DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DGEIS) FOR New Frontier HAMLET OF NORTH AMITYVILLE, TOWN OF BABYLON SUFFOLK COUNTY , NEW YORK Prepared for: New Frontier II, LLC 225 Broadhollow Road, Suite 184W Melville, NY 11747 (631) 414-8400 For Submission to: Town of Babylon Town Board 200 East Sunrise Highway Lindenhurst, NY 11757 (631) 957-3000 Prepared by: Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC 572 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747 Contact: Charles J. Voorhis, CEP, AICP; Managing Partner (631) 427-5665 August 2011 DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DGEIS) NEW FRONTIER Hamlet of North Amityville, Town of Babylon Suffolk County, New York Prepared for: New Frontier II, LLC 225 Broadhollow Road, Suite 184W Melville, NY 11747 (631) 414-8400 Lead Agency: Town of Babylon Town Board 200 East Sunrise Highway Lindenhurst, NY 11757 (631) 957-3000 For further information please contact: Richard Groh Chief Environmental Analyst Town of Babylon Department of Environmental Control 281 Phelps Lane North Babylon, New York 11703 (631) 422-7640 Fax (631) 422-7686 Prepared by: (Environmental Analysis and Planning) Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC (Traffic Engineering) 572 Walt Whitman Road Nelson & Pope Melville, New York 11747 572 Walt Whitman Road Contact: Charles Voorhis, CEP, AICP Melville, New York 11747 (631) 427-5665 Contact: Joe Pecora, PE, PTOE (631) 427-5665 (Engineer) Bowne AE&T Group 235 East Jericho Turnpike Mineola, New York 11501 (516) 746-2350 (Attorney) James Gaughran, Esq. 191 New York Avenue, Huntington, New York 11746 (631) 385-7004 Date of Acceptance by Lead Agency: Comments to the Lead Agency are to be submitted by: __________________________________ Copyright © 2011 by Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC Page i New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page COVERSHEET i TABLE OF CONTENTS ii SUMMARY S-1 Introduction S-1 Description of the Proposed Project S-1 Anticipated Impacts S-2 Proposed Mitigation S-7 Alternatives Considered S-9 Permits and Approvals Required S-9 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT 1-1 1.1 Introduction and Project Overview 1-1 1.2 Project Background, Need, Objectives and Benefits 1-5 1.2.1 Project Background 1-5 1.2.2 Public Need and Municipality Objectives 1-5 1.2.3 Objectives of the Project Sponsor 1-7 1.2.4 Benefits of the Project 1-7 1.3 Location and Existing Site Conditions 1-8 1.4 Project Design and Layout 1-10 1.4.1 Overall Site Layout 1-10 1.4.2 Grading and Drainage 1-13 1.4.3 Access, Road System and Parking 1-15 1.4.4 Water Supply, Water Use and Sanitary Disposal 1-16 1.4.5 Site Lighting and Landscaping 1-17 1.5 Construction Schedule and Operations 1-18 1.6 Permits and Approvals Required 1-21 2.0 NATURAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES 2-1 2.1 Geological Resources 2-1 2.1.1 Existing Conditions 2-1 2.1.2 Anticipated Impacts 2-4 2.1.3 Proposed Mitigation 2-6 2.2 Water Resources 2-7 2.2.1 Existing Conditions 2-7 2.2.2 Anticipated Impacts 2-13 2.2.3 Proposed Mitigation 2-17 2.3 Ecology 2-17 2.3.1 Existing Conditions 2-17 2.3.2 Anticipated Impacts 2-21 2.3.3 Proposed Mitigation 2-23 ii New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS 3.0 HUMAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES 3-1 3.1 Land Use, Zoning and Plans 3-1 3.1.1 Existing Conditions 3-1 3.1.2 Anticipated Impacts 3-5 3.1.3 Proposed Mitigation 3-17 3.2 Community Character 3-17 3.2.1 Existing Conditions 3-17 3.2.2 Anticipated Impacts 3-19 3.2.3 Proposed Mitigation 3-21 3.3 Community Facilities & Services 3-21 3.3.1 Existing Conditions 3-21 3.3.2 Anticipated Impacts 3-26 3.3.3 Proposed Mitigation 3-31 3.4 Transportation 3-32 3.4.1 Existing Conditions 3-30 3.4.2 Anticipated Impacts 3-34 3.4.3 Proposed Mitigation 3-39 3.5 Cultural Resources 3-40 3.5.1 Existing Conditions 3-40 3.5.2 Anticipated Impacts 3-40 3.5.3 Proposed Mitigation 3-40 4.0 OTHER REQUIRED SECTIONS 4-1 4.1 Cumulative Impacts 4-1 4.1.1 Other Pending Projects 4-1 4.1.2 Resource Impact Assessment 4-2 4.2 Adverse Impacts That Cannot Be Avoided 4-4 4.3 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 4-5 4.4 Growth-Inducing Aspects 4-5 4.5 Effects on the Use and Conservation of Energy Resources 4-6 5.0 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 5-1 5.1 Alternative 1: No Action 5-1 5.2 Alternative 2: Development Per Existing Zoning 5-4 6.0 REFERENCES 6-1 TABLES 1-1 Project Phase Breakdown 1-4 1-2 Project Uses and Yields 1-11 1-3 Site and Project Characteristics, Existing Conditions and Proposed Project 1-13 1-4 Design & Sanitary Wastewater Generation 1-16 1-5 Permits and Approvals Required 1-21 2-1 Soil Limitations 2-2 iii New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS 2-2 Stormwater Impacts From Land Use 2-11 2-3 Habitat Quantities 2-18 2-4 Bird Species 2-20 2-5 Mammal Species 2-20 2-6 Habitat Quantities, Existing Conditions vs. Proposed Project 2-22 3-1 Zoning Requirements, Existing Conditions 3-2 3-2 Zoning Conformance, Proposed Project 3-8 3-3 Existing Tax Revenues 3-24 3-4 Estimated Assessed Valuation 3-27 3-5 Anticipated Tax Revenue Generation 3-28 3-6 Fiscal Impact on School District 3-30 3-7 Trip Generation (Proposed Project) 3-35 5-1 Comparison of Alternatives, Site and Scenario Characteristics 5-3 FIGURES (following Section 6.0) 1-1 Location Map 1-2 Aerial Photograph 1-3 Site Plan Aerial Overlay 1-4 Site Rendering 2-1 Suffolk County Sewer Topography Map 2-2 Soils Map 2-3 Geological Cross Section 2-4 Water Table Contour Map 2-5 Water Main Map 3-1 Land Use Map 3-2 Zoning Map 3-3 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Proposed Land Use Changes 3-4 Educational Resources 3-5 Community Service Providers 3-6 Cultural and Historic Resources Map 4-1 Location of Other Proposed Projects APPENDICES: A Positive Declaration B SCDHS Correspondence C SONIR Computer Model Documents C-1 Model User’s Guide C-2 Existing Conditions/Alternative 1 C-3 Proposed Project C-4 Alternative 2 D SCWA Groundwater Sampling Results E Ecology-Related Documents E-1 NYS Natural Heritage Program Correspondence iv New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS E-2 NYSDEC Breeding Bird Survey F SCPC Conformance Analysis G Site Photos and Location Key H Building Elevations I Community Services Correspondence J Fiscal and Economic Impact Analysis, Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, April 21, 2011 K Traffic Impact Study, Nelson & Pope, April 2011 L Parking Assessment, Nelson & Pope, June 2011 M SHPO Correspondence In pouches at rear Overall Site Layout Plan, Bowne AE&T Group, revised 5.12.11 Phase 1-5 Site Layout Plan, Bowne AE&T Group, revised 5.12.11 Retail Shopping Center As of Right Scenario Plan, Bowne AE&T Group, 4.18.11 v New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS SUMMARY New Frontier COZ Application Draft GEIS SUMMARY Introduction This document is a Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GEIS) for proposed change of zone, site plan and subdivision applications and for associated variance relief from the Board of Appeals on a 20.26-acre site located east of Broadway (NYS Route 110) and south, west and north of Brefni Street, Geraldine Avenue, and Nathalie Avenue, respectively, in North Amityville, Town of Babylon. This Draft GEIS describes the proposed project, characterizes site and area resources, analyzes potential environmental impacts of the project, presents measures to mitigate adverse impacts, and examines alternatives to the proposed project. The proposed project, known as “New Frontier” will establish a high quality mix of residential and retail uses on the property, while providing the community with numerous benefits. The applicant for this project is New Frontier II, LLC. The Overall Site Layout Plan illustrates the design intent for the purpose of impact analysis and Town Board review of the change of zone, Planning Board review of the change of zone, site plan and subdivision and the Board of Appeals review of associated variances. After the Board completes the current review process and renders a decision on the requested change of zone, more detailed Site Plans will be prepared for final approvals of the proposed development. This DGEIS is submitted to the Town Board of the Town of Babylon, as project information and documentation to assist in rendering an informed decision on the rezone, site plan and variance applications noted above. This document is prepared in compliance with Title 6 of the New York Code of Rules and Regulations (6 NYCRR) Part 617, the implementing regulations for the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Description of the Proposed Project The New Frontier project involves a change of zone of 20.26 acres from E Business and B Residence zoning to MR Multiple Residence zoning. Flexibility in zoning is necessary to achieve the design and combination of uses associated with this project, in order to achieve the specific benefits important to the community, as reflected in the proposed project. As a result, a number of variances will be required to enable the project to achieve success. The proposed project would result in the closing of the Frontier Trailer Park while providing residents with a comprehensive relocation package and establishing new housing and mixed uses on the project site.