October 9, 2025 — Town Board Work Session

Timestamped Transcript

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0:00Thank you.

0:30Thank you.

1:00I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:13Thank you very much.

1:16So we have just a couple of announcements today.

1:20This coming Saturday, October 11th, Racetrack Knott Street, Drag Race and Drift, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

1:27Also Sunday, October 12th, Motorsports World Cup.

1:30Racing events from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., of course, over there at Epco.

1:35Long Island Antique Power Association Truck Pull from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also taking place on Saturday.

1:42Sunday, October 12th, we have the annual Riverhead Country Fair taking place downtown Riverhead.

1:48That will go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1:51Just a reminder for all residents, Monday, October 13th, is Columbus Day.

1:55All town offices will be closed, but they'll reopen on Tuesday, October 14th.

2:00At 8 a.m.

2:03So we, I'm sorry.

2:04There's one more thing.

2:05Yep.

2:05Did the board have any other announcements?

2:06Councilman Kern?

2:07Yeah.

2:07The Lions are going to have a blues festival at Polish Hall starting at 3 p.m., goes to 8 p.m.

2:15On which day?

2:15Saturday.

2:16On Saturday.

2:17Great.

2:18Okay.

2:19Anybody else?

2:19Any other announcements?

2:20I do.

2:21Sure.

2:21Actually, on behalf of the Recreation Department, they will be hosting a repair cafe.

2:30At the George Young Community Center on Saturday, October 25th from 1 to 4.

2:36They're looking for volunteers from the community that have special talent to being able to fix small appliances, welders, people that are able to fix jewelry.

2:49If you could contact the Recreation Department and let them know that you would be able to volunteer and help out that day, that would be great.

2:56And if you are a resident of Riverhead and have something.

3:00That you need repaired, go on down to the George Young Community Center.

3:03And they're also doing their Halloween costume exchange.

3:07So if you have an old costume from last year that you want to bring down to Town Hall, to the Rec Department, bring it down and exchange it for another costume.

3:18So that's for all the residents of Riverhead.

3:22And that exchange is taking place in this building, right?

3:24Correct.

3:24Town Hall on the second floor outside the Recreation Office?

3:27Yes.

3:27There's already about 50 plus.

3:30There's some great costumes up there.

3:33So come on down.

3:34Good things happening.

3:35Okay.

3:36Very good.

3:36Thank you very much.

3:37We have just one item on the open session agenda today.

3:41And that is for matters surrounding a site plan for the Timothy Hill Children's Ranch.

3:45We have Greg Bergman from Senior Planner with us to talk it through today.

3:49Good morning, Greg.

3:50Good morning.

3:51Good morning.

3:52So we'll keep this pretty quick.

3:54This is pretty straightforward.

3:55So we've got a site plan application submitted by Timothy Hill Children's Ranch.

4:00They're demolishing, or they actually have already demolished.

4:03They had a 4,200 approximately square foot horse barn with stables located towards the middle of their property on Middle Road.

4:11They are seeking to construct a new horse barn, approximately 6,500 square feet, 12 stables, a new electrical transformer,

4:20as well as a new IA, Sanitary Wastewater Management System, to serve the barn.

4:24The reason I'm bringing it to the town board is the history of the town.

4:29The history of the town.

4:29The history of the Timothy Hill Children's Ranch.

4:31So the ranch was established by special permit of the town board by resolution adopted December 29, 1977.

4:39That special permit specifically authorized the establishment of a non-profit year-round resident child care institution

4:48with attendant open space and agricultural uses.

4:52And specifically included, they were allowed 10 detached homes to house not more than six children in each home

4:58with the resident personnel.

4:59The

5:24special permit should be required.

5:26So basically what it did is I drafted a resolution.

5:29you know considering the history of the property the fact that they're not

5:33changing any uses they're just modernizing their facilities they're not

5:36you know again it was a horse barn it's going to remain a horse barn I just

5:40drafted a resolution sort of detailing the findings the history and if the

5:44board agrees it's a resolution essentially stated that amendment of the

5:48special permit is not necessary given that they're not really expanding or

5:51changing the scope of uses if the board agrees with that resolution I can put it

5:56in the packet and that would allow the Planning Board to review this and grant

5:59an administrative approval I didn't refer it to town agencies a town

6:03engineer just requested stormwater management for the barn Riverhead Water

6:08District noted that they are tapping off the existing they call this the Maxwell

6:12residence it's a one-story log cabin that line is already protected by a

6:17four-inch RPZ so there's really no issues with the water district they will

6:22just need key money upon it before the issuance of a CO for the structure so

6:27that's it pretty straightforward again just

6:29developing the structure and then we'll get to the next item.

6:29it's also it's also it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it

6:59good idea the map is helpful Greg but maybe you can just explain to the public

7:02so they're driving on Middle Road explain to them maybe where this is

7:06located relative to what they see from the street just so people understand so

7:09there's two for the for the main so Timothy Hill Ranch Children's Ranch owns

7:14a number of properties along the north side of Middle Road the westernmost

7:18driveway is the driveway to access the administration facilities building the

7:23eastern driveway is what is used to get towards the rear of the property towards

7:28the farm in the barn the structure is approximately 900 feet so I mean it's

7:35not visible from the roadway you know it's sort of located central to their

7:40property but you know and then you got all the farm fields in the back the one

7:44thing I did note not that it's pertinent to the town boards involved with this

7:48but this the eastern driveway when you're coming out of this driveway

7:52there's a large row of evergreen trees here that sort of obscure the eastern

7:57view

7:58so like you almost sort of have to like get pretty you inch out into the roadway

8:02before you can get a clear view so that's gonna be one of the recommendations

8:05before the planning board that they just sort of trim that out to promote

8:10visibility and safety at that intersection their grounds are always

8:16beautiful over there they take really good care of the property all their

8:20properties I met with the the assistant facilities director and he sort of gave

8:24me the grant or the place it is quite amazing piece of property I'm sure you'll be able to see it in the next few weeks

8:28so again I have the draft resolution in that packet the board's amenable to it I

8:35will put it in for the next town board meeting and then we'll allow the planning board to review this and approve it

8:39great thanks Greg great coming in so that's it for open session we have no other items on the agenda but we do have a couple things for executive session in a moment we'll ask for a first and a second to go into exec to discuss the following litigation matters first matters in this session are in line with the

8:58second matter surrounding potential litigation between the Town of Riverhead and the New York State Office of Cannabis Cannabis Management with Councilman Rothwell and Councillor Howard

9:06second matter surrounding litigation between the Town of Riverhead and the Town of Southampton with Councillor Howard and lastly matter surrounding litigation between the Town of Riverhead and American Breeders also with Councillor Howard so with that can I have a first and a second to close the work session and go into executive session

9:21so moved

9:22second

9:23all in favor

9:24aye

9:25all opposed

9:26that's it that closes the work session

9:28Thank you very much, everyone.

Full Transcript

Thank you. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. So we have just a couple of announcements today. This coming Saturday, October 11th, Racetrack Knott Street, Drag Race and Drift, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also Sunday, October 12th, Motorsports World Cup. Racing events from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., of course, over there at Epco. Long Island Antique Power Association Truck Pull from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also taking place on Saturday. Sunday, October 12th, we have the annual Riverhead Country Fair taking place downtown Riverhead. That will go from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Just a reminder for all residents, Monday, October 13th, is Columbus Day. All town offices will be closed, but they'll reopen on Tuesday, October 14th. At 8 a.m. So we, I'm sorry. There's one more thing. Yep. Did the board have any other announcements? Councilman Kern? Yeah. The Lions are going to have a blues festival at Polish Hall starting at 3 p.m., goes to 8 p.m. On which day? Saturday. On Saturday. Great. Okay. Anybody else? Any other announcements? I do. Sure. Actually, on behalf of the Recreation Department, they will be hosting a repair cafe. At the George Young Community Center on Saturday, October 25th from 1 to 4. They're looking for volunteers from the community that have special talent to being able to fix small appliances, welders, people that are able to fix jewelry. If you could contact the Recreation Department and let them know that you would be able to volunteer and help out that day, that would be great. And if you are a resident of Riverhead and have something. That you need repaired, go on down to the George Young Community Center. And they're also doing their Halloween costume exchange. So if you have an old costume from last year that you want to bring down to Town Hall, to the Rec Department, bring it down and exchange it for another costume. So that's for all the residents of Riverhead. And that exchange is taking place in this building, right? Correct. Town Hall on the second floor outside the Recreation Office? Yes. There's already about 50 plus. There's some great costumes up there. So come on down. Good things happening. Okay. Very good. Thank you very much. We have just one item on the open session agenda today. And that is for matters surrounding a site plan for the Timothy Hill Children's Ranch. We have Greg Bergman from Senior Planner with us to talk it through today. Good morning, Greg. Good morning. Good morning. So we'll keep this pretty quick. This is pretty straightforward. So we've got a site plan application submitted by Timothy Hill Children's Ranch. They're demolishing, or they actually have already demolished. They had a 4,200 approximately square foot horse barn with stables located towards the middle of their property on Middle Road. They are seeking to construct a new horse barn, approximately 6,500 square feet, 12 stables, a new electrical transformer, as well as a new IA, Sanitary Wastewater Management System, to serve the barn. The reason I'm bringing it to the town board is the history of the town. The history of the town. The history of the Timothy Hill Children's Ranch. So the ranch was established by special permit of the town board by resolution adopted December 29, 1977. That special permit specifically authorized the establishment of a non-profit year-round resident child care institution with attendant open space and agricultural uses. And specifically included, they were allowed 10 detached homes to house not more than six children in each home with the resident personnel. The special permit should be required. So basically what it did is I drafted a resolution. you know considering the history of the property the fact that they're not changing any uses they're just modernizing their facilities they're not you know again it was a horse barn it's going to remain a horse barn I just drafted a resolution sort of detailing the findings the history and if the board agrees it's a resolution essentially stated that amendment of the special permit is not necessary given that they're not really expanding or changing the scope of uses if the board agrees with that resolution I can put it in the packet and that would allow the Planning Board to review this and grant an administrative approval I didn't refer it to town agencies a town engineer just requested stormwater management for the barn Riverhead Water District noted that they are tapping off the existing they call this the Maxwell residence it's a one-story log cabin that line is already protected by a four-inch RPZ so there's really no issues with the water district they will just need key money upon it before the issuance of a CO for the structure so that's it pretty straightforward again just developing the structure and then we'll get to the next item. it's also it's also it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it good idea the map is helpful Greg but maybe you can just explain to the public so they're driving on Middle Road explain to them maybe where this is located relative to what they see from the street just so people understand so there's two for the for the main so Timothy Hill Ranch Children's Ranch owns a number of properties along the north side of Middle Road the westernmost driveway is the driveway to access the administration facilities building the eastern driveway is what is used to get towards the rear of the property towards the farm in the barn the structure is approximately 900 feet so I mean it's not visible from the roadway you know it's sort of located central to their property but you know and then you got all the farm fields in the back the one thing I did note not that it's pertinent to the town boards involved with this but this the eastern driveway when you're coming out of this driveway there's a large row of evergreen trees here that sort of obscure the eastern view so like you almost sort of have to like get pretty you inch out into the roadway before you can get a clear view so that's gonna be one of the recommendations before the planning board that they just sort of trim that out to promote visibility and safety at that intersection their grounds are always beautiful over there they take really good care of the property all their properties I met with the the assistant facilities director and he sort of gave me the grant or the place it is quite amazing piece of property I'm sure you'll be able to see it in the next few weeks so again I have the draft resolution in that packet the board's amenable to it I will put it in for the next town board meeting and then we'll allow the planning board to review this and approve it great thanks Greg great coming in so that's it for open session we have no other items on the agenda but we do have a couple things for executive session in a moment we'll ask for a first and a second to go into exec to discuss the following litigation matters first matters in this session are in line with the second matter surrounding potential litigation between the Town of Riverhead and the New York State Office of Cannabis Cannabis Management with Councilman Rothwell and Councillor Howard second matter surrounding litigation between the Town of Riverhead and the Town of Southampton with Councillor Howard and lastly matter surrounding litigation between the Town of Riverhead and American Breeders also with Councillor Howard so with that can I have a first and a second to close the work session and go into executive session so moved second all in favor aye all opposed that's it that closes the work session Thank you very much, everyone.