Town Board Postpones Santilli Hearing

Residents who came out on Thursday evening to on Old Northport Road will have to wait.

The proposal is for a 44.5 acre parcel of land, located between Indian Head Road and Old Northport Road and known to many residents as the Santilli sand mines. The plans include four soccer fields, two dedicated ball fields and a 16,000 square foot sports facility, which would contain 10 batting cages.

Leonard Shore, attorney for Santilli Commercial Developers, the owners of the property, said that the town is reviewing town code 322-97, which states the size of an outdoor recreational facility cannot be greater than the indoor facility.

Shore is hopeful that that the outdoor facility can be built, believing it should be deemed a park.

“Various interpretation of the town code may or may not let this petition go through,” said Shore. “If the town is correct, then there is nowhere in Smithtown where we could build.”

“I think it is a good plan,” said Shore, who believes that it is “generally supported by the people.”

About a dozen residents, including Kings Park Civic Association President, Sean Lehmann, came out to speak. Shore said he asked the town board to allow them to be hear, but was turned down.

Lehmann said the association is staying on top of it and will wait to see what happens next.

No new plans or changes were submitted on the proposal prior to the hearing. According to the town, new notices will go out to residents when a new hearing date is set.

Shore said he would continue to work with the town on the petition.

“I am talking to the town attorney’s office to see if I can influence his decision to allow this to go ahead,” he said.