Town Approves Amber Court Plans

Proposed plans to build an assisted living facility in Nesconset cleared the next hurdle towards approval on Tuesday afternoon.

Smithtown Town Board voted unanimously to approve plans to build Amber Court assisted living facility with its own sewage treatment plant off Lake Avenue in Nesconset. 

The plans lay out a 67,000-square-foot assisted living facility with its own living 22,500-square foot-cellar and sewage treatment plant on what is now an abandoned piece of property with multiple residential buildings. There will be 186 beds available. 

Nesconset residents and neighboring property owners protest the plans at a Dec. 18, 2012 Smithtown Planning Board meeting. 

John Wedeking, a Nesconset resident, said his primary concern is that residential area relies on well water, as it is without access to New York City public water. He said he's concerned about the potential sewage treatment plant and heavy development of the property could contaminate the ground water used for cooking and drinking or prevent aquifers from properly recharging. 

Other issues with the plans included residents upset that the building will stand 35 feet above ground level and the possibility of increased traffic. 

"It’s a bad idea, we are residential and will increase the amount of traffic that comes through our neighborhood," said Camile Dullese, of Nesconset, in December.

Amber Court's proposed plans will now go to Smithtown's Building Department for approval as well as before Suffolk County Health Department, as an assisted living facility.