South Bay Village development plan runs into Islip Town turbulence

Daily Point

Town planning board caught in Islip politics

A lot has changed in the four years since the Island Hills Golf and Country Club property in Sayville was last the subject of a public hearing.

But it still looks like an uphill fight for the developers.

The size and scope of the proposal for the 114 acres has shrunk, from 1,365 rental units to a mix of 576 rentals and 314 homes for sale. The development’s name changed from Greybarn to South Bay Village. Developers Gregg and Mitchell Rechler spent months working with an advisory committee to try to include community input in their newest plans.

And the political dynamic in the town of Islip has undergone a dramatic shift. The town board has become increasingly splintered, as Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter is at times in a contentious battle with some of her fellow Republicans on the town council.

South Bay Village’s first public hearing since 2021 will be held at Wednesday’s Islip planning board meeting. While the planning board may not take a vote Wednesday, its eventual decision will determine whether the current development proposal can move on to the town board.

Sources tell The Point the town’s chaotic political dynamic could impact South Bay Village and the planning board itself. The Islip Town Board is scheduled to meet Tuesday and while the agenda as of now does not have any proposals about the planning board, multiple sources confirmed that there are efforts to possibly replace two planning board members.

Such a move would come just weeks after the town board already voted to replace board member Brian Ferruggiari with Brett Robinson, a longtime officer in the Suffolk County Conservative Party. Robinson previously pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with the illegal dumping of construction debris in Brentwood’s Roberto Clemente Park.

Current town board members haven’t taken public positions on the latest South Bay Village proposal. But among those who’ve gained power in Islip is DawnMarie D. Kuhn, an aide to Legis. Anthony Piccirillo. Kuhn, who is now vice chair of the Islip Republican Party, is running for Islip Town Board in the fall and has been a vocal opponent of plans to develop Island Hills.

Piccirillo, whose district includes Island Hills, told The Point he planned to speak against the project at Wednesday’s meeting. Piccirillo said he objects to any tax breaks to build housing and the inclusion of any rental units in the plan.

"I don’t think the new plan is any better than the old plan," Piccirillo said. "If I was a planning board member, looking at the density, the environment, the economics and more, I would have to vote no. [The town] shot the first application down. This doesn’t seem to be much better."

Joining Piccirillo will be members of the Greater Islip Association, a civic group that told The Point in an email signed by three people that it anticipates more than 100 community members attending Wednesday’s meeting.

"We support a more community-aligned and environmentally conscious alternative, low-density single-family housing and preserved open space, consistent with the surrounding zoning and the Town’s own Comprehensive Plan," the association said in its email.

Even within the opposition, there may be some fractures. In a letter posted to the Stop Island Hills Facebook page, the association spoke about potential "division" between various community groups regarding the project.

"We cannot control people, and we do not try to," the letter said. "But we do ask our supporters to avoid in-fighting and to put their energy where it matters most toward the developers and the Town of Islip, who have the final say."

Despite all the controversy, developer Gregg Rechler told The Point he’s hoping for a "very civil and respectful process," adding that no matter what happens on Wednesday, it won’t be the end for South Bay Village.

"We’re not going to give up," Rechler said. "We really ran a very comprehensive process in terms of listening to all members of the local communities, and we were able to take real constructive criticism and create a new plan that we think is reflective of the overall goals and desire of the community."

But given the mess in Islip, it’s unclear whether that will be enough to give South Bay Village a path forward.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

Pencil Point

Sole destroying?

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