Riverhead residents urge denial of Scotts Point site-plan amendments over aquifer concerns

A public hearing Tuesday over amendments to the Island Waterpark (also called Scotts Point) drew sustained criticism from residents and civic groups who said the changes would require a fresh environmental review.

Greg Bergman, senior planner with the Riverhead Planning Department, told the board the application seeks to add a zipline across the park's man-made lake, install temporary floating docks for battery-powered bumper boats, add a fire-suppression well and amend covenants to permit special drift-car events on the go-kart track. Bergman noted the site previously received final approval by resolution number 2025-571 and that a prior conditioned negative declaration (resolution 2025-234) and recorded covenants had constrained uses.

Local residents told the board removing or loosening those covenants would undercut environmental safeguards. "Removing it obviously opens the door to untold activity and runs the risk of contamination," said Claudia Bianco of Bidding Hollow, who urged denial and argued the covenant limiting vehicle types prevented the need for a full environmental impact statement. Jen Hartnagle of Group for the East End said the development "has never received a comprehensive environmental review" and warned piecemeal amendments fragment the state environmental review (SEQRA) process.

Barbara Blass of Jamesport, who cited SEQRA case language and town precedent, pressed for more detail on battery chemistry, charging stations, first-responder protocols and updated parking and traffic analyses if motorized boats or drift events are allowed. "These new impacts must be evaluated in an EIS," she said, referencing concerns about noise, runoff and battery-handling risks.

The applicant and his representatives defended current testing and monitoring. Ken Myers (Island Waterpark) said state and local health departments have tested the lake regularly and that the site's bathing beach was recently approved. "That water is immaculate," Myers said, adding that the applicant would increase testing frequency to monthly during a drifting season and pay for incident-response testing if necessary. Owner Eric Scott said battery-powered craft are standard in other reservoirs and disputed claims the site directly supplies drinking water. "We are not drinking water, not even close," Scott said, adding he's invested in environmental protections and that the park creates local jobs and tourism.

Frank Mancini of the Water District acknowledged the sensitivity of groundwater in the area but confirmed that Island Waterpark had agreed to a more intensive monitoring program than typical Riverhead projects. "If they agree to sampling the lake on a monthly basis for any contaminants we identified, that would be the highest level of monitoring we could ask for," Mancini said.

Planner Bergman also told the board the applicant received final reclamation approval from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on April 16, 2026, which removed DEC mine-lands jurisdiction over the site.

The board kept the hearing open for written comment for 10 days and did not take a final vote at the meeting. The public record will include submitted letters and any technical materials the applicant provides on battery specifications, charging locations and updated traffic and water-monitoring plans.

The hearing is expected to be scheduled for further review after staff and the applicant supply the additional technical information requested by board members and the town attorney's office.