Brookhaven schedules March 26 hearing on ice arena at former Dowling campus

Farmingville will host a March 26 Planning Board hearing that could advance construction of a two-rink ice arena on the former Dowling College campus in Shirley, with the meeting set for 3:00 p.m. in the second-floor auditorium at 1 Independence Hill. The hearing will consider a site plan application with variances from Hampshire Venture Partners LLC for the southeast corner of William Floyd Parkway and Flower Hill Drive, a parcel adjacent to Brookhaven Calabro Airport that totals roughly 104–105 acres according to public records.

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and town materials describe the rink as part of a larger redevelopment by Hampshire Venture Partners that pairs public recreation with industrial space. The indoor ice arena concept would include two full-size sheets and was described by Panico as a multi-use facility intended to include public sessions: “the plan is for open skate time as well, similar to Hidden Pond Park.” An artist rendering of the proposed facility has been provided by the developer.

The redevelopment framework embedded in filings and town communications also calls for warehouse buildings. Sources variously describe three warehouse structures and about 596,000 to nearly 600,000 square feet of warehouse space on the 104-plus acre site; earlier business reporting cited in filings estimated total investment in the broader project in the range of $125 million to $150 million. Under the zone change approved at the July 19 Town Board meeting, Hampshire Venture Partners agreed to give the town the athletic complex from Dowling, and secured more than $2.2 million in Impact Mitigation Fees.

Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig summarized the zone change in the town newsletter, writing that the board “unanimously approved a Change of Zone of the former Dowling College campus on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley, from A1 Residence to L1 Industrial. This zone change allows Hampshire Venture Partners LLC, to develop three warehouses on a portion of the 104-plus acre parcel. In return, the applicant has given the town the athletic complex that was part of Dowling, which includes three turf athletic fields and a fieldhouse. In addition, the applicant will develop an indoor ice arena that will feature two ice rinks. The zone change also provides for significant dedication of open space to the town and secured more than $2.2 million in Impact Mitigation Fees.”

Town records and public filings show the rink proposal comes with traffic, stormwater and wastewater reviews and that multiple agencies have weighed in on neighborhood compatibility. The site plan application submitted for the March 26 hearing includes variance requests, and town paperwork notes measures aimed at limiting traffic impacts - for example, restrictions that would bar “last-mile” delivery uses in the warehouse buildings.

Supervisor Panico has also said the developer would refurbish former athletic fields and donate the rink and ballfields to the town for public park use, and that the town plans to hire a separate company to manage the park. A LinkedIn post from a local resident who appears to be Brandon Marto urged neighbors to attend the March 26 hearing in support, writing in part, “I plan to attend, and I’m asking anyone who believes in investing in our community to consider coming out in support... Let’s give our kids - and our community - something to grow into.”

The March 26 hearing, during the planning-board portion of the Town Board meeting, will allow members of the public to speak and will be streamed live on the Town of Brookhaven meetings page. Brookhaven officials have said additional hearings will follow as site plans for the ice arena and the warehouse components move through review. For immediate questions about the zone-change summary in the Brookhavenny newsletter, Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig’s office can be reached at 631-451-6502.