Anti-Matinecock Court Group Gears Up for Legal Battle [Poll]

Stop Matinecock Court is gearing up for a legal battle should Suffolk County Department of Health grant a variance for a sewage treatment plant on the proposed in East Northport, now 30 years in the making.

The citizen group vowed to sue both the Suffolk County Department of Health and/or Housing Help, the nonprofit organization behind the project, at a rally in Greenlawn on Thursday should the Suffolk DoH grant a variance for of the proposed on-site sewage treatment plant to a nearby LIPA substation.

"We have contingency plans in place in the event that the variance is approved and also we're going to assume that Housing Help is going to sue the county if the variance is denied," said Chris Triolo, founder of Stop Matinecock Court, who added that the group is speaking to sources for pro bono legal counsel and financial support, and is looking to the Greater Huntington Civic Association for guidance.

"I'm sure I speak on behalf of the community when I say that they don't want a sewage treatment plant next to three schools. As far as rules, [Housing Help] is really asking for a forgiveness, not a variance. If the County approves this they are opening up the door for many, many more situations like this down the road, which we feel would be a nightmare for not only the County, but the State."

Triolo cited health concerns, traffic, and financial and infrastructure burdens among his top reasons to oppose the project, though the group said at the Greenlawn meeting that it is theoretically in favor of a scaled down version. If Housing Help can't get the variance, they will have to redesign the whole project with potentially 50 fewer units, said Triolo.

Suffolk DoH is expected to decide on the variance within the next few months.

Do you support legal action against Housing Help and/or Suffolk DoH should a variance on the sewage treatment plant be granted? Take our poll or add your thoughts in the comments section below.