MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     
MARCH 5, 2008

CONTACT: JOSHUA SLAUGHTER
    Office:  (631) 852-1300
Cell:  (631) 456-1718
 Email: Joshua.Slaughter@suffolkcountyny.gov

BROWNING AND TOWN OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE PASSAGE OF BILL
TRANSFERING COUNTY LAND TO REVITALIZE MASTIC ROAD BUSINESS DISTRICT

Mastic Beach, NY - Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley), joined today by Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian Foley, Councilman Keith Romaine, and local civic leaders, announced the passage of I.R. 1081-08, which transfers a county owned parcel, through the 72-h General Municipal Law, to the Town of Brookhaven for the purpose of constructing a municipal parking lot. This piece of property has been an eyesore and hot spot for illegal activity across from William Floyd High School for several years, as well as being adjacent to the location of an alleged sexual assault in January.

The parcel adjacent to the county owned parcel, which was demolished last week by the owner, will be developed into a Dunkin Donuts along with the municipal parking lot. This project is part of a larger revitalization plan for the Neighborhood Road and Mastic Road Business Districts, which was passed by a Brookhaven Town resolution earlier this year.

The transfer of this parcel had been requested through a Brookhaven Town resolution adopted March 21, 2006. Since that time negotiations between Suffolk County’s Department of Real Estate and the Town of Brookhaven Attorney’s Office had been stalled over the payment of back taxes on the property. Legislator Browning stated, “Supervisor Foley contacted my office with details of the ongoing negotiations, and I acted immediately due to the importance of this property. I wasn’t going to let a small amount of money between two levels of government hold up any project that increases the safety of our children, and improves the quality of life in this community”. Legislator Browning’s resolution, which passed the Suffolk County Legislature yesterday, transfers the land to the town for only one dollar. This is done quite often for the purpose of building affordable housing, but can also be utilized for other public purposes. Legislator Browning said, “It’s a unique situation where the county transfers property to a town for only a dollar when it’s not for affordable housing purposes. I felt this was too important and that the public good was a strong justification, so I spoke to my colleagues, gathered their support, and I thank them for seeing the necessity in passing this legislation”. 

“This property will now become a municipal parking field, which will maintain a natural, wooded buffer and have appropriate landscaping on-site,” stated Councilman Keith Romaine, who represents the community on the Town Board.  “Creation of this parking area is a specific recommendation of the town’s Mastic Beach revitalization plan for Mastic Road and Neighborhood Road.  It is within the boundaries of the Mastic Road Neighborhood Center and will be a component of the overall plan for commercial incentives to revitalize Mastic Road.  It will be created to be aesthetically pleasing and will be a welcome addition to Mastic Beach.”

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley thanked Legislator Browning, explaining how important this action was for the community.

“Kate did a great job cutting through the red tape and making this happen.  She understands how important economic development is for the Mastic community; how visible improvements, such as the improvements coming to these two lots raises confidence in the neighborhood; and how actions such as we are taking today are visible signs that things are changing for the better in Mastic, Mastic Beach, and Shirley,” Mr. Foley said.

“Enhancing quality of life in the Tri-hamlet area, indeed throughout all of Brookhaven, has been a primary goal of my tenure.  We’ve stepped up code enforcement dramatically, helped develop new economic plans and programs for the neighborhood, and even assigned Town public safety officers to help keep our schoolchildren safe,” Mr. Foley went on.  “We can have no greater goal than working with the residents of the Tri-hamlet area to make their community safer, more economically secure, and an even greater place to live and raise children.”

The transfer won’t become official until the County Executive signs the resolution, or 30 days passes.