About the New Maintenance Facility

 BACKGROUND

The Garfield Avenue project dates as far back as early 2007, in which the District explored the possibility of relocating a new Maintenance Facility to a piece of District-owned property at the end of Garfield Avenue. 

 One of the significant reasons the Board of Education decided to support this project is the fact that the cost to rebuild the existing Tyler Avenue Facility would far exceed the cost to locate a new pre-fabricated building on the Garfield Avenue property.  The Board of Education had many discussions on this topic during its regularly-scheduled workshop meetings, as well as Board meetings. 

 During the Fall of 2007, the District invited discussion about the Bond Referendum and gave details regarding the proposed plans at all PTA venues as well as at the November 15^th Superintendent’s Roundtable to which the community had been invited by the Bond Referendum Bulletin sent home prior to all residents.  Subsequently, the Bond Referendum passed during a special November 29, 2007 vote.

In May 2009, even though Garfield Avenue residents publicly vocalized their objections at many meetings and with the press, the Sayville community overwhelmingly approved the funding for this project with the passing of the 2009-2010 Budget.  Within that budget was the projected cost to build the new Tyler Avenue Maintenance Facility in the amount of $1.1 million.

 

HOW THE DISTRICT ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS

It is understandable that several families living adjacent to the District’s Garfield Avenue property would oppose any project that might change the rustic appearance of the area. 

The District responded by working closely with these individuals, listened to their concerns, and has made many accommodations to address their issues. 

• For example, in the design of the building, the District has agreed to maintain a 50-foot wooded buffer between the new Maintenance Facility property and the existing back of the properties on Garfield Avenue. 
• In addition, there were discussions on the orientation of the one-story proposed Facility, as well as the District pursuing a possible permanent egress/entrance with the MTA through the adjacent railroad property. 
• The District was successful in obtaining permission from the MTA for only a temporary easement during the construction phase of the project. 
• Furthermore, the original design of the project included two 3,000 gallon above-ground fuel tanks.  Based on the concerns raised by the Garfield Avenue residents, the District removed these fuel tanks from the project, and instead opted to contract with the Town of Islip to purchase its fuel. 

The area residents also had significant concerns about the SEQRA process, and the effect the proposed building would have on the environment. 

• In April of 2009 the District overtook a significant undertaking in proceeding through the SEQRA process. 
• As a result of this SEQRA process, the Board was apprised that there would not be any significant impact to the environment with the addition of this new project.
• This SEQRA process revelation enabled the Board to issue a “negative declaration” on environmental repercussions and go forward on this new project. 

 The District also performed a traffic-impact analysis and noise survey which were performed by outside professional consultants. 

• Each of these reports has concluded that the Garfield Avenue proposed project would have a negligible effect on the environment surrounding the Garfield Avenue properties. 

In addition, the District worked closely with the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and Department of Health to obtain all necessary permits and approvals. 

 

UPDATES SINCE THE MAY 2009 BUDGET VOTE

The residents of Garfield Avenue continued to vocalize their opposition to the project. 

• In early 2010, the West Sayville Civic Association, along with one of the residents Harry Berg, filed an Article 78 Proceeding with the Courts challenging the District’s SEQRA Determination. 

 The process was extensively reviewed by the Supreme Court and, in May of 2010, the Supreme Court confirmed and ruled in favor of the School District that the District  upheld and performed all of the appropriate regulatory requirements under the New York State SEQRA Laws and Regulations. 

 In addition, the District worked closely with the State Education Department for approximately a year and ½ on this project.  On August 17, 2011 the State Education Department was satisfied with their thorough review and evaluation of this project and issued the District a Building Permit to proceed. 

 SUMMARY

In summary, the District has invested a tremendous amount of time and resources in working closely with the community, the State, and all other interested agencies in considering all of the stakeholders’ questions and concerns.  Just as important are all the involved agencies’ approvals and confirmations that all legal requirements have been fulfilled.

 

Plans To Sell

On a completely separate issue, residents have asked what will be happening to the existing facility on Tyler Avenue. 

• It is the District’s intention to sell this property. 
• It is our continued hope that a developer would be interested in this property for a possible subdivision of the property into four single-family parcels. 
• Once developed, these properties would be returned to the tax rolls for the benefit of the entire community. 
• The existing Tyler Avenue property borders two residential streets, Division Avenue and Tyler Avenue, and is zoned for residential use. 
• Restoring this piece of property to its original use, coupled with building a new Maintenance Facility for less money than rebuilding the Tyler Avenue Facility, is a win-win for the entire community.