Town of Riverhead, NY - community development

Chris Kempner - Community Development Director - Ext. 287
Joe Maiorana - Asst. Community Development Project Supervisor - Ext. 236
Lizabeth Plouff - Community Development Program Technician - Ext. 238
Dan Thompson - P/T Housing Inspector - Ext. 237

Phone: 631-727-3200 ext. 238
Fax: 631-727-5772
200 Howell Avenue
Riverhead, NY 11901
Hrs: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Community Development Department
Community Development Agency

2007 CDA Annual Report

2006 CDA Annual Report

Development of Historic District Guidelines

Historic Preservation Design Guidelines

Bulk Study of the DC-1 Zoning District

2009 TOWN OF RIVERHEAD PARKING MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP REPORT
2009 TOWN OF RIVERHEAD PARKING WORKSHOP POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

The Community Development Department is responsible for the economic development and workforce housing functions in the Town of Riverhead. Projects including downtown revitalization activities, historic restoration, business development incentives and urban renewal programs are initiated and implemented by CD staff. Grant procurement and administration is a primary function of the department including capital projects such as downtown waterfront revitalization, Calverton park development, infrastructure development to encourage business growth, the restoration of the Vail Leavitt Theatre and Suffolk Theatre, home improvement programs to assist senior citizens and low to moderate income homeowner-occupants with emergency home repairs, and projects to improve the environment and the quality of life of the Riverhead Town residents.

Community Development Downloadable Forms

Home Improvement Application
Contractor Vendor Application
Contractor Bid Proposal
Main Street Application
Standard Specifications for Home Improvement Projects

Suffolk County Down Payment Assistance Program Guidelines

The Home Affordable Refinance Program gives up to 4 to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac an opportunity to refinance into more affordable monthly payments. The Home Affordable Modification Program commits $75 billion to keep up to 3 to 4 million Americans in their homes by preventing avoidable foreclosures.

The consumer website, www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov, provides homeowners with detailed information about these programs along with self-assessment tools and calculators to empower borrowers with the resources they need to determine whether they might be eligible for a modification or a refinance under the Administration's program. Through this website, borrowers can also connect with free counseling resources to help with outstanding questions; locate homeowner events in their communities; find a handy checklist of key documents and materials to have ready when making that important call to their servicer as well as FAQs from borrowers in similar circumstances; and much more.

Downtown Revitalization Efforts

Peconic Riverfront Pedestrian Walk state and federal grants funded replacement of deteriorated bulkheading, extend the pedestrian boardwalk and improve the public parkspace along the riverfront for enjoyment of residents and visitors.

Grangebel Park Improvement Project over $1,000,000 in federal funding was awarded for the replacement of bulkheading, installation of lighting and pedestrian walkways, landscaping and other amenities to improve safety and utilization of the park.

Main Street Program – The Town of Riverhead recently implemented a $200,000 state grant award for the refurbishment of Main Street facades, building renovations and the encouragement of residential uses in the downtown area. Riverhead was one of only two Long Island communities that received this award.
Main Street Application

Vail Leavitt Music Hall –1881 National Register Landmark site at 18 Peconic Avenue renovated through over $400,000 in grant funding. The theatre officially reopened in June 2004 and hosts community events on a regular basis, including Riverhead Idol, Opera in the Hamptons, River Theatre Company and many other outstanding acts. For additional information, contact (631) 727-5782 or
www.vail-leavitt.org.

East End Arts Council – Located at 131 and 133 East Main Street in downtown Riverhead on property owned by the Town of Riverhead, the EEAC is a vital component of the downtown economy. Over the past decade, the CD Department has procured more than $500,000 in grant funds to renovate the historic Benjamin and Corwin Houses that are home to the arts and music programs offered by the arts council as well as site improvements and currently renovations to the historic Carriage House in order to provide additional year-round space for programming. For additional information, contact (631) 727-0900 or www.eastendarts.org.

Suffolk Theatre – The 1933 Art Deco Suffolk Theatre is historically significant structure that was constructed in just 2½ months during the Roosevelt Administration as a National Recovery Act Project, the two-story, 896-seat theatre was a major entertainment venue on the East End until its closure in 1987. Significant interior features include brass lighting fixtures and chandeliers in Art Deco designed frosted glass panels etched with a swan mural depicting the rural culture of eastern Long Island. The original tile water fountain and oak ticket booth remain intact, as do most of the murals and original Art Deco features.

Railroad Station – The Community Development Agency procured a $1,000,000 grant from the MTA to successfully restore the 1910 Dutch colonial style station building in 2003.

Railroad Avenue Corridor Activity - the CDA board designated Vintage Group, LLC, as a Qualified & Eligible Sponsor for the purchase and development of the parking lot owned by the Town of Riverhead located on Court Street together with the acquisition and development of some or all of the properties located on the adjacent block bordered by Railroad Street, Griffing Avenue, Court Street and Cedar Avenue, for redevelopment consistent with the Town of Riverhead Urban Renewal Plan/Railroad Street Corridor adopted April 4, 1997.

Downtown Urban Renewal Plan – Town staff continued work on the update of the 1993 East Main Street Urban Renewal Plan and to prepare a generic Environmental Impact Statement in conjunction the comprehensive planning process as authorized by the CDA board in 2006. The Urban Renewal Plan and final GEIS will be completed in Fall 2008 and was funded by Riverhead Renaissance LLC, the entity with which the CDA entered into a Master Developer Designation Agreement in 2006 for redevelopment of the East Main Street Urban Renewal Area.

Grangebel Park Comfort Station Project – A county grant in the amount of $60,000 was procured through the Community Development Department on behalf of the Business Improvement District for the renovation of the Grangebel Park Comfort Station.

Peconic Avenue Pedestrian Crossing – A $50,000 grant from the Suffolk County Legislature proposed by the County Executive following his Day in Riverhead in March 2004 will be utilized by the town to improve the pedestrian crossing on Peconic Avenue from the Riverfront Park to the Grangebel Park.

Safe Routes to Schools

The Town of Riverhead with the Riverhead Central School District secured $475,000 in federal funding for sidewalks and other pedestrian safety improvements along School St., North Griffing Avenue and Cranberry Street in the vicinity of the Pulaski Street School, Riverhead Middle School and Riverhead High School.

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

The Town of Riverhead and New York State Department of State are finalizing a comprehensive planning document for stewardship and management of the town’s waterfront areas. Initiated with a $20,000 grant procured from the Department of State, the plan has incorporated input and information from the Riverhead Conservation Advisory Council, Riverhead Planning Board, Bay Constable, and other interested parties and will be the subject of a public hearing prior to adoption by the Town Board and Department of State. A draft copy will be on file at the Office of the Riverhead Town Clerk prior to a public hearing.

Housing Programs

The Town of Riverhead Community Development Department has operated a
Home Improvement Program for homeowner-occupants for more than 30 years and recently has received several state grants to augment the federal funding for this program. Based on HUD-stipulated income limits, the program provides deferred grants and loans to owners for emergency repairs and improvements to correct deficiencies such as roof replacement, electrical or plumbing problems, window replacement and heating system repairs.

Several affordable housing/workforce housing projects have been undertaken since 1988 totaling approximately 200 units of new, single family detached housing for low to moderate income purchasers. In 2004-2005, 17 new units were completed and sold by lottery to first-time homeowner-occupants. Approximately 10 units are expected to be completed in 2008 and have been awarded to individuals by lottery.

Peconic River and Estuary Improvements

The Town of Riverhead and Suffolk County Office of Ecology have worked in partnership to prepare and submit numerous grant applications to state and federal funding agencies for a variety of projects affecting the Peconic River and Estuary system.

Since the beginning of 2005, The Town of Riverhead has secured and acted as the centralized administrator for over $700,000 in grants (state, federal and others) for dam safety, fish migration and watershed management projects at locations from Peconic Avenue to Connecticut Avenue and targeted to restore over 300 acres of historic diadromous fish habitat within the Peconic River. In an effort to restore this historic fish habitat, The Peconic Estuary Program (PEP) http://www.peconicestuary.org/News.ARNOAA.html, the Town of Riverhead, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), FishAmerica www.fishamerica.org, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), and the Peconic River Fish Restoration Commission (PRFRC) joined forces.   The funding will not only support a restoration of the fish passage, but will also allow long awaited improvements within Grangebel Park itself to move forward in Spring 2009.

In addition, funding from NYS and Suffolk County funded the purchase of a marine pumpout vessel to augment the two stationary marine pumpout facilities available in the Town of Riverhead and pumpout vessels provided by neighboring municipalities. The vessel was operational beginning in 2004 from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The goal of these facilities is to reduce the disposal of effluent into the Peconic Bay to improve the water quality in this area.

The Community Development Department procures and administers over $20,000 per year in state funds to support the STOP program of the Town of Riverhead which enables residents to dispose of pollutants at the Youngs Avenue disposal site free of charge several times per year.

Calverton Enterprise Park

By Public Law of 1994 the United States Congress authorized the United States Navy to transfer the former Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant to the Town of Riverhead Community Development Agency for economic redevelopment. The Town has successfully redeveloped the 500 acre industrial park portion of the site, has extended public water to the industrial park with a federal grant from the Economic Development Administration in the amount of $1,800,000. This redevelopment has generated several hundred jobs and tax revenues in excess of the $1,000,000 per year paid by the Grumman Corporation.

In 2007, the CDA Board entered into contract with REPCAL LLC for the sale of approximately 300 acres in response to a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to select an experienced developer for the redevelopment of approximately 600 acres of land zoned for industrial and office uses at Calverton Enterprise Park.

In 2008, the CDA Board entered into a contract with Riverhead Resorts LLC for the sale of approximately 755 acres in response to a RFP to select an experienced developer for the redevelopment of approximately 755 acres as a Hotel Conference Center and/or other commercial-recreational uses as permitted by zoning.

The CDA has allocated a 62 acre portion of the site for a town recreational facility and a plan has been developed and accepted by the town board to include athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball and soccer facilities, playground areas, restrooms, a community center with the possibility of a pool and other amenities. A grant of $350,000 from New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation partially funded the design and construction of a first phase of improvements which are expected to be completed by early 2009. This will provide additional baseball fields to augment the facilities available currently at Stotsky Park.

Empire Zone
In 1997 an application was prepared and submitted by the CDA for designation of the Calverton site as a NYS Empire Zone. This designation was authorized in 1998 and has provided important NYS tax credits to businesses locating at this facility. Specific benefits include:

·    Sales Tax Exemptions: Eligible projects are granted a 10-year exemption from state sales tax on purchase of goods and services (including utilities) used predominantly in such zones.
·    Sales Tax Refund: Purchases of building materials to be used for improvements to or construction of commercial or industrial real property located in an Empire Zone are eligible for a refund of New York State sales tax.
·    Real Property Tax Credit: Eligible projects are allowed a refundable credit against business income taxes equal to a percentage of real property taxes paid in the zone.
·    Real Property Tax Abatement: For projects not qualifying for the real property tax credit, the Empire Zone may offer a tax abatement, based on improvements to real property, for up to 10 years.
·    Tax Reduction Credit: Eligible projects are allowed a credit against business income taxes equal to a percentage of taxes attributable to the zone enterprise.
·    Wage Tax Credit: This credit is available for up to five consecutive years for companies hiring full-time employees in newly created jobs. The credit equals $1,500 per year, or $3,000 per targeted employee per year.
·    Empire Zone Investment Tax and Employment Incentives Credit (ITC-EIC): Businesses that create new jobs and make new investments in production, property and equipment may qualify for tax credits of up to 19% of the company’s eligible investment.
·    New Business Refund: Businesses new to NYS are entitled to a 50% cash refund of unused Empire Zone Wage Tax Credits and Investment Tax Credits. Other businesses may carry forward unused credits indefinitely.
·    Zone Capital Credit: A 25% tax credit against personal or corporate income taxes is available for contributions to an approved community development project within the Empire Zone or for a direct equity investment in a certified Zone business.
·    Utility Rate Discount: Businesses that locate in an Empire Zone may be eligible for reduced electric and gas rates through the local utility provider.

For more information contact Tracy Stark (631)727-3200 x373 or visit www.riverheadzone.com.

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