Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico accepted a $20 million check from Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine presented Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico on May 21 to help fund the creation of a new sewer district in Mastic Beach. The project is a critical step in transforming the long-overlooked downtown area.
The funds, provided by Suffolk County through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant and pump stations, replacing outdated septic systems and paving the way for long-planned redevelopment in the Mastic-Mastic Beach area.
“This is more than funding. It’s the foundation for the future of Mastic Beach,” Panico said. “Thanks to our partners at the county, we can now deliver the long-overdue infrastructure that will bring real, lasting revitalization to this community.”
The $20 million ARPA investment will also help preserve the purity of local drinking water and protect the Pattersquash Creek.
The Town of Brookhaven has worked for years to establish the Mastic Beach Sewer District, which will serve the Neighborhood Road Redevelopment Area and nearby parcels along Mastic Road. The treatment plant will be constructed on a 6.2-acre portion of the former Shirley Links golf course, land already owned by the town.
In collaboration with The Beechwood Organization, the town plans to redevelop 47 acres of downtown Mastic Beach. The project includes up to 630 new housing units, 130,000 square feet of commercial space, and 16,000 square feet of community space, along with new structured parking. The absence of a sewer system has long stalled progress on this transformative plan.
Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig, who represents the area, said, “It’s always a good day when our partner in government, the County of Suffolk, gives us a check for $20 million to help to defray the cost of the new sewer district. We could not move forward with this project without these monies, and we are extremely grateful, as is the entire community of Mastic Beach.”