zoning Appeals for a special exception for a boarding uh animal boarding facility, uh, and also received a number of area variance approvals.

3:06

And the applicant has agreed to 11 conditions of site plan approval.

3:12

The first condition is that the applicant obtain applicable permits from the town and building department.

3:17

The second condition is the applicant install a tree preservation fence around all trees to be preserved on site.

3:23

Third condition is the applicant shall obtain a highway work permit from the town highway department for improvements along 50 acre road and linear place.

3:31

Fourth condition is that the applicant obtain a highway work permit from the New York State Department of Transportation for improvements along Middle Country Road.

3:38

Fifth condition is the applicant shall obtain a New York Speedies general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity.

3:45

The sixth condition is the applicant shall provide details of the proposed screen wall enclosing the generator.

3:52

The seventh condition is that the applicant shall obtain a necessary front yard setback variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

3:59

So uh when the proposal first went to the Board of Zoning Appeals, the setback variance was taken from the setback variants from 50 acre road was taken from the building.

4:09

It didn't account for a 10-foot overhang off the building, so it was something that was missed, and they're reapplying to the board uh for a new setback variance, and that uh date is for the September 30th BZA meeting.

4:22

September 30th.

4:23

Correct.

4:24

Yep.

4:24

The eighth condition is uh a separate plan shall be submitted and approved by the town for any possible dedication deemed necessary along 50 acre road.

4:34

So right now we're waiting on uh updated survey information to see where the new curb will be placed.

4:39

There may or may not be a dedication based on that new information.

4:44

The ninth condition of approval is the applicant shall submit to the town a copy of the filed covenants andor deeds pursuant to the condition regarding a new allowable sanitary flow of 6,453 gallons per day in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services minor variants granted on May 28th, 2025.

5:02

The tenth condition is that the two existing parking stalls nearest the curb on Middle Country Road shall be removed and the curbing and paving shall be modified to provide additional landscape screening of the adjacent ground equipment in accordance with the marked up plan prepared by the planning department on September 12th.

5:19

So that goes along with um what I was saying about the existing parking area that they propose to maintain.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████38%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%
Public Safety████████████████16%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Animal Welfare████████8%
Water And Wastewater Management███3%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting - September 18, 2025

The Smithtown Town Board convened on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Victor T. Liss Board Room. All board members were present: Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim, Councilman Thomas J. McCarthy, Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick, Councilwoman Lisa M. Inzerillo, and Councilman Thomas Lohmann Sr. The meeting covered a site plan presentation for the Guide Dog Foundation, approval of public hearings, consent agenda items, various resolutions, personnel actions, and public comments. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from September 9, 2025.
  • Comptroller Transfers: Approved 10 financial transfers, including a $25,000 transfer from Contingency to Postage, acceptance of two $1,000 escrow checks for landscaping (6 Young Court and 7 Blackwell Road), a $5,000 increase for Youth Recreation-State Aid, a $5,000 transfer to Settlement Claims, highway fund transfers ($6,000 to Part-Time Salaries and Uniform Rentals from Road Maintenance, and $7,000 to Part-Time Salaries from Sump Maintenance), a $10,000 transfer from Signs to Motor Vehicle Maintenance, and a $200 transfer to Office Equipment from Maintenance Contracts.
  • Resolution: Authorized four town employees (Marianne Bordonaro, Jennifer Reay, Kenneth Burke, Tracy Del Priore) to attend CivicPlus Long Island Lunch & Learn on September 25, 2025.

Advertise for Public Hearing (Unanimous Votes)

  • Water District Boundary Extension: Authorized advertising for an October 2, 2025, public hearing on the proposed extension of the Smithtown Water District Boundary and water main extension for Oakside Drive and Landing Avenue. The estimated cost is $1,667,000, to be financed by bonds. The estimated cost to a typical property is $21.00. The project would allow parcels with private wells to connect to public water.
  • Emergency Structure Removal: Authorized advertising for an October 2, 2025, public hearing regarding the town's entry onto property at 306 Third Avenue, Saint James, for emergency removal of an unsafe and uninhabitable structure, per the Chief Building Inspector and Town Attorney.

Resolutions (All Unanimous)

  • SEQRA Negative Declaration: Issued a determination of non-significance (no EIS required) for the Guide Dog Foundation site plan application (25-07) on Middle Country Road and Fifty Acre Road South, based on a September 12, 2025, memorandum from Environmental Protection Director David A. Barnes.
  • Bid Advertisement: Authorized advertising for Bid 25-091: Pre-Cast Concrete Drainage Items, due October 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
  • Bid Awards: Awarded Bid 25-073 (Print and Distribute Annual Recycling Calendar) to Haig Graphic Communications and Bid 25-075 (Tree Services) to Asplundh Tree Experts, LLC, with authorization for the Supervisor to sign an agreement.
  • SEQRA Findings Statement: Issued a Findings Statement for Change of Zone Petition #2023-02 by Beechwood Smithtown, LLC for Country Pointe Estates at Kings Park, per David A. Barnes's September 3, 2025, recommendation.
  • Bulkhead Rust Inhibitor: Authorized $7,000 payment to G-Weld Fabrication & Welding for application of rust inhibitor at Long Beach Marina.
  • Use Agreement: Ratified the Supervisor's execution of a use agreement with Smithtown Performing Arts Council Inc. for the town's use of the SPAC Theatre on August 23, 2025.
  • Equipment Purchase: Authorized the Parks Department to purchase a Gator Utility Vehicle from John Deere & Co.
  • Bid Extension: Extended Bid 24-059 for Screened Sand with B&B Maintenance Services, Inc.
  • Meeting Time Amendments: Amended Resolutions 2025-837 and 2025-838 to reflect the October 2, 2025, meeting time as 2:00 PM instead of 7:00 PM.
  • Memorial Bench/Tree/Plague Donations: Authorized the Supervisor to execute donation agreements for memorial benches, trees, and plaques at various town parks.
  • Traffic Code Amendments: Approved a no-parking restriction on Haig Place (north/west side from Westwood Lane east for 200 feet) and a stop sign on Westwood Lane at Haig Place (controlling westbound traffic).

Site Plan Presentation & Approval

  • Guide Dog Foundation Project: Liam Trotter from the Planning Department presented the site plan for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. The project involves demolishing a 13,000-square-foot animal boarding/puppy development facility and constructing a new 31,950-square-foot one-story facility on the north side of Middle Country Road between Lindner Place and Fifty Acre Road. The new building will be entirely within the WSI zoning district following a zone change approved earlier in 2025. The applicant agreed to 11 conditions, including obtaining permits, installing tree preservation fencing, obtaining highway work permits from the town, NYSDOT, and NYS DEC, providing details for a generator screen wall, obtaining a necessary front yard setback variance from the BZA (scheduled for September 30, 2025), submitting a plan for potential dedication along Fifty Acre Road, filing covenants regarding sanitary flow (6,453 gallons per day per Suffolk County Health Services minor variance), removing two parking stalls nearest Middle Country Road for landscape screening, and using black fencing for perimeter dog runs. The board unanimously approved the site plan conditionally as presented.

Personnel (All Unanimous)

  • Seasonal Reappointments: Reappointed Matthew Cotignola as Senior Recreation Leader ($2,400 per contract, September 19 – November 15, 2025), Steven Reduto as Recreation Aide II ($18.00/hour, retroactive to September 6 – November 15, 2025), and Christopher Havranek as Recreation Leader ($21.50/hour, retroactive to September 6 – November 15, 2025).
  • Termination Date Changes: Approved changes in termination dates for three seasonal employees (Cotignola, Havranek, Reduto) from November 15, 2025, to August 31, 2025, with no change in pay.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Winsome Cameron (48 Montack Path, Kings Park) expressed gratitude to the board for their work on behalf of constituents.
  • Grace Schmitz (age 11, Country Estates, Commack) requested a crosswalk with a stoplight and walk signal at the corner of Old Northport Road and Indian Head Road in Kings Park to safely cross to a new Starbucks. She also noted cracked sidewalks and overgrown shrubs. She submitted a Change.org petition with 416 electronic signatures. Supervisor Wehrheim explained that Indian Head Road is under Suffolk County jurisdiction but that the town would forward the request to the County DOT. He also noted the intersection's increased traffic since the Starbucks opened.
  • Dr. David Williams (retired NYS Homeland Security) thanked the board for approving a resolution for his son's memorial bench at Cordwood Beach. He praised Smithtown as a nurturing and safe community.

Key Outcomes

  • All agenda items and votes were approved unanimously (5-0) by the Town Board.
  • The Guide Dog Foundation site plan was conditionally approved, subject to the 11 conditions and final BZA setback variance.
  • Two public hearings were scheduled for October 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM: one on the Smithtown Water District Boundary Extension and one on emergency structure removal at 306 Third Avenue, Saint James.
  • The Town Board committed to forwarding Grace Schmitz's crosswalk and sidewalk improvement request to Suffolk County DOT.
  • The meeting adjourned unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

We're ready, men. All right. All right, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to our September 18th meeting. Please stand and join us with the pledge. I pledge allegiance. One condition on the die. Roll call. Supervisor Well. Here, Councilman McCartney. Councilwoman Lowick. Councilwoman. Yeah. Councilman Lowman. Yeah. Okay, we will begin. Uh we have one site plan today. Mr. Trotter, you're up. Good afternoon, supervisor, members of the town board. I'm Liam Shadow with the planning department, and I have one site plan to present this afternoon to the board acting as the board of site plan review. The applicant is the guide dog foundation. The subject site is located on the north side of Middle Country Road between Lindner Place and 50 Acre Road in Smithtown. And the proposals for the demolition of a 13,000 square foot animal boarding puppy development facility and the construction of a new 31,950 square foot one-story animal boarding puppy development facility with associated site work. This is an aerial of the subject site. So I guess you can see this is Middle Country Road right here. A few years ago, the Guide Dog Foundation purchased this repair garage. They demolished it a couple of years ago, and we'll be utilizing this corner for the new development, the puppy development center. They plan on building the new facility, and then after the building, the construction is complete, they'll you know move up all the pubbies and equipment and whatever into the new building and then demolish the existing facility. This is the proposed site plan. Uh so you can see this is the footprint of the proposed building. They'll also be doing a uh redevelopment of the parking lot on the north side of the site. This will be like a grass turf overflow parking area. And the uh the corner where the building stands now, that'll just be topsoil seated and be land bank parking. They are uh the applicant is proposing to maintain a small uh existing parking area on the uh off middle country road. They'll keep that just for extra parking for access to the rear of the facility. This is the proposed elevations of the building. They'll use a composite wood siding and a two-tone uh fiber board cement siding as well. And this proposal went to the board for a zone change. Uh the zoning line was it used to be 200 feet off Middle Country Road, uh, and earlier this year the town board approved his own change to relocate the zoning line to 300 feet, and that way the the new building will be entirely within the WSI zoning district. The proposal also went to the Board of Uh Zoning Appeals for a special exception for a boarding uh animal boarding facility, uh, and also received a number of area variance approvals. And the applicant has agreed to 11 conditions of site plan approval. The first condition is that the applicant obtain applicable permits from the town and building department. The second condition is the applicant install a tree preservation fence around all trees to be preserved on site. Third condition is the applicant shall obtain a highway work permit from the town highway department for improvements along 50 acre road and linear place. Fourth condition is that the applicant obtain a highway work permit from the New York State Department of Transportation for improvements along Middle Country Road. Fifth condition is the applicant shall obtain a New York Speedies general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activity. The sixth condition is the applicant shall provide details of the proposed screen wall enclosing the generator. The seventh condition is that the applicant shall obtain a necessary front yard setback variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals. So uh when the proposal first went to the Board of Zoning Appeals, the setback variance was taken from the setback variants from 50 acre road was taken from the building.

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