March 4, 2026
Brookhaven Town Board unanimously greenlit rezoning a 12-acre lot in East Patchogue for a 64-unit senior community with clubhouse and pool. Neighbors worry about traffic off Sunrise Highway South Service Road.
As Long Island grapples with a growing senior population amid steady snowfall warnings from News 12, the Brookhaven Town Board unanimously approved rezoning a 12-acre lot in East Patchogue from single-family residential to allow a 64-unit senior living community with clubhouse and pool off Sunrise Highway South Service Road.
The change shifts the zoning from A-Residential-1 to Planned Retirement Community (PRC), filed by Kelly Builders and Development LLC under application 2024-012. Located near the Swan River, the site will feature 64 units designed for seniors to age in place without single-family home upkeep, as builder Mike Kelly noted. Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri supports it, calling it the best use for the vacant lot.
Residents in the adjacent neighborhood raised alarms about increased traffic and pollution. Longtime Swan River resident Jeff Berthold said, "People don't treat this place like home if they don't feel like they have skin in the game." Kevin Harrigan, who has lived there since 1990, added, "We look out for the river... I've been here for 35 years. Politicians come and go."
This rezoning addresses Brookhaven's need for senior housing while sparking local debate on growth impacts near East Patchogue's busy Sunrise Highway corridor. As the town continues to evolve, residents can also follow the Brookhaven land use plan update — the first comprehensive review in 30 years — with six open houses scheduled this month. For broader context on how Patchogue's revitalization is reshaping the area, and to see how new infrastructure investments are transforming local corridors, stay informed on Town Board decisions — explore more zoning updates and government news on LI Daily.
