Planning Board Reserves Judgment on Road Opening for Maintenance Facility

The Town of Islip Planning Board reserved judgment on a road opening permit Thursday night related to the Sayville School District's new maintenance facility.

Planning Department officials recommended preliminary approval for the permit to open the northern end of Garfield Avenue, but the board decided to hold off its decision after board member Michael Kennedy said he had been unable to track down a deed or title that confirmed who held ownership of the eastern half of the roadway.

"Let's get this all straightened out; that's my gut feeling on this," said board member John Schettino in making the motion to reserve judgment.

Lisa Anderson, a member of the town's planning staff, said the "public was overwhelming opposed to the project," based on the nearly 50 Sayville residents who turned out for a public on the permit last month.

The subject of the application before the board, however, is not the actual use of the school district property, Anderson said. 

Planning Commissioner David Genaway said his staff had been moving forward under the assumption that the school district had a right to use the road.

"At this point, the staff remain convinced that the ownership issue is satisfied," Genaway said before the board unanimously voted to reserve its decision.