Brookhaven Decoded Weekly: week of Oct 19–25, 2026, plus a look ahead
Issue dated Fri Oct 23, 2026. Sources last checked Thu Oct 22, 2026, about 9 PM ET. All times are Eastern.
Brookhaven Decoded is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or speaking for the Town of Brookhaven or any agency. We summarize public notices in plain English, and we can make mistakes. Always check the original notice (linked in every item) before you act, comment, or rely on a date.
Status tags (fixed set): VERIFIED = checked against the official source text · PENDING = the outcome or document hasn't been published yet · UNVERIFIED = a specific detail we couldn't confirm. The tag sits next to that detail.
This week at a glance
- 🔥 Still ahead: Patchogue Fire District 2027 budget hearing, Fri Oct 23, 7:00 PM, Fire Headquarters, 15 Jennings Ave. It's the last fire-budget hearing of the season (item 15).
- 👵 Senior tax exemption: the Town Board held its hearing Oct 22 on Intro. Local Law 13, which would raise the income limits for the senior (65+) Town-tax exemption, adding three income levels (up to 65% of assessed value) starting in the 2027/28 tax year. Local Law 14 updates the disabled-veterans exemption. Adoption votes were on the agenda; outcome PENDING (item 11).
- ⏰ DEC comments closed Oct 22 on the Mastic Beach sewage plant discharge permit (70 Silver Road) and the Violet Cove waterfront park. Next comes DEC's decision (items 1–2).
- Oct 22 Town Board hearings held: a townwide affordable/workforce housing zoning law; rewritten speed limits on Yaphank Ave, Yaphank–Middle Island Rd, Rocky Point Rd and Main St; and a new STOP sign at Frederick Dr / Josephine Blvd, Shoreham. Results PENDING (items 9–10).
- Coming up: Town budget hearings Thu Nov 5, 5 PM; the Elite Towers cell tower and a second Traffic Code hearing on Thu Nov 19 (Looking ahead).
- Yaphank warehouse park: the Final EIS for the 1.7M-sq-ft "Suffolk Business Park" was accepted, and a rezoning vote is next (item 3).
- Oct 21 Zoning Board: 39 items plus holdovers; decisions PENDING (item 5).
Comment deadlines (DEC permits): closed Oct 22
1. Mastic Beach: comments closed on a new sewage plant's state discharge permit · VERIFIED
- What: DEC drafted and tentatively approved a SPDES permit for a plant that would discharge 225,000 gallons a day of treated sanitary sewage to groundwater through leaching pools. It would serve about 2,300 domestic users and is part of the Town's Neighborhood Road redevelopment plan. App ID 1-4722-07447/00001; SPDES NY0313254. The project is subject to DEC's environmental-justice policy (CP-29).
- Where: 70 Silver Road, Mastic Beach, NY 11951 (confirmed by our team against the Town's bid documents). Note: the DEC notice lists 73 Silver Road.
- When: Written comments closed Thu Oct 22, 2026. DEC's final decision: PENDING.
- How to comment: The comment period has closed. Questions can go to Heather Leonard, NYSDEC Region 1, 50 Circle Rd, Stony Brook NY 11790 · [email protected] · (631) 444-0365. (App ID and SPDES number above). The draft permit is still posted at https://dec.ny.gov/fs/projects/draftpermits.
- So what: Treated sewage from about 2,300 users would go into the aquifer, and this permit is what lets the Mastic Beach sewer district operate.
- Source: https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2026-10-07/completed-application/town-of-brookhaven-mastic-beach-sewer-district
2. Mastic Beach: comments closed on turning the old Violet Cove restaurant into a a public waterfront park · VERIFIED
- What: Suffolk County seeks a tidal-wetlands permit to demolish the former Violet Cove restaurant and marina structures. In their place: a pavilion, a kayak kiosk and launch, picnic area, permeable walkways, parking, two fixed piers, a revetment and low-sill bulkhead, a wave-break, and bioretention basins. DEC filed a Negative Declaration. App ID 1-4722-03986/00007.
- Where: 2 Violet Road, Mastic Beach (SCTM 200-984.6-10-2).
- When: Written comments closed Thu Oct 22, 2026. DEC's final decision: PENDING.
- How to comment: The comment period has closed. Questions can go to Elyssa Scott, NYSDEC Region 1, 50 Circle Rd, Stony Brook NY 11790 · [email protected] · (631) 444-0365. (cite the App ID).
- So what: A vacant post-Sandy lot would become public bay access with a kayak launch.
- Source: https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2026-10-07/completed-application/town-of-brookhaven-violet-cove
Environmental review milestone
3. Yaphank: Final EIS accepted for a 1.7M-sq-ft warehouse park · VERIFIED
- What: The Town Board, as lead agency, accepted the Final EIS for Brookhaven Logistics Center, LLC (Application 2024-0021-CZ). The application asks to rezone 38.90 acres from A Residence 1/L Industrial 1 to all L Industrial 1. That piece would join a 228.58-acre "Suffolk Business Park": 9 lots and 7 warehouses totaling about 1,700,928 sq ft.
- Where: North side of Horseblock Road (CR 16), about 2,000 ft west of Yaphank Ave, Yaphank.
- When: Acceptance noticed in the Oct 14, 2026 DEC bulletin. Rezoning vote date: UNVERIFIED. No vote appears on the Oct 22 final agenda.
- How to comment: The notice opens no comment period. The FEIS is at https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40389. Contact Peter Fountaine, (631) 451-6455, [email protected].
- So what: The rezoning vote, the last big step for 1.7M sq ft of warehouses, is likely next, so watch upcoming agendas.
- Source: https://dec.ny.gov/news/environmental-notice-bulletin/2026-10-14/seqr/town-of-brookhaven-brookhaven-logistics-center-llc-application-no-2024-0021-cz
Meetings and hearings
4. Mon Oct 19: Town Board work session · PENDING
- What: A scheduled work session. As of Oct 22, ~9:00 PM ET, CivicClerk shows no agenda and no files (event 4055).
- Where: Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville.
- When: Mon Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 AM. (CivicClerk stores local times with a "Z" suffix. The Oct 22 meeting is listed the same way as "15:00", and its agenda says 3:00 PM.)
- How to comment: Work sessions have no public-comment item posted.
- So what: Work sessions preview resolutions before they reach a vote.
- Source: https://brookhavenny.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4055
5. Wed Oct 21: Zoning Board of Appeals · PENDING
- What: 39 numbered items (#33 deleted) plus holdovers, mostly lot-area, frontage and setback variances for homes. The notable ones:
- Shirley, Marshalls wall sign (Southport 2013 LLC): 20'10" high and 187 sq ft, where the code allows 18' and 80 sq ft. North side of Montauk Hwy, 267.74' west of Park Ave.
- Patchogue, NYU Langone ground sign (Sills Road Operating LLC): 1'5" from the Sills Rd line, where 22' is required. SW corner of Sills Rd (CR 101) and Gazzola Dr.
- Stony Brook (Stony Brook Commons LLC): 21'10" wall signs (18' allowed), east side of Hallock Rd, about 165' north of Nesconset Hwy.
- Medford (Malizia Real Estate LLC, Platinum Ct): special permit for outdoor/overnight vehicle parking, and parking relief (48 spaces vs 50 required).
- Lot divisions: Bellport (Association Rd, 3 plots); Setauket (Christian Ave, 3 plots); Port Jefferson Station (Lafayette Pl/Hickory St, 3 plots); Ronkonkoma (Virginia Ave/Arlington Rd, 4 plots); Mastic (Patchogue Ave, 2 lots).
- Fire Island: Fire Island Pines (337 Shell Walk, 38.8% lot coverage vs 35% allowed); Cherry Grove (Bayview Walk/Gerard Walk).
- Holdovers: LF Homes (Mastic); Marotta (Manorville, 4 plots); Bolcas (Coram accessory apartment, 981 sq ft vs 650); Long Island Investor Group (PJS); Bianco (Medford); Gaddis (Holtsville); 1595 Ecke Ave LLC (Middle Island, 4 plots).
- Where: Auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville.
- When: Wed Oct 21, 2026: 2:00 PM, with a second block (items 19 onward) at 4:00 PM.
- How to comment: The hearing is closed. Decisions will appear in posted minutes.
- Outcome: PENDING. As of Oct 22, ~9:00 PM ET, CivicClerk event 4112 has only the agenda and packet. No minutes or decisions are posted.
- So what: Three oversized commercial signs and several lot splits that add houses on undersized lots.
- Source: Agenda https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8461,plainText=false) · https://brookhavenny.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4112
6. Wed Oct 21: Brookhaven IDA Finance Committee and Board · PENDING
- What: Finance Committee at 12:10 PM, Board at 12:15 PM. The notices list no agenda items, and no outcomes are posted.
- Where: 2nd-floor Agency Conference Room, Town Hall, Farmingville; also on Zoom (link in the notice).
- When: Wed Oct 21, 2026, 12:10 / 12:15 PM.
- How to comment: The notices offer attendance and viewing only.
- So what: IDA votes decide tax breaks on big projects.
- Source: https://brookhavenida.org/blog/10-21-26-ida-board-meeting-notice · https://brookhavenida.org/blog/10-21-26-ida-finance-committee-meeting-notice
Thu Oct 22, Town Hall auditorium: held. Recordings are at BrookhavenNY.gov/meeting. The final agenda (no longer marked DRAFT) was posted 10:03 AM ET Oct 22: Planning Board 3:00 PM, Town Board and General Public Comment 5:00 PM, Public Hearings 5:30 PM. As of Oct 22, ~9:00 PM ET, no minutes or results are posted, so every Oct 22 outcome below is PENDING. Agenda (fileId 8462, replaces DRAFT 8459): https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8462,plainText=false) · Packet (fileId 8463, replaces 8460): https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8463,plainText=false) · Event: https://brookhavenny.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4076
7. Farmingville: "The Shoppes at Triangle Park" site plan · VERIFIED
- What: Four commercial buildings for take-out and office/retail uses on 0.872 acres (J6 Business). Two existing buildings would be renovated and two vacant lots built on, with parking, drainage, EV charging and lighting. The final agenda adds a SEQRA Negative Declaration and a site-plan resolution with variances. DEP flags likely Northern Long-eared Bat habitat. Applicant: Grid Strategies Inc. (PLNSTP1707).
- Where: 815 Horseblock Rd: NE corner of Horseblock Rd (CR 16) and Woodmont Pl, and NW side of Park Place, Farmingville.
- When: Hearing held Thu Oct 22, 3:00 PM. Outcome: PENDING.
- How to comment: The hearing is over. Contact the Planning Division; whether written comments are still accepted is UNVERIFIED.
- So what: Four small take-out/retail buildings would replace a house and an office at a busy corner.
- Source: Final agenda (fileId 8462), Planning Board Public Hearing #1 · Town notice https://www.brookhavenny.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4914
8. Coram, Port Jefferson Station, Manorville: three more Planning Board hearings · VERIFIED
- What / Where:
- Tanglewood Commons LLC: site plan with variances, 1700–1710 Patchogue–Port Jefferson Rd (Route 112), Coram. A SEQRA Neg Dec and site-plan resolution are on the final agenda.
- T & J Realty LLC: preliminary subdivision, south side of North Country Rd, 53.79' west of Gladysz Way, Port Jefferson Station.
- NY Bully Crew Kennel: site plan, east side of North St, 1,000' north of Moriches–Middle Island Rd, Manorville. A 4,800-sq-ft kennel with an outdoor enclosure; a SEQRA Neg Dec and site-plan resolution are on the final agenda.
- When: Hearings held Thu Oct 22, 3:00 PM. Outcome: PENDING.
- How to comment: The hearing is over. You can speak at general public comment at a future Town Board meeting.
- So what: A Route 112 commercial site, new lots in PJS, and a dog kennel in Manorville.
- Source: Final agenda (fileId 8462), Planning Board Public Hearings #2–4: https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8462,plainText=false)
9. Townwide: Affordable and Workforce Housing zoning law · VERIFIED
- What: The law would add Article XIII, "Affordable and Workforce Housing," to Chapter 85 (Zoning), consistent with the state Long Island Workforce Housing Act. The full text is at the Town Clerk's Office.
- Where: Townwide.
- When: Hearing held Thu Oct 22, 5:30 PM (Public Hearing #2). Outcome: PENDING. No adoption resolution is listed with this hearing on the final agenda.
- How to comment: The hearing is over. The text is at the Town Clerk's Office, and you can speak at general public comment at a future Town Board meeting.
- So what: It could change what developers must, or may, build as affordable housing anywhere in town.
- Source: https://www.brookhavenny.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4961
10. Speed limits on Yaphank Ave, Yaphank–Middle Island Rd, Rocky Point Rd and Main St, plus a new Shoreham STOP sign (Uniform Traffic Code) · VERIFIED
- What: The roads are Yaphank Ave, Yaphank–Middle Island Rd, Rocky Point Rd and Main St. The ad files each one under the county-highway code heading "CR21." The legal ad (dated 9/17/2026; Brookhaven Messenger, Oct 8) amends Art. XIX §102A, "Speed Limits on County Highways," and Art. VII §26, "Stop and Yield Intersections":
- Brookhaven hamlet, CR 21/Yaphank Ave: adds 30 MPH from Rte 27 S Service Rd to CR 80, and 30 MPH from CR 16 to Rte 27 N Service Rd. Deletes the old CR 21 30 MPH entries for the same stretches.
- Middle Island: adds 40 MPH on CR 21/Yaphank Middle Island Rd (Rte 25 to Longwood Rd) and 50 MPH on CR 21/Rocky Point Rd (Whiskey Rd to Rte 25).
- Rocky Point, CR 21/Rocky Point Rd: adds 30 MPH from Rte 25A south about 4,852', then 50 MPH to Whiskey Rd. Deletes the old entries (30 MPH from 25A; 50 MPH to NYS Rte 25).
- Shoreham: at Frederick Dr / Josephine Blvd, the YIELD becomes a STOP (E/Frederick Dr).
- Yaphank: adds 40 MPH on CR 21/Main St (Yaphank Middle Island Rd to Yaphank Ave), 40 MPH on Yaphank Ave (Main St to Rte 495 S Service Rd), 40 MPH on Yaphank Middle Island Rd (Longwood Rd to Main St), and 50 MPH on Yaphank Ave (495 S Service Rd to CR 16). Deletes five old CR 21 entries, including 45 MPH NYS Rte 25 to Shannon Blvd and 45 MPH LIRR tracks to CR 16.
- Plain English: The Town is rewriting the speed entries for these roads segment by segment, and Shoreham gets a stop sign. Net change to posted speeds on the ground: UNVERIFIED. The old and new entries use different segment endpoints, so we can't say any road gets faster or slower.
- Where: Brookhaven hamlet, Middle Island, Rocky Point, Shoreham, Yaphank.
- When: Hearing held Thu Oct 22, 5:30 PM (Public Hearing #1). Outcome: PENDING. A separate UTC hearing is set for Thu Nov 19, 5:30 PM; its streets aren't published yet (PENDING).
- How to comment: The hearing is over. You can speak at general public comment at a future Town Board meeting.
- So what: Drivers on these roads and neighbors near Frederick Dr in Shoreham are most affected.
- Source: Legal ad, CivicClerk attachment 35729, event https://brookhavenny.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4076 · Town notice https://www.brookhavenny.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4917
11. Townwide: tax breaks for seniors and disabled veterans (Intro. Local Laws 13 and 14) · VERIFIED
- What: LL 13 amends §65-1 to raise the income limits for the senior (65+) Town-tax exemption, starting in the 2027/28 tax year (adds three income tiers; up to 65% of assessed value). LL 14 updates §65-16.3, the exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans, to track RPTL §458-a(11).
- Where: Townwide.
- When: Hearing held Thu Oct 22, 5:30 PM (Public Hearings #3–4). Adoption resolutions were listed for the same night. Outcome: PENDING.
- How to comment: The hearing is over. You can speak at general public comment at a future Town Board meeting.
- So what: Some seniors whose income is now too high for the exemption may qualify starting in 2027/28.
- Source: Final agenda (fileId 8462) · Oct 1 packet (CD6 2026-568, 2026-579): https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8453,plainText=false)
12. Town property: Carman's River Facility and Patchogue Arts Council · VERIFIED
- What: (a) A license to Izadora Meares to run environmental, nature and art classes, workshops and day camps at the Town's Carman's River Facility as a 501(c)(3). It came from an RFP for a "Kayak Business and Environmental Education Center," and she was the sole respondent. The term is 3 years plus one optional 2-year extension. The fee is waived in exchange for about $23,000 of capital improvements. (b) A license to the Patchogue Arts Council, Inc. to lease Town property at 312 East Main Street, Patchogue, for 20 years with two optional 10-year renewals. This hearing was first noticed for Sept 17. A related resolution, CD5 2026-619, covers a lease to PAC for "20 Terry Street, Patchogue."
- Where: (a) 2979 Montauk Highway, Brookhaven (per the Oct 1 resolution). (b) 312 East Main Street, Patchogue. Whether the hearing and CD5 2026-619 cover the same parcel(s): UNVERIFIED.
- When: Hearing held Thu Oct 22, 5:30 PM (Public Hearings #5–6). Outcome: PENDING.
- How to comment: The hearing is over. You can speak at general public comment at a future Town Board meeting.
- So what: Two Town properties would go to nonprofits long-term: 20+ years in downtown Patchogue, and a fee-waived deal on the Carmans River.
- Source: Legal ads (CivicClerk attachments 35734, 35735) · Oct 1 packet resolution: https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8453,plainText=false) · final agenda (fileId 8462)
Development and money
13. Port Jefferson Station: IDA closes on tax breaks for a senior rental complex · VERIFIED
- What: "Cordwood Estates at Port Jefferson Station": a $21M project with 45 two-bedroom senior rentals in 57,000 sq ft, by C&K Development (Kelly Development affiliate). About 10% of units will be affordable (≤80% AMI) and 10% workforce (≤120% AMI).
- Where: 5.5 vacant acres at the NE corner of Old Town Rd and Terryville Rd.
- When: Closed Oct 2, 2026.
- How to comment: The deal is closed; there is no comment period.
- So what: It's approved and financed, so construction is next.
- Source: https://brookhavenida.org/blog/press-release-brookhaven-industrial-development-agency-closes-on-proposed-senior-housing-complex-in-port-jefferson-station
14. Bid watch: Mastic Beach sewage plant construction (RFB #26025) · PENDING
- What: The construction bid for the sequencing-batch-reactor plant and pump station. Bids closed Oct 8, 2026, 11:00 AM. Award: PENDING. BidNet shows "CLOSED" with no winner, and the Oct 22 final agenda has no award resolution.
- Where: 70 Silver Road, Mastic Beach, NY 11951.
- When: Watch for an award on an upcoming Town Board agenda.
- How to comment: Bid awards have no hearing. You can speak at Town Board general public comment.
- So what: With bids closed and no award posted, the builder for item 1's plant is still unknown.
- Source: https://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/townofbrookhaven/solicitations/Mastic-Beach-Sewer-District-Wastewater-Treatment-Plant/0000432985
15. Fire-district 2027 budget hearings (your fire tax) · VERIFIED
- What: Each district holds one public hearing on its proposed 2027 budget. Budgets are posted on the Town page and at district offices.
- Where / When (dates from the Town Notices page document titles):
- Still ahead: Patchogue, Fri Oct 23, 7:00 PM, Fire Headquarters, 15 Jennings Ave, Patchogue (https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40394).
- Already held, Oct 22: Holtsville, 6:00 PM, 1025 Waverly Ave (a special meeting to adopt the budget was scheduled right after; result not posted; https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40365).
- Already held, Oct 19–21: Oct 19: Center Moriches, Davis Park, East Moriches, Eastport, Manorville, Mastic, Ridge, Wading River · Oct 20: Bellport, Blue Point, Cherry Grove, Farmingville, Fire Island Pines, Lake Ronkonkoma, Mastic Beach, Miller Place, Mount Sinai, Ocean Bay Park, Rocky Point, Selden, Setauket, Sound Beach, Stony Brook, Terryville (5:00 PM, 19 Jayne Blvd, PJS), Yaphank (7:00 PM, 31 Main St firehouse; https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40401) · Oct 21: Brookhaven (6:30 PM, 8 Seeley St), Gordon Heights, Hagerman, Middle Island, North Patchogue.
- Check the Town Notices page for the exact time and address of your district if it isn't listed above. https://www.brookhavenny.gov/731/Town-Notices
- Dates for the other districts come from the Town page's document titles. Except Brookhaven, Terryville, Yaphank, Holtsville and Patchogue, we did not open the notices, so their times and locations are UNVERIFIED. Centereach, Coram, Medford and Port Jefferson notice titles give no date (UNVERIFIED).
- How to comment: Patchogue residents can attend Fri Oct 23. Elsewhere the hearing has passed; contact your district.
- So what: The fire levy is a separate line on your tax bill, and this hearing is your one public say on it.
- Source: https://www.brookhavenny.gov/731/Town-Notices · Brookhaven FD notice https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40188 · Terryville FD https://www.brookhavenny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40196
Looking ahead
- 👀 Watch this: the Town's 2027 budget hearings, Thu Nov 5, 5 PM, and Elite Towers' 150' Medford cell tower, back Thu Nov 19, 3 PM, after neighbors objected Sept 17.
- Thu Nov 5, 5:00 PM: Town budget hearings on the 2027 Preliminary Operating Budget and the 2027–2031 capital budgets · VERIFIED. Source: Oct 1 minutes, https://brookhavenny.api.civicclerk.com/v1/Meetings/GetMeetingFileStream(fileId=8449,plainText=false)
- Thu Nov 19, 3:00 PM: Elite Towers, a 150' cell tower at Country Farms, 200 Bellport Ave, Medford · VERIFIED. The Sept 17 Planning Board hearing heard 8 residents raise concerns, then voted to "Adjourn to Date Certain (Unanimous)." Sources: Sept 17 minutes (in the Oct 1 packet, fileId 8453; and fileId 8428) · Town notice https://www.brookhavenny.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4919
- Nov 19 hearings set on the Oct 22 agenda (Set Dates #1–7; adoption PENDING): a Uniform Traffic Code hearing (5:30 PM); restrictive-covenant relief at 50 Timber Ridge Dr, Coram, and 384 Mark Tree Rd, East Setauket (3 PM), and at 32 4th Ave, Rocky Point, and 64 Coram Swezeytown Rd, Middle Island; a site plan north of Horseblock Rd, 570' east of CR 101, Bellport; and RA Middle Island Starbucks, 599 Middle Country Rd. Source: final agenda (fileId 8462).
- Fire elections: Mastic FD Nov 24; Medford FD Dec 8 (Town Notices page).
How to comment, in general: attend in person, or watch at BrookhavenNY.gov/meeting and sign up to speak. For DEC permits, write to the named contact by the deadline. Town "One Call": 631-451-8696.
Brookhaven Decoded is independent and not affiliated with the Town of Brookhaven. Always check the original notice.
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