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Roberta Owens supports the creation of 150 jobs; Kepert votes against

Marriott approved near Brookhaven industrial park

BY DANIEL WAGNER | daniel.wagner@newsday.com
September 6, 2007

The South Yaphank industrial area that houses much of Brookhaven's tax-incentive-laden Empire Zone is one step closer to getting something that businesses there say they sorely need: a hotel.

The Brookhaven Town Board voted 5-2 Tuesday night to grant the Briad Group, a developer based in Livingston, N.J., several key variances for a Marriott Spring Hill Suites, town spokesman Tom Burke said. The hotel is proposed for a 4.6-acre site at Horse Block Road and Sawgrass Drive, across the street from the Sills Industrial Park.

"The addition of a hotel will be an asset to the businesses in the zone," Brookhaven Economic Development Director Raymond Donnelly said, "and the demographics show that it's needed."

Donnelly, who also is director of Brookhaven's Industrial Development Agency, said he approved the project receiving sales tax benefits on its construction materials because "it brings substantial value to the area in terms of existing companies and the potential for attracting future companies." The hotel would be adjacent to the Empire Zone.

Representatives from local businesses and civic organizations came out to support the project. But Councilwoman Connie Kepert, whose district includes the site, voted against the proposed variances. She objected to the IDA granting what she called "government give-backs" without the developer guaranteeing that the estimated 100 construction jobs on the project would pay prevailing wages, which are set by the state Department of Labor.

"The Empire Zone was created to try to lift an area out of poverty, and in order to do that we need to provide decent-paying jobs," she said.

Briad said it expects the project to create 40 full-time and 10 part-time jobs when it is complete.

In an e-mailed statement, Kepert's opponent in the upcoming town board election, Roberta Owens, called Kepert's opposition to the variances "outrageous" and said Kepert's agenda "does not include the interests and needs of the people and businesses" in the district.

The approvals Tuesday night covered a change from light industrial to hotel zoning, as well as lot size, height and setback variances. The project still requires final site plan and building permit approvals.

"It was a great milestone," said Steve Scharf, Briad's director of development, "but we've got a lot farther to go."