RIVERHEAD

Making Development Decisions Fair, Predictable & Cost Effective

Riverhead Master Plan
Riverhead
Town of Riverhead
2005

The Town of Riverhead’s Comprehensive Plan embodies Smart Growth principles in both its process and its vision. The Town employed a variety of techniques to obtain a broad range of perspectives from stakeholders including residents, downtown business leaders, farmers, social service organizations, environmental advocacy groups, and others. This outreach process was extremely effective in soliciting concerns, ideas and opinions that then played an essential role in determining the final goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.

The Plan is considered to be one of the most dynamic approaches to town revitalization seen on Long Island. It foresees a Riverhead with a revitalized downtown structured towards tourism that includes cultural attractions, a bustling Main St. complete with ample shopping, protected historic buildings, and an expanded and improved waterfront park. Attractive residential neighborhoods are also planned, as well as a thriving commercial corridor on Route 28. An office/industrial center, recreational and entertainment facilities are envisioned for Calverton Enterprise Park. Other goals focus on the environment and agricultural prosperity, including a permanently preserved greenbelt of farmland and open space, a widespread system of parks, and access to the waterfronts of the Peconic River, the Great Peconic Bay, and the Long Island Sound.

A Citizens Advisory Committee representing key stakeholders played a central role. This committee included individuals from the several boards of education, civic groups, the business improvement district, environmental groups, planning departments, and others. The group addressed a wide variety of concerns associated with the Plan, effectively diversifying and streamlining the decision-making process. Effort was also made to ensure that the plan is consistent with other regional plans, including the Central Pine Barrens Plan, the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, and Suffolk County Sanitary Code. These factors contribut to the Plan’s overall viability and acceptance.

In short the Town of Riverhead’s master plan is one of the few on Long Island that prioritizes where higher density development is preferred and where preservation techniques should be employed. In addition the master plan is being used to spearhead a number of exciting mixed use projects in its downtown business district.