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Community Corner

Citizens Hear Plan to Expand Speonk Asphalt Plant

Residents worry about emissions.

A plan to expand an existing asphalt plant located on Speonk-Riverhead Road to incorporate additional asphalt recycling was presented to members of the Citizens Advisory Committee West on Thursday.

According to John Montecalvo and his planning consultant, Tom Cramer, the proposal will require a change of zone from residential to light industrial from the Southampton Town Zoning Board. Specifically, the project proposes to construct two 9,000 square foot buildings with 47 parking spaces just north of Montecalvo's existing asphalt plant, to be used for storage, repair, and office space. The expansion will allow Montecalvo to increase the amount of asphalt being recycled at the facility, but developers say it will have no impact on additional truck traffic because the operation will become more efficient.

The project is proposed on 1.5 acres of Montecalvo's 19-acre site, with the majority of the rest of the land to become covenanted open space. The two buildings will be set back 100 feet from the road with natural buffers. Montecalvo said he only recently presented the idea to the town and was looking to get feedback from the community before formally filing the application.

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Members of the community group asked several questions with respect to the environmental safety of the operation.

CAC Chairman Hank Beck questioned whether there were any harmful emissions from the recycling, and Montecalvo said there was not.

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Beck later commented that he believed the project would benefit the community by increasing the tax base without adding children to the schools.

The presentation was also attended by members of the Speonk Remsenburg Civic Association, who said they were pleased with Montecalvo's willingness to make a presentation to the civic groups and his attention to detail.

“We were quite impressed with his concern for appearances and safety,” said Bob Mozer, co-president of the Speonk Remsenburg Civic Association.

Beck and Montecalvo agreed to plan a trip to the site sometime in the next few weeks for the group to see exactly what the project would entail.

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