Schumer To Feds: Approve Suffolk Plan For Lawrence Aviation Site, Release Funding

PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY — U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer on Monday called on federal officials to greenlight Suffolk County's plan to revitalize the former Lawrence Aviation site and the release of $450,000 in Department of Housing and Urban Development slated for the demolition of 14 buildings there.

The funds have been secured, but without swift action, they could drag their way to Suffolk, hindering the demo and redevelopment of the land, which will help revitalize the area, Schumer said. The 124-acre site was added to the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund site in 2000, after officials announced the aeronautics manufacturer spent years dumping chemicals into the ground, creating a toxic plume.

Schumer called the $450,000 "the final puzzle piece" that needs to be put in place for the rebirth of the site.

“For a long time coming, this Port Jefferson Station superfund site has been eyed for redevelopment," he said. "Well, I am here to say that today, the train on this journey is ready to leave the station and a final puzzle piece needed to make this all happen is now in hand."

The $450,000 toward the project was secured in the recently passed $1.7 trillion omnibus package, Schumer said.

"These dollars are critically needed to complete the demolition of 14 dangerous buildings, and now that we have the funds, we are here to demand action," he said. "I want the feds to approve Suffolk’s plan that will raze and redevelop this entire area.”

Suffolk has floated plans for a solar panel project, as well as designating a portion of the to help with the electrification of the Long Island Rail Road, The Port Times Record reported in June.

In a Facebook post, County Executive Steve Bellone said the funding Schumer has secured is a critical piece of the puzzle to advance the redevelopment "of our largest brownfield site."

"The time is ripe and the momentum is real to redevelop this property in a way that’s responsible and reflective of the community’s desires and needs," he said. "Today is a major win for this community and a critical step forward in putting this superfund site back to productive use."

The site, owned by the estate of Gerald Cohen, has been tax delinquent for over 20 years and, because of state law, Suffolk would be obligated to pay the taxes at the level assessed by the Town of Brookhaven — $800,000 a year to the town and local school district.

Property taxes for the site have not been paid since 1993.

"Now that we have these dollars we need the feds, HUD, to get this money out the door ASAP and we need the other federal agencies involved here, from the EPA on, to cut all the red tape so plans like a solar farm and a new rail facility can take shape," he said. "We’ve all waited long enough.”

The property could be used for a regionally significant infrastructure project for railroad use, as well as a 5-megawatt solar farm to power 1,350 homes while saving 1,200 tons of carbon yearly, and the creation of 50 construction jobs, Schumer's office said.

The plans include room for open space south of the greenway.

Larger community goals of the project not only include the responsible redevelopment and preservation of the site, but contiguous properties, as well as providing incentives to encourage green energy production.

Project goals also include guidelines for the transfer-of-development yield, both sanitary density and percentage of clearing, in industrially-zoned parcels to encourage clustering and habitat preservation, as well as eliminating certain currently permitted industrial uses that do not comply with the EPA use designation in the L-1 Industrial District from the Lawrence Aviation associated properties.

The last goal is creating a residential transition area to regulate new construction and require advisory deed notices.

An EPA spokesman said the agency is "grateful for Sen. Schumer’s support for the Superfund program."

"With respect to redevelopment and the cleanup of the site, the site is ready for redevelopment once and so long as any future redevelopment maintains the protectiveness of the ongoing remedial action at the site," he wrote in an email.

A Record of Decision for the site was issued in September 2006, addressing contamination in soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediments, he wrote.

Patch has reached out to HUD for comment.