Town of Riverhead, NY Article XLIII Empire Zone

[Added 9-29-1997 by L.L. No. 12-1997; amended 10-21-2003 by L.L. No. 20-2003]

§ 301-211 Purpose.

[Amended 7-18-2006 by L.L. No. 23-2006[1]]

A. Cognizant of the existence within this state of certain areas characterized by persistent and pervasive poverty, high unemployment, limited job creation, dependence on public assistance income, dilapidated and abandoned industrial and commercial facilities and a shrinking tax base, the State Legislature has enacted a law known as the "New York State Empire Zones Act." The purpose of this Act is to allow government to target for these areas extraordinary economic and human resource development programs in order to stimulate private investment, private business development and job creation. Under the Act, special incentives and assistance are available that will promote the development of new businesses, the expansion of existing businesses and the development of human resources within areas that are designated by the New York State Commissioner of Economic Development as an Empire Zone.

B. In 1996, in response to military base closures and realignments and the loss of jobs at defense contractor facilities around the state, the Governor and the State Legislature amended the Empire Zone statute to allow for the designation of a new round of Empire Zones. Specifically, General Municipal Law § 960, Subdivision (b)(v), was amended to allow for the designation of not more than seven Empire Zones, "each which shall contain a defense or military base or facility which has been designated for closure or realignment or a site currently or formerly owned or operated by either the (1) United States military or (2) a defense contractor whose employment in New York State was adversely affected by a reduction in military spending."

C. This article is required to permit the Town of Riverhead, in cooperation with the County of Suffolk, to prepare and submit to the New York State Commissioner of Economic Development an application for redesignation of the Town of Riverhead as an Empire Zone and to permit the execution of any documents necessary to effectuate the purposes of this article. It is the intent of this article to provide the incentive necessary to attract private business and industry to the proposed Empire Zone, as further described herein below, and to maintain the connection between such growth and the human resources base of the community within said zone.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 101, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 301-212 Designation of Empire Zone plan and boundaries.

[Amended 12-28-2005 by L.L. No. 54-2005; 11-5-2009 by L.L. No. 58-2009[1]]

The Empire Zone is described by Geographic Information System, NYS SPF North American Datum 1983 coordinates, Suffolk County Tax Map numbers or metes and bounds as set forth in descriptions on file in the Town offices and includes the following subzones in the Town of Riverhead:

A. Calverton Property (EPCAL Subzone Area 1).

B. Downtown Riverhead Properties (Downtown Subzone Areas 2 and 3).

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 101, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 301-213 Designation and powers of Empire Zone Certifying Officer.

[Amended 12-28-2005 by L.L. No. 54-2005]

The Certifying Officer of the Empire Zone in the Town of Riverhead shall be the Town Attorney, with such powers as provided in the statute.

§ 301-214 Real property tax exemption.

[Amended 12-28-2005 by L.L. No. 54-2005[1]]

The provisions of Real Property Tax Law § 485-e are deemed incorporated herein and made applicable to this Empire Zone.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 101, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 301-215 Allowance for inclusion of regionally significant projects.

[Added 11-8-2006 by L.L. No. 44-2006]

A. In 2005, New York State amended the Empire Zone Program to include specific projects deemed as "regionally significant projects." "Regionally significant projects" are defined as company and site-specific projects located outside the existing zone boundaries of 1,280 acres/credits and must meet the criteria of § 957, Subdivision (d), of the New York General Municipal Law.

B. The following projects have been determined as eligible regionally significant project designated areas:

(1) Telephonics Corporation, located at 789 Park Avenue, Huntington, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 0400-104.04-01.00-110.000;

(2) US Web, Inc., located at 780 Park Avenue, Huntington, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 0400-104.00-01.00-050.000;

(3) Blue & White Foods, LLC, located at 535, 525 and 515 Smith Street, Farmingdale, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 0100-6-1-14, 0100-6-1-13 and 0100-6-1-15;

[Added 3-6-2007 by L.L. No. 5-2007; amended 5-1-2007 by L.L. No. 13-2007]

(4) Custom Woodwork, LTD., dba Heritage Wide Plank Flooring and Renaissance Woodworking, located at 713-817 Pulaski Street, Riverhead, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 600-124-02-24;

[Added 3-6-2007 by L.L. No. 5-2007]

(5) C & N Packaging, Inc., located at 105 Wyandanch Avenue, Wyandanch, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 0100-080.00-02.00-119.009; and

[Added 3-6-2007 by L.L. No. 5-2007; amended 5-1-2007 by L.L. No. 13-2007]

(6) Air Techniques, Inc., located at 1295 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York, more particularly described as Suffolk County Tax Map No. 0400-255.00-01.00-002.005.

[Added 3-6-2007 by L.L. No. 5-2007]