Hundreds of Riverhead residents got a closer look Wednesday into the plans for a proposed development coming to their community that many of them have opposed.
Residents told News 12 they are against the proposed development at the old Grumman property in Calverton, known as the Enterprise Park at Calverton or EPCAL, because they believe it would negatively impact their home values, the environment and lead to more traffic, air and noise pollution that they don’t believe this area can handle.
The concern for those residents of Riverhead and Calverton is over plans from a developer to turn a 1,600-acre lot at the EPCAL into what’s been called a technology hub.
“This is the peaceful North Fork of Long Island and if we have cargo planes going in and out endlessly, we can kiss this lovely place goodbye in my opinion,” says Kathy McGraw, of Northville.
The Riverhead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) asked representatives from Calverton Aviation and Technology to present their plans for the development during a public forum. A representative with the company tells News 12 they have no plans to create an air freight cargo terminal.
The developer says the overall construction of the proposed plan would eventually amount to about 10 million square feet of development.
“Phase one, which is a million square feet, which is to be built five years after the original approvals are granted,” says attorney Peter Curry. “That’s only the first phase and the absorption of another 9 million feet will take decades.”
According to the company, the site would include a warehouse, a rail hub and using the existing runways on the old Grumman site, for planes.
Those who showed up at the meeting were overwhelmingly against the development plan.
“Riverhead does not want this project to go forward,” said John Mcauliff.
News 12 asked an attorney representing the developer if anything that was said at
Wednesday’s meeting could lead to changes to any of the proposed plans. He said, “We’ll certainly listen to everything they’re saying.”
