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SEQRA Concepts

SEQRA. State Environmental Quality Review Act.

Under SEQRA, environment "means the physical conditions that will be affected by a proposed action, including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, noise, resources of agricultural, archeological, historic or aesthetic significance, existing patterns of population concentration, distribution or growth, existing community or neighborhood character, and human health." 6 NY CRR §617.2(l).

"To require an EIS for a proposed action, the lead agency must determine that the action may include the potential for at least one significant adverse environmental impact." 6 NY CRR 617.7(a)(1)

"A positive declaration, or "pos dec", is a determination by the lead agency that an action may result in one or more significant environmental impacts and so will require the preparation of an EIS before agency decisions may be made regarding the action"

EIS. "An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that impartially analyzes the full range of potential significant adverse environmental impacts of a proposed action and how those impacts can be avoided or minimized. An EIS can be labeled as draft, final, supplemental or generic"

"The EIS systematically considers the full range of potential environmental impacts, along with other aspects of project planning and design. The EIS must identify and analyze significant adverse environmental impacts; evaluate alternatives to avoid one or more of those impacts; and discuss mitigation measures which could minimize identified impacts. EIS procedures also provide the means for public review and comment about a proposed action."'

GEIS. A "generic EIS may be used to address broad or multiple sites."

"Cumulative impacts occur when multiple actions affect the same resource(s). These impacts can occur when the incremental or increased impacts of an action, or actions, are added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Cumulative impacts can result from a single action or from a number of individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time. Cumulative impacts do not have to all be associated with one sponsor or applicant. They may include indirect or secondary impacts, long term impacts and synergistic effects."

Unattributed quoted text on SEQRA is from the Dep't of Environmental Conservations' SEQRA Handbook. See it at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/47636.html.

Pine Barrens Concepts

Pine Barrens. The Central Pine Barrens is a State-designated area of 102,500+ acres within the Towns of Brookhaven, Southampton and Riverhead. It overlies a portion of Long Island's federally designated sole source drinking water aquifer.

Pine Barrens Core. 55,000 acres of the Pine Barrens is its "Core". Development is prohibited without a hardship permit from the Commission.

Compatible Growth Area. 47,500 acres on the fringe of the Core have lesser restrictions allowing for some land use compatible with the Core.

Information on the Pine Barrens is from the Commission's website at http://pb.state.ny.us/.

Town Land Use Concepts

A-1 District. One-family residences on 1 acre.

B District. One-family residences on 15,000 square feet (38% of a 40,000 sq. ft. acre).

J-2 District. "General" businesses on 4,000 sq. ft. Permitted uses include: bank without accessory drive-through facility, bowling alley, church or similar place of worship, commercial center, day-care facility, delicatessen, dry cleaners, health club, laundromats, non-degree-granting schools, office, personal service shops, such as barbershops, beauty parlors, shoe repair shops, tailor shops and like services, pharmacy without accessory drive-through facility, shops and stores for the sale at retail of consumer merchandise and services, shops for custom work and for making articles to be sold at retail on the premises, take-out restaurant, undertaking establishments, veterinarian, provided that all activities take place within the building. Town Code § 85-226.

PDD. Planned Development District is a "floating" zoning district that allows, with the Town Board's after public hearings, various types of uses and densities not otherwise permitted to get Pine Barrens Credits purchased and to achieve special public benefits. Examples of such benefits include "increased land preservation, the construction or improvement of public facilities, services or utilities, the provision of special design amenities, and other such public benefits which exceed normally applicable requirements." Town Code § 85-338.

Historic District. "An area containing buildings, structures or places which have a special character and ambiance based on historical value, notable architectural features representing one or more periods or styles of architecture of an era of history or the cultural and aesthetic heritage of the community and which area constitutes a distinct physical section of the Town of such significance as to warrant its conservation, preservation and protection from adverse influences." Town Code 85-184.

The Eastport Historic District includes Old Montauk Highway from its west end to Union Avenue and the Montauk Highway from Eastport Manor Road almost to the Brookhaven boundary

Historic District Transitional Zone. "An area extending for a distance of 500 feet from and contiguous to the perimeter boundary of an historic district. The purpose of such transitional area shall be to control the effect of potentially adverse environmental, visual and developmental influences on an historic district." Town Code § 85-184.

County Road 51 Corridor Land Use Plan. The CR 51 Land Use Plan "presents a comprehensive land use and growth management strategy that reflects the Town of Brookhaven’s and the local community’s vision for the CR 51 corridor planning area" (at p. iii). The boundary of area covered is outline with a yellow line on the map that accompanies this fact sheet. The Plan is at http://www.brookhaven.org/PlanningEnvironmentLandManagement/PlanningEnvironmentLandManagement/tabid/193/Default.aspx.