Officials Look to Unclog Sewer Standstill
Legis. John Kennedy to sit down with Empire State Development director to improve application for funding to build sewers in Town of Smithtown.
While elected officials are various levels of government agree that a lack of sewers in Smithtown has been an ongoing battle for businesses, they say things are happening behind the scenes to fix the problem.
For example, a $70-million project is currently underway in Hauppauge Industrial Park to expand the sewer system nearly doubling its peak capacity to 1.65 million gallons.
The project was backed by Suffolk County Legis. John Kennedy, R-Nesconset, who said one of the things his office is looking to tackle in 2012 is a more successfully pursue funding to install a sewer system within the Town of Smithtown.
"Within 18 months, it will double the number of buildings attached to the sewer treatment plant. That allows for expansion and a great density," Kennedy said.
But while it is expected to bring hundreds of businesses online, officials say it's still not enough.
Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio told Patch the lack of a sewer system is one of two main roadblocks in attracting businesses to Smithtown since it prevents growth or expansion of restaurants, bars, offices and other businesses.
Kennedy said his office in 2011 submitted an application to the Empire State Development Corp. for funds to sewer Smithtown's Main Street and was rejected. He has a meeting with Andrea Lohneiss, Long Island regional director for the ESD on Feb. 8 to find out why.
"[Andrea is] going to critique our application, beef it up, augment it and get it into a better form so we do get accepted this year and get funding," Kennedy said.
The legislator suspects one of the problems may have been that his office only had three weeks to prepare the application in 2011. He hopes by calling next Wednesday's meeting that officials can get a jump on the 2012 process, even if a due date has yet to be announced.
One step being taken in assuring the future possiblity of sewers in Smithtown is the acquisition of necessary resources. Kennedy said he's hoping to reach an agreement with St. Johnland Nursing Center in Kings Park to purchase several acres from them to transform into the necessary leeching fields.
"If we can do that, we will have all the physical pieces in place. Then we need the funding from Albany," Kennedy said.
Linda Henninger
7:23 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
I guess it should be noted that Leg. Kennedy's constituents’ live in Nesconset, and not in and around St. Johnland.
Wouldn't it have been nice if Kennedy thought to help in the proposed land swap to save the pristine property, with that beautiful pond, where St. Johnland plans to expand, and instead build on adjacent former KPPC property which is in desperate need of remediation?
Maybe you would like to talk about the very serious environmental ramifications in moving any sewage over or adjacent to the Nissequogue River?
Leg. Kennedy, there are plenty of abandoned properties in Smithtown. A viable solution would be to build a separate facility in Smithtown, where vacant land is very available. Kings Park’s business sewage needs can be met using the existing facility.
Also, Leg. Kennedy, why is it you feel the need to speak to the Empire State Development Corp. on an issue that will clearly have an impact in Kings Park, but not speak to the Kings Parkers that live in and around that area?
STOP DUMPING ON KINGS PARK!!
Dan
7:54 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Nursing home to expand without land swap
Originally published: January 31, 2012 8:37 PM
Updated: January 31, 2012 9:01 PM
By CARL MACGOWAN carl.macgowan@newsday.com
After being delayed for years by zoning and environmental issues, plans to expand a Kings Park nursing home are expected to move forward in the next few months, Town of Smithtown officials said Tuesday.
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/nursing-home-to-expand-without-land-swap-1.3494096
Linda Henninger
8:14 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
http://www.theparkadvocate.com/pdfs/St._Johnland_Swap.pdf
Frank Mercuri
8:46 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Sewers are good but let's be realistic. Businesses cannot survive if there are no customers who need a convienent way to shop. Traffic and inadequate parking are a derterent not an asset to businesses. Kings Park's main street is an example of stuffering the roads with vehicles traveling elsewhere and not stopping to shop in Kings Park. The traffic at its peak cannot allow proper parking for shoppers. Businesses need a convient way for customers employees and exoansion if there was adequate infrastucture to accomadate them. On good shopping days at the mall during the holiday season it is also impossible to find a parking spot. A good economy will help businesses. Shoppers especially the handicapped need convienent parking especially during bad weather. Putting sewers on the same foot print is not the way to solve a problem it only changes where the waste will go.
Anonymous
10:39 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
There is no parking problem in Smithtown or Kings Park!! There is a LAZY problem.
People have no problem going to a mall and walking 1/4 mile to the store. The same people need to park in front of a store on Main St. to shop? Kings Park has 2 municipal lots that can accomadate thousands of cars!
Switchy
11:41 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
If a sewer system is installed in downtown Kings Park, the stopping and shopping of customers will happen. The major reason downtown KP suffers is because the current buildings are on a cesspool system which hinders the growth of the area with popular businesses such as coffee shops, food establishments and other types of businesses. If a sewer system was in place, then more profitable businesses would be more likely to invest in the area and that in turn would make landlords more like to invest money in building renovations. Landlords won't update buildings if they don't have tenants that will defray the cost.
Anonymous
12:30 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Have you been to Kings Park? Several new good resturants have opned in the last year, and another in a few weeks. There uses to be two coffee shops, one is now Ralphs Ices and the other is a restaurant. Sewers do not create customers. Good business and products do.
Frank Mercuri
2:56 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Anonymous get your facts straight. ! there is only one muninciple parking lot in KP. One is for the LIRR. The others are private. Combined they could not have thousands of cars park there. We do have a parking problem. The businesses on mainstreet do suffer. I recall when it was a pleasure to shop for clothing at the Patiki Department store and shop Bohack and Blue Jay. The shopprs are not lazy and the mall has stores not in KP or Smithtown. Many moved out when the mall opened such as JCPenny which I shopped at in Smithtown. TJ Max was a Grants Dept Store that went out of business. And yes handicappers and seniors need close parking. From the parking lot locations especially the municipal lots one needs to wait when the light changes and go if your lucky to get across before you get hit by a car not obeying state laws regarding stopping for pedestrians. I do not shop the mall if possible. I cannot recall the last time I did. On busy days it's a nightmare. Do you have a problem with the needs of seniors and handicapped individuals?
Anonymous
3:13 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
I dont recall mentioning seniors.....90% of the folks that use the blue spots do not need them? When did old become handicapp?
Frank Mercuri
4:04 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
You mentioned "a lazy problem". Seniors and the handicapped are shopper. As to the blue spots, do you have factual evidence that 90percent of the folks that use the spots do not need them? What's your point? The issue is that customers are needed to shop and the infastructure must be there to accomodate shoppers. Apparently you have not looked at main street lately with empty store fronts. Sewers come when the need arises. Right now the need is get shoppers and places for them to park in the "thousands of spaces" not available to them. There are many who are old that are handicapped. Walking is one. There are many who are young that are handicapped. Using crutches is one. Spots close by are needed to assit these shoppers handicapped or not. If you are not a senior, well when the time comes you will know what your capabilities will be.
Vincent Califano
10:44 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Forget about the sewers. Whose bright idea was it to allow 15 min parking on main st in KP. How the hell are you do suppose to shop or go to any of the reteraunts when you can only park for 15 min. That's a really good way to atract people to come to KP NOT!!!!