MARCH 18, 2008, FARMINGVILLE, NY -- Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley and Councilwomen Connie Kepert and Jane Bonner today announced the next steps in the Brookhaven 2030 process to guide land use decisions over the next 20 years. A series of workshops, to be held in each of the Town’s six council districts, has been scheduled throughout the month of April. The workshops will explore existing development patterns as well as future development considerations as the process to update the Town’s master plan continues.

“This is everyone’s opportunity to take part in the most basic function of Town government – making land use decisions,” said Supervisor Foley. “If people don’t participate now, when the page is blank and the early decisions are being made, it will be very difficult for them to later say, ‘We don’t like where Brookhaven is going.’”

Ms. Kepert, who represents the 4th Council District and has been one of the Town Council’s leading proponents of smart growth and good planning echoed the Supervisor, “This is the time to get involved; this is the time to say how you want Brookhaven to look; this is the time to help make the decisions that will guide Town’s development for the next 20 years.”

Councilwoman Jane Bonner, in who’s 2nd District the first meeting will be held was strongly supportive of the process. “These meetings provide the first of many, many opportunities for people to learn about, and speak out about, the future of the 2nd Council District and all the Town,” said Ms. Bonner

The workshops are scheduled as follows:

· Monday, April 7, 7-9 pm (Council District 2) Rose Caracappa Senior Center
Route 25A (at North Ocean Avenue), Mt. Sinai, NY 11766
· Tuesday, April 8, 6-8 pm (Council District 5) North Patchogue Fire House
33 Davidson Avenue, North Patchogue, NY 11772
· Wednesday, April 9, 7-9 pm (Council District 3) Newfield High School (Cafeteria A) 145 Marshall Drive, Selden, NY 11784
· Thursday, April 10, 7-9 pm (Council District 4) Longwood Public Library (Community Room, 2nd Floor) 800 Middle Country Road, Middle Island, NY 11953
· Monday, April 14, 7-9 pm (Council District 6) Eastport-South Manor Jr./Sr. High School (Cafeteria) 543 Moriches-Middle Island Road, Manorville, NY 11949
· Thursday, April 17, 7-9 pm (Council District 1) Murphy Junior High School (Cafeteria) 351 Oxhead Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790

Ms. Kepert explained how the workshops would describe specific neighborhood growth and development patterns and provide examples of sustainable development approaches found in similar communities nationally. She detailed how discussions would focus on:

· The old growth residential communities such as found in Stony Brook and Sound Beach;
· The post-war limited access moderately dense residential communities in places such as Manorhaven; Farmingville and North Patchogue;
· Main Street commercial districts that have a pedestrian orientation found in places such as Center Moriches;
· Dense single family communities such as found in the Shirley Mastic area, with limited access to commercial centers;
· The post industrial commercial corridors with a vehicular orientation as experienced along Middle Island Road, parts of Montauk Highway, and parts of Route 25A; and
· The industrial corridors and clusters such as those found along the railroad tracks.

Following the presentation, Ms. Kepert said the public will have an opportunity to provide comments.

Ms. Bonner discussed some of her philosophy about participating in the meetings, “I have often said ‘People are their own best advocates’ and this is the time for people to advocate for the kind of North Shore hamlet – from Port Jefferson to Wading River -- they want. Without our input others may wind up dictating what sort of place our hamlets will be when our children are getting ready to make life decisions and figure out where they want (and can afford) to live.”

“The next ten years are critical because they will be the ten years when Long Island (and the 2nd District) get ‘built out.’ If you want to see the 2nd built out like Queens or western Nassau County, stay home, let the opportunity to comment pass you by, and stay silent. But if you want your needs and hopes reflected in what Brookhaven becomes: show up, listen up, and speak up. It’s our future, we should decide what it will be,” Ms. Bonner concluded.

For more information people can visit the project website www.brookhaven2030.org, which includes additional information about the project and opportunities for further public involvement in the future or call (631) 451-TOWN (8696).