Op-Ed: Many Problems, Questions Remain About Islip Pines

This Op-Ed piece was written by Ed Silsbie. It was posted by Judy Mottl.

A meeting Thursday evening about the Serota proposal  was preceded by an informative presentation from the director of the fledgling Community Planning Center, Danial Galuzio. 

Looking at overwhelming development mistakes all over Long  Island we were told how to effectively step into the process now.  

The Serota project and it's opposition was discussed.  Unfortunately there wasn't any material available.  Credible speakers and audience members hit on a theme of fear of the retail,  entertainment and traffic issues.  Some cited documents they did not have.  

I've personally viewed the updated plan and discussed it with the Planning Commissioner. I have yet to review the new phone book sized Environmental Impact Statement.  
 
It will be obvious to anyone that the current plan is a big improvement over the first ( And I hope they're no longer doing things like dumping 10' of fill on a forest and calling it saved.) 

There are still many problems and questions with the zoning and environmental issues.  

I hope the effort to engage the developers and the township in a real discussion can get underway. 

But you have to wonder if a retail developer who can't admit quality of life is more tied to our true downtowns than to a faux downtown on Sunrise highway will really talk about options.

The Sertoa's may never be able to step back from a decades old retail dream for a parcel of land in an Industrial zone, next door to another mall. 

But our political leadership needs to see that adding a few tax dollars in one place will suck far more value from a huge swath of local hamlets.  That argument can have real teeth.  

Sincerely,  
Ed Silsbe
Blue Point Resident and President of the Blue Point Community Civic Assoc. and Co Director of the Tuthills Creek Alliance a local ad hoc group.