Town of Brookhaven planning staff reviewed a package of development applications and variance requests during the planning portion of a board meeting, including three petitions to raise single‑family clearing limits and several commercial and multifamily site plans.

Planning staff described the first three clearing‑limit requests as separate applications under the town's single‑family clearing rules. At 6 Kathleen Crescent, an applicant asked to increase permitted clearing from 56% to 78%; planning staff recommended approval. At 34 Hope Court, an applicant sought an increase to 90% clearing; planning staff recommended limiting relief to 65% and requiring re‑vegetation of areas cleared beyond that amount. For 3043 Olympic Avenue, the applicant asked to remove an existing 20‑foot vegetative buffer; planning staff recommended a 15‑foot buffer instead.

The discussion focused on the Olympic Avenue parcel, where several council members said the trees had been removed rather than retained during subdivision work. One council member described the situation as a homeowner who “went in with a bulldozer and just knocked it all down,” and urged the town to avoid setting a precedent that would encourage clearing before seeking relief. Planning staff said the development had been earlier granted a 20‑foot buffer at the time of subdivision and that the town's recommendation was to require re‑vegetation where applicable.

Beyond the clearing requests, planning staff outlined multiple site plans and zoning matters moving toward hearing or resubmission. Items discussed included an adjournment request from LAI Global for a site at the corner of Fremont and Route 112 while applicants finalize elevations and civic‑association review; a proposed 4,000‑square‑foot expansion and outdoor patio at Heritage Park community center; a 18,195‑square‑foot catering hall application by David Malek; and a redevelopment plan for the 7‑Eleven site on William Floyd Parkway that would replace multiple structures with a single building and alter curb cuts to reduce congestion.

Staff also presented Cordwood Estates, a PRC‑zoned site at Porto Antonio Road and Old Town Road proposed to include 45 residential units with clubhouse and amenities; planners said the site plan meets the original change‑of‑zone requirements and that additional screening along the frontage and intersection would be added after board requests. Two companion applications at 15 Donald's Way include a relief of covenant to allow a subdivision sign in a 50‑foot buffer and a 65,000‑square‑foot multi‑tenant warehouse site plan. A small restaurant site on the west side of Route 112 (described as similar in scale to other takeout restaurants) was also shown with dumpsters and a landscaped buffer to adjacent residential properties.

On traffic and access for the William Floyd Parkway redevelopment, staff said the project will require a Suffolk County highway work permit for curb‑cut changes and noted the developer intends to keep a back‑street exit and modify curb geometry to improve turning movements. Planning staff said permit conditions will reflect county approval requirements but that the town cannot require county‑owned highway improvements.

Planning staff and council members said several of these applications have been under review for months or longer and that neighbors and civic associations continue to provide input. The board set or confirmed hearing dates for applications that had incomplete posting or pending submissions.

The planning portion concluded before the board recessed into an executive session on a pending court matter.