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| LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO SAVE CALVERTON GRASSLANDS! (click here for google map) Proposal Cover letter to Town of Riverhead |
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The Nature Conservancy Group for the East End Audubon New York Eastern Long Island Audubon Society North Fork Audubon Society Great South Bay Audubon Society Open Space Preservation Trust Peconic Bay Keeper Open Space Council October 2, 2007 Re: Balancing EPCAL Development with Natural Resource Protection Dear Supervisor Cardinale and Members of the Town Board: It is well known that the Town of Riverhead is proceeding with plans to develop the 3000 - acre former Grumman property in Calverton, now known as Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL). We understand that the Town is now poised to make two large sales of property to industrial and recreational developers. We believe that the Town can create a successful regional economic engine at EPCAL and also protect the considerable natural resources at this site. Open Space at EPCAL will significantly enhance the quality of both the working and natural environment at the site. The EPCAL site contains 10 kettlehole ponds which are documented breeding sites for the Eastern Tiger Salamander, an Endangered species in New York State. New York State's environmental regulations prohibit the destruction of such ponds, and mandate substantial buffer zones between them and any proposed development. The site also contains five additional reptile and amphibian species which are identified as Species of Special Concern in New York State (Marbled Salamander, Eastern Spadefoot, Spotted Turtle, Eastern Box Turtle, and Eastern Hognose snake), a status which provides some measure of protection to these species and their habitats. The on-site grasslands are the largest such habitat remaining on Long Island, and provide documented breeding and foraging habitat for numerous grassland birds, including at least one Threatened Species (Northern Harrier) and five Species of Special Concern (Common Nighthawk, Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Horned Lark, and Whip-poor-will). These grasslands are, in fact, the most productive breeding grounds for Grasshopper Sparrow (a Species of Special Concern) in all of New York State. The Coalition for Open Space at EPCAL is a coalition of private environmental and civic groups which is calling for a significant open space component at EPCAL - to protect the important natural resources at the site, provide a high quality work environment, and substantial passive and active recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The Coalition is also concerned with the impacts that additional traffic and pollution will have upon the character and health of our communities. Attached for your consideration is a planning document prepared by the Coalition, which identifies the most important natural resources present at this site and includes recommended contiguous open space set-asides necessary to protect these resources. The proposed open space plan allows for the development of a significant portion of the site, compatible with the preservation of the site's noteworthy, and most sensitive, natural features, consistent with the Suffolk County Health Department's groundwater protection requirements. We are seeking your support in this matter, and encourage all levels of government to give careful consideration to the concerns and mitigation measures proposed in the attached document. A combination of approaches will likely be necessary to accomplish the protection of 62% of the land at EPCAL, including subdivision and site plan reserved area set-asides by developers; Dedication of land to open space and conservation use by Riverhead and the federal government; acquisition of land and interests in land for preservation purposes; payment in lieu of taxes for preserved land; ongoing management by a partnership of not-for-profit organizations, public entities and private developers. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss this proposal with you in greater detail. Thank you for your consideration and assistance in this most important matter. Very truly yours, Patricia I. Pelkowski Randy Parsons AICP Pine Barrens Site Director Conservation Finance and Policy Advisor The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy Enc |