Robert Goykin 15 Bradford Street Nesconset. NY 11767 July 15, 2016 Town of Smithtown Planning Department Town of Smithtown Planning Board Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft Comprehensive Plan. I have been a resident of the Town of Smithtown since 1964 and the Hamlet of Nesconset since 1990. I have worked in Smithtown, Nesconset, Kings Park and Commack so I am very familiar with the Township. I am most concerned with the plan as it relates to my Hamlet of Nesconset. I am grateful for a long overdue attempt at creating a new Comprehensive Plan since I feel that many of the “negatives” in the Town stem from haphazard development that has been implemented on a site by site basis rather than by considering the needs and impact on the Hamlets and the Town as a whole. That said, I find the plan short on detail and actionable items. It seems more like a “maintain the status quo” rather than “a great step forward.” Specifically, I wholeheartedly support the acquisition of the particular properties indicated in the plan for protection of open space, water quality and parkland. Nesconset is underrepresented in the Town as far as natural, recreational open space and the prospects for preservation are dwindling. The area adjacent to Lake Ronkonkoma is a missed opportunity for both commercial development, recreation and preservation. The purchase of the Story Book Homes property and linkage to Comidinger, Lilly Pond and the former Bavarian Inn parcels creates a recreational and scenic opportunity that rivals any on Long Island. There seems to be an attempt in the plan to provide a somewhat similar downtown and multi-family housing situation in each of the Hamlets. While conceptually interesting, when applied to Nesconset, it shows little planning effort and is inappropriate when considering the transportation infrastructure. Smithtown, Kings Park and St. James all have train stations and a number of State roads that make a concentration of commercial development and multi-family housing desirable and perhaps even an asset. Creating a densely developed artificial downtown in Nesconset would make an already unsafe and congested area even worse. There is no train service, Suffolk County Bus service, even if implemented is laughable, and there are no viable options to improve thru traffic or point to point traffic within the Hamlet. Nesconset already has more than its share of multi-family housing. While there is no doubt that additional housing would be utilized, it would be one more example of the kind of thoughtless development that has created the existing “negative” features of the Town. Beautification of the existing commercial properties near Lake Ronkonkoma, CR 16 south of Nichols Road and in the vicinity of the Nesconset Plaza, rather than increased density or expansion along the corridor is what is called for. This would most likely be embraced by the community rather than opposed.

I would like to concur on the importance of sewers in the downtowns and high water table areas of the Town. Right now lack of sewers is probably the single biggest factor limiting unmitigated over development. Sewers should be used expressly to protect groundwater and reduce flooding and the related consequences… not as a means to create higher levels of development. The one exception to that philosophy should be for transit (rail road station) oriented housing. Finally I would like to address the superficial consideration given to pedestrian and bicycle transportation. Regional planning calls for the need to stem the brain drain of young professionals, particularly with high tech skills. It does not take a master planner to see that all of the thriving high tech and “Millennial” magnet areas of the country have been planned with pedestrian and bicycle transportation given equal priority to the automobile. Even a small increase in bicycle and pedestrian transportation has a major impact on congestion and air quality. In addition to a bike-ped master plan, all road construction should be required to address bike-ped movement. These facilities, when implemented as part of the transportation plan, yield high bang for the buck since their costs are proportionally low and often eligible for State and Federal subsidies. In addition they have the effect of improving traffic safety and present a more modern and upscale streetscape. Attracting the highest talent to the local research and industrial hubs requires modern and adequate opportunities for human powered transportation, recreation and fitness. When considering these enhancements it is important to not view these from the perspective of your own needs, but of the needs of the population you wish to attract. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the plan. I would love to be kept informed of upcoming opportunities to have input on the future of the Town and Hamlet. Sincerely Robert Goykin