Written by Chris Boyle  |  07. October 2024

NYS Senator Dean Murray of the 3rd Senate District announced that his legislation designed to advance the Mastic Beach Area Redevelopment Project, has been signed into law. On Friday, September 27, 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S9035A/A9887A into law, which permits the Town of Brookhaven to alienate specified parklands to develop a wastewater treatment plant in the Beechwood community.

“The revitalization of downtown Mastic Beach has been a top priority for community leaders, residents, businesses and elected officials on all levels of government, for years. I’m thrilled that our legislation will allow the Beechwood Organization’s project to advance with the construction of a much needed sewage treatment plant that will benefit the entire community. I’m very excited to see how this project will revitalize , not only the Neighborhood Road Corridor, but the entire community as a whole,” said NYS Senator Dean Murray, 3rd Senate District.

While Senator Murray sponsored legislation in the NYS Senate, it was carried in the NYS Assembly by NYS Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, 3rd Assembly District, who said, “Thank you to our legislative colleagues and Gov. Hochul for supporting our efforts to bring sewer service to the Mastic Peninsula. Getting residents off cesspools has been a critical environmental goal for over a half-century, and we’re finally seeing the necessary actions to make it a reality. Our water resources are the lifeblood of this community, and I’m glad to see that the plan to protect them is moving forward.”

“The availability of sanitary capacity holds the keys to unlocking the redevelopment potential across our region. In this case, the needed redevelopment potential in downtown Mastic Beach can only be achieved through the creation of an STP, as there is no alternative hook up elsewhere,” said Dan Panico, Brookhaven Town Supervisor. “Therefore, this alienation bill helps achieve that purpose and we are hopeful that NYS will be a partner in the redevelopment effort with additional funding for this and other needed infrastructure projects in the future. I thank Senator Murray, and his staff, for their advocacy.”

“The alienation of this land for the sewer treatment plant is a crucially important step in moving forward with the Neighborhood Revitalization Project. We are grateful to our partners in New York State government for seeing this through,” said Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig, 6th Council District.

“Suffolk County is committed to working with all levels of government with the goal of expanding sewers into Mastic Beach and the Neighborhood Road business district.  This sewer expansion is not just an investment in clean water infrastructure, it is a step toward spurring economic development and community revitalization,” said Legislator Jim Mazzarella, 3rd Legislative District.

“This legislation is a significant step towards making the revitalization of Mastic Beach’s Neighborhood Road Corridor a reality. It paves the way to treat wastewater from the proposed development and in a way that ensures water quality in nearby bays and estuaries. The construction for this needed sewage treatment plant will benefit the community at large. We are extremely grateful to Governor Hochul, Senator Murray, and Assemblyman DeStefano for getting this legislation passed, and to Supervisor Panico and Councilwoman Dunne at the Town of Brookhaven for always championing this transformative project,” said Steven Dubb, Principal and President, The Beechwood Organization, master developer for the revitalization plan.