Update Meeting on EPCAL August 17, 2023

Update on Plans for an Air Cargo Hub at EPCAL 

Hosted by the Heart of Riverhead Civic Association

Thursday, August 17, 6:30-8 p.m.

(doors open at 6 p.m., stay open until 8:30)

Vail-Leavitt Music Hall

18 Peconic Avenue, Riverhead

1)  Introduction by President of Heart of Riverhead Civic Association -- Cindy Clifford, Riverhead

2)  Goal of evening --  John McAuliff, Roanoke Landing

3)  Impact on the town of a distribution hub, tractor trailers, and economics   --  Andrew Leven, former federal white collar frauds prosecutor, Riverhead

4)  Impact on immediate and longer distance neighbors of air cargo flights  --   map and chart

5)  Soil and water contamination    --  Kelly McClinchy,  Restoration Advisory Board

6)  Threats to the environment --  Pat Aitken, Board Chair, New York State Ornithological Association

7)   State of play between IDA and the Town Board/CDA, SEQRA  -- Barbara Blass, former member of Town Board and Planning Board, Jamesport

8)  How do we protect Riverhead and EPCAL?  

       *  Mobilization by Calverton Civic -- Toqui Terchun, President GCCA

       *  Successful opposition in Freeport to Amazon warehouses -- Dave Carew, Shop Steward, UPS Driver and            Organizer for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

        *  Create a legal fund to challenge in court irregularities of RIDA and Town Board -- Rex Farr, Calverton

        *  Follow-up community activism (invite EW to send a speaker to religious, neighborhood or social                                           organizations;  personally inform friends and neighbors; circulate the petition; ask EPCAL related questions of                     candidates; join our table at the last Alive on 25 tomorrow, at Blues by the River Sept. 12, and at Riverhead County               Fair Oct 8

9)  Questions and discussion  -- moderated by Cindy Clifford 

 

Speakers will describe the impact on home owners, road ways and the environment of an air cargo distribution hub at EPCAL, the former Grumman plant in Calverton.  The plans presented by Calverton Aviation and Technology in September 2022 and revisions by the Ghermezian family in response to community opposition will be reviewed.   The process undertaken of the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency (RIDA), the ultimate responsibility of the Town Board, public mobilization and potential legal action will be discussed.