Brookhaven Town supervisor Ed Romaine and councilman Michael Loguercio released a joint statement that outlines their opposition to the auto storage proposal in Yaphank on County Road 101.
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Brookhaven Town supervisor Ed Romaine and councilman Michael Loguercio released a joint statement that outlines their opposition to the auto storage proposal in Yaphank on County Road 101.
“While the planning board is an independent board whose decisions are not controlled by the members of the town board, we join our constituents in voicing opposition to this proposal because of the potential for significant harmful environmental impacts,” the statement reads.
A planning board hearing was held on Sept. 14 regarding the parcel. There was no intention for recommendation at this hearing; the purpose was to simply gather information regarding the proposal.
The letter was written three days prior and explicitly mentions the concern for its placement within the Suffolk County Water Authority Patchogue-Yaphank well field.
“SCWA engineers and hydrogeologists have serious concerns about this project because of the potential for release of various volatile organic compounds, including BETX-related compounds such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylenes, and other hazardous hydraulic fluids and battery acids,” the statement reads.
The statement indicates that SCWA has objected to this proposed project after reviewing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
“Given the number of vehicles that can be stored there together with the potential for leakage of a variety of such toxic fluids and other contaminants from these
automobiles, we are now of the opinion that this use has no business in such close proximity to one of our well fields. The risks are simply too great,” read the statement released by SCWA.
Linda Petersen, president of the Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Association, said that the community was opposed to the initial proposal in November 2019, and they remain opposed to the proposal on the table.
“We didn’t think we needed another facility like that in Yaphank because if you look at what is over in Medford, it is thousands and thousands of these vehicles. Right there, I can think of a higher and better use for that property than putting a bunch of cars there that could leak,” Petersen said, continuing on to agree with the elected officials that the most concerning aspect of the entire project is the vicinity to SCWA drinking
water facility. “We were concerned if these vehicles that they were going to store leaked. It could possibly contaminate the water. That is really critically important. Plus, there is a school next door, and they have a baseball facility that is right nearby.”
Petersen said the community collectively continues to be opposed to the proposal. She recalled back in November when the developer canceled on the civic association two hours prior to their meeting. Then, the developer did not show up to a scheduled planning board hearing.
“What type of person who wants to come into your community and establish something would do that twice in a row?” she asked rhetorically.
The developer’s attorney was contacted for comment, but did not return a message by press time.
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