In A Victory For Opponents, Islip Town Votes No On Greybarn Plan

SAYVILLE, NY—For four years, Long Island developer Rechler Equity Partners and local Sayville residents have been at odds over the future of shuttered Island Hills golf course on Lakeland Avenue, just south of Sunrise Highway. In what the opponents of Rechler's proposed zone change to build a large apartment complex viewed as a major victory, the Islip Town Board voted unanimously on Tuesday against the plan.

Rechler first submitted plans for the complex, named Greybarn Sayville, in 2017. Since then an opposition group has organized on social media, staged in-person protests like a rally at an Islip board meeting earlier this month, and met with the developers to discuss concerns.

The Islip Town resolution read "due to the myriad of significant adverse impacts that have been identified, the rezoning, as proposed...will not be entertained."

Rechler can still submit a new zoning proposal, as Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter pointed out during Tuesday's meeting.

"The public made it abundantly clear, and this town board listened. The idea of 1,365 apartments on that particular parcel was not something that this town board nor the community was supportive of," she said.

"It certainly does not preclude other proposals coming forward."

Islip was accepting public comments on the plan through Dec. 31 and was considering a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEISC) from the development group.

Greybarn Sayville, as outlined in the now-rejected proposal, would have become one of Long Island's largest multi-building apartment complex.