Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Southampton Town Supervisor Patrick Heaney unveiled their vision for a 58-acre section of the County's Gabreski Airport Monday, which features a high-technology/homeland security economic hub.

"Gabreski Airport has incredible untapped potential for economic growth that is consistent with the local environment, and the County and Town have made significant steps towards finalizing a Master Plan for the Planned Development District on the site," said Levy.

"I am thrilled with the progress and cooperation made on this issue in the past few months," said Heaney. "It is our hope that this cooperative effort will allow for the PDD at Gabreski to finally realize its potential and benefit the people of Southampton and all of Suffolk County."

The 58-acre portion of the County-owned facility designated by Southampton as a Planned Development District is suitable for non-aviation, light-industrial use and is also one of five Suffolk County Empire Economic Zones targeted for economic development.

Incentives and Infrastructure
Levy and Heaney have taken the steps to accelerate the development of a world-class economic hub with emphasis on high-technology and homeland security industries. The envisioned industrial hub would also be ideal for defense and communications firms as well as other low-impact technologies.

Suffolk County has proposed developing the site  on the west side of the airport grounds and would provide over $2.5 million in infrastructure improvements and long-term leases as an incentive to businesses. County and Southampton planning officials estimated the site offers a minimum of 350,000 square feet of industrial space and could create from 600-900 jobs.

"We believe we can attract some of the leading names and innovators in technology, communications and homeland security to Gabreski," said Levy.

Planning officials noted this is one of the relatively few sites in southeastern Long Island suitable of desirable for industrial economic activity.

Timeline and Stalemates Resolved
As part of the accelerated schedule, Suffolk and Southampton have resolved some of the long-standing stalemates about the zoning, suitable uses and lead agency status for environmental reporting.

They also agreed to a timeline for exchanging comments on Southampton's draft master plan and other steps necessary to being a Request for Proposals process which the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Workforce Housing will oversee.

The Master Plan will specify suitable uses for the PDD and also spell out visual, landscaping and other aesthetic criteria to ensure development of a site consistent with the surrounding environment.

Homeland Security and the 106th

Although not directly related to the 58-acre PDD proposal, the future of the 106th Air National Guard Rescue Wing remains a critical issue, said Levy and Heaney.

"Several companies have indicated that having the 106th at the airport would be a value-added incentive for them to locate at airport, and we will continue to lobby heavily with the Federal government to keep this base," Levy said. Last year Suffolk waived the fee the Guard traditionally pays the County for having its base at Gabreski and the County has offered to donate 73 acres of additional buffer property to the Air National Guard if the unit is not closed.

Suffolk is also lobbying New York State to consider the airport as a location for a Homeland Security Training Center in addition to one planned in the Hudson Valley and the County Executive is hopeful that the new economic hub can help tip the scales in Gabreski's favor.

"Most importantly, Suffolk County and Southampton Town can stand here today and say we are on the same page and share the same vision when we see the future of Gabreski Airport," said Levy.

The 1,486-acre airport dates back to the 1940s when it was built by the Federal Government as a World War II air base. In 1969 the base was deactivated (it was then an Air Defense Command Base for the Air Force) and turned over to Suffolk County. In 1991 the airport was re-named in honor of Col. Francis S. Gabreski, a former base commander and World War II air ace.