In 1998 The United States Congress passed Bill Number HR 4301. The Bill was to Convey approx. 2,900 acres known as the Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant, the The Community Development Agency of The Town of Riverhead. The only condition was that the Community Development Agency shall carry out economic redevelopment under paragraph (1) in accordance with any redevelopment plan or plans prepared with respect to the Naval weapons industrial reserve Plant by a planning commission that represents entities or organizations having an interest in land use in the region in which the plant is located.
The Town of Riverhead spent thousands of taxpayers dollars and had a redevelopment plan drawn up which is known as the HR&A study. The redevelopment plan called for recreational and industrial areas at EPCAL. The only housing ever mentioned in the redevelopment plan was to be accessory to any golf course developed. No other housing was recommended in this plan. Air cargo and aviation in general was discussed extensively in the redevelopment plan. The plan indicated that commercial scheduled airlines in no way should be allowed at the site.
The only unanswered questions are:
Why have Supervisor Cardinale, Councilwomen Blass and Councilman Bartunik, worked so hard on limiting Aviation when it is permitted and recommended in the HR&A Study?
Why has Supervisor Cardinale, Councilwomen Blass and Councilman Bartunik, worked so hard on trying to put 500 houses at EPCAL when it is not permitted by Zoning and not recommended in the HR&A Study?
