Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting - December 2, 2025
Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting - December 2, 2025
The Smithtown Town Board held a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Eugene Cannataro Senior Citizens Center. The meeting included two public hearings, a consent agenda, numerous resolutions, and time for public comment. The primary focus was on a controversial zone change petition by Beechwood Smithtown, LLC for a 288-unit condominium development known as Country Pointe Estates at Kings Park. The board also considered a noise law amendment, approved various administrative items, and heard public comments on a proposed battery storage facility and the town budget.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from November 13, 2025.
- Comptroller transfers: 17 budgetary transfers and escrow releases, including fund shifts for dues, conferences, printing, supplies, and maintenance across departments (Comptroller, Tax Receiver, Parks, Highway, Town Clerk, Planning & Community Development, Town Attorney). All items were adopted unanimously.
Public Hearing: Zone Change Petition #2025-02 (Beechwood Smithtown, LLC)
(Note: The agenda lists this as #2025-02, while the minutes reference #2023-02; this discrepancy is noted.)
The applicant, represented by attorney Vincent Pizzulli of Beechwood, proposed a zone change from R-21 to Planned Residential District (PRD) for 72.6 acres at the northwest corner of Lawrence Road and Old Northport Road. The plan calls for 288 condominium homes (259 market-rate, 29 affordable), a clubhouse, pools, pickleball courts, and other amenities. The project would reduce density from 6 to 4 units per acre, replace 156 attached units with 53 detached single-family homes, and add a second entrance to avoid neighborhood cut-through traffic. A Membrane BioReactor sewage treatment plant would be installed.
Applicant’s Position (Vincent Pizzulli):
- The plan is consistent with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan and addresses housing needs for seniors and young people.
- Population in Kings Park has declined, with a growing proportion of residents over 55. The project would generate at most 38 students in Kings Park schools, far fewer than recent enrollment losses.
- Tax benefits: $2.79 million in new property taxes, a $1.77 million increase for Kings Park School District, and $220 million total investment.
- The project would create 500–550 construction jobs and 10–12 permanent jobs.
- The applicant submitted 73 letters of support from town residents and 9 from out-of-town interested buyers; 261 people have registered interest.
- The Public Hearing was closed by unanimous vote of the Town Board.
Public Speakers in Support:
- Diane Motherway (Lakebridge Drive resident and Kings Park Chamber of Commerce Executive Director): Expressed personal and organizational support; noted the Raleigh family’s stewardship and the need for change.
- Douglas Serrato: Supported the Raleigh family; warned that without rezoning, industrial uses like Amazon could take over; emphasized tax revenue and jobs.
- Winsome Cameron (original homeowner in Country Pointe at Kings Park): Saw positive ripple effects from prior Beachwood projects; cited economic stimulus and quality of life benefits; retired LIRR conductor choosing to stay in Kings Park.
- Seth Kneer (Operating Engineer Local 138): Praised Beechwood’s professionalism and job quality.
- Michael Miller (Lakebridge Club renter): Wanted to downsize but stay in the area; supported the project for affordable 55+ housing.
- Albert Fox (retired dentist, East Setauket): Spoke for seniors seeking to downsize; current options are limited and costly.
- Steve Paglino (Smithtown resident 28 years): Supported more housing inventory for all ages.
- Angelo Alfieri (Local 1298, Agile Contracting): Longtime Beechwood worker wishing to buy in.
- Jake Colletti (Smithtown Tara resident): Supported based on Beechwood’s past work.
- Paul Kassay (Local 25 electrical contractor): Praised Beechwood’s reliability.
- William Moser (IBEW Local 25): Supported project for economic benefit.
- David O’Connell: Supported as opportunity for American dream; criticized local government overreach.
- Richard Bivone (Kings Park resident): Shared story of Beechwood CEO’s past philanthropy; asked board to approve.
Public Speakers in Opposition:
- Michael Kettell (20 Linden Avenue, adjacent property owner): Argued zoning should protect neighborhood character; questioned public benefit and student generation data; believed project would erode small-town feel.
- Rocco Caporaso (18 Linden Avenue): Objected to condos in residential area; cited existing traffic congestion at Starbucks and summer camps; worried about wildlife loss; preferred single-family homes.
- Mike Rosato (Kings Park Community Association): Called applicant’s presentation misleading; claimed 60 acres of old-growth forest would be bulldozed, density could double, and legality of zoning change engages political favoritism (stated that over 90% of nearby residents signed a petition requiring a supermajority vote). Association urged denial.
- Elizabeth Maffe (lifelong resident 63 years): Opposed rezoning; urged board to protect community character and honor residents’ trust; said “we already have more condominiums than we should.”
Public Hearing: Proposed Local Law #14-2025 – Noise Amendment
- The board considered amending Chapter 207 (Noise) to exempt non-commercial public speaking and assembly on public spaces/rights-of-way. No public comments were offered. The hearing was closed unanimously.
Resolutions and Other Business
- SEQRA Negative Declarations: Issued unanimously for six applications: Steel Forest (500 Commack Road), Raising Cane’s (Vanderbilt Motor Parkway and Commack Road), Kinexion (300 Kennedy Drive, Hauppauge), Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle playground expansion, and two marine law permits for Suffolk County DPW (Nissequogue River and Stony Brook Harbor dredging).
- Bid Award: Demolition of unsafe structure at 306 Third Avenue, St. James, awarded to Watral Brothers, Inc. (Bid #25-094).
- Other Approvals (all unanimous):
- Adoption of Community Development Program Year 2026.
- Ratification of natural gas fixed pricing agreement with NRG Business Marketing.
- Extension of Smithtown Water District boundary and water main for Oakside Drive and Landing Avenue (subject to permissive referendum).
- Extensions of asphalt supply bids and cesspool cleaning services.
- Authorization for comptroller to purchase insurance.
- Actuarial consulting extension with Risk Strategies Consulting Inc.
- Renewals of OpenGov subscription, Microsoft Volume Licensing, and computer hardware maintenance.
- Rejection of bids for Long Beach Marina South improvements and office cleaning services.
- Award of audit/accounting services to EFPR Group.
- One-month loader bucket rental for Highway Department.
- Armored car services agreement with Safe & Sound Armed Courier.
- Ratification of veterinary services agreement with Save a Pet Vet Clinic.
- Authorization to prepare permit applications for drainage repairs along New Highway in Commack.
- Sole source purchase of Miovision traffic detection system.
- Adoption of Title VI Program.
- Purchase of office cleaning services from NYSID.
- Approval of marine law permits for Suffolk County DPW dredging projects.
- Adoption of 2026 Town Board meeting schedule.
- Submission of DHSES Cyber Security Grant application (up to $50,000).
- Coastal Consistency determinations for Nissequogue River and Stony Brook Harbor dredging.
- Acceptance of donations for Senior Citizens Department memory flag and plaque program.
- Acceptance of H2M proposal for Local Solid Waste Management Plan biennial compliance report.
- Authorization for voluntary vacation/sick time transfers for two employees.
- Intermunicipal agreement with Town of Brookhaven for film plastic disposal.
- Agreement with Maccarone Plumbing for bathroom installation at Senior Center.
Personnel Appointments (all approved unanimously)
- John LoGiudice: Building Inspector ($29.11/hr, probation 26 weeks, effective Dec. 8).
- Natalie Rudolph: Assessment Clerk ($24.34/hr, pending medical/drug screen).
- Unpaid medical leave for employee #008602 (Parks, Buildings & Grounds) retroactive to Nov. 13.
- Andrew Epstein: Seasonal Student Intern II ($16.00/hr, Dec. 29–Jan. 30).
- Cathleen Falk: Promotion to Principal Account Clerk ($38.23/hr, probation 12 weeks, effective Dec. 8).
- Chelsy McCann: Park Ranger I ($29.11/hr, 52-week probation, pending exams and background).
- Shane Weeks: Park Ranger I (same conditions).
Public Comments (To Be Heard)
- James Marsala spoke about a proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility at 220 Rabro Road in Hauppauge (Town of Islip). He raised safety concerns regarding fires, toxic gases, and groundwater contamination. Supervisor Wehrheim noted that Smithtown has a moratorium on such facilities and the town is in contact with Senator Mario Mattera on the issue. Marsala urged the board to work with Islip to stop the project.
- Irwin Izen, a registered Republican and organizer of a recent tax rally, criticized the budget process. He argued that the final 2026 budget did not reduce the proposed 10% tax increase and that opportunities to cut spending were missed. He questioned staffing levels in Parks and Highway departments and called for a more transparent and collaborative process. He thanked the board for hearing him.
Key Outcomes
- The public hearing on the Beechwood zone change petition was closed. No vote on the petition itself was taken at this meeting; it will be considered at a future date, likely requiring a supermajority (4 of 5 votes) given the petition from nearby homeowners.
- The public hearing on Local Law #14-2025 (Noise amendment) was closed.
- All consent agenda items, SEQRA negative declarations, bid awards, resolutions, and personnel items were approved unanimously.
- The board acknowledged concerns about the battery storage facility in Islip and pledged to monitor the issue.
Meeting Transcript
Meeting, please join us for the pledge. Councilwoman Nullock. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Supervisor Will. Hi. Here. Councilwoman Mullik. Councilwoman Tarola. Councilman Wilder. Yeah. All right, we will begin this evening. We have five site plans. Mr. Trotter. Good evening, Supervisor, member of the town board. We have shadow with the planning department and I have four site plans to present tonight to the board acting as the board of site plan review. First application is case number 25-06, Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. The subject site is located on the west side of Brookside Drive in Smithtown. The proposal is for playground equipment upgrades, a new sports court and retaining walls involving tree removal, regrading, and associated site work. This is the proposed site plan. The scope of work will take place on the north side of the school. Here's a larger scale version. So they'll be upgrading some playground equipment, a new sports court. They'll be regrading this area so it's flat to facilitate these new courts. There'll be a two and a half foot tall retaining wall around the corner of the north side of the property with ever new evergreen plantings around the perimeter to screen from the adjacent residences. The applicant has agreed to two conditions of site plan approval. First, that the applicant obtained the necessary permits from the building department. And the second condition is that they install a tree preservation fence around all trees to be preserved on site. Okay. Okay. The next application is case number 25 08, Steel Forest 500 Comac Road. Subject site is located on the east side of Comac Road, just north of the Northern State Parkway. The proposal is for a proposed parking lot expansion involving the construction of 219 land bank parking stalls with associated site work and a new canopy over an entrance door. This is the proposed site plan. The scope of work will take place on the north end of the site. The purpose for this parking lot expansion is because of Stony Brook Medicine is going to be taking over additional space within the building, and they anticipate uh more patients coming to the site. The applicant has agreed to five conditions of site plan approval. The first is that they obtain permits from the town building department. The second condition is that they install a tree preservation fence around all trees to be preserved on site. The third condition is that the applicant obtain a highway work permit from the Suffolk County Department of Public Works. The fourth condition is that the applicant uh maintain the stormwater pollution prevention plan on site for the duration of construction. And the last condition is that prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the existing recharge basin is to be cleaned of any accumulated sediment. And this is just a more uh scaled in version of the site plan. This is the the northwest corner of the property and the northeast. Any questions on this application? Question about the board. No.
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