Scott’s Pointe issued stop work order and cited by city for further expansion without approval

Scott’s Pointe, an amusement park in Calverton formerly known as Island Water Park, was cited earlier this month by Riverhead Town officials for building a go-kart track and pickleball courts on its property without permits or site plan approval, and other violations of city law. .

Scott’s Pointe was issued three citations June 3 by city law enforcement for violating city laws that require permits and site plan approvals for new construction, according to documents obtained through a request for freedom of information law. The city’s Code Enforcement Division also issued a “stop work” order for the site to cease future use of the track.

The park also received two citations from Riverhead Fire Marshal Andrew Smith the same day for city code violations, records show. One violation involved converting storage space into assembly space without city approval. The other was for failing to install a radio coverage system for emergency responders, which is required by the National Fire Safety Act when first responders experience communications equipment problems at a particular site. The fire marshal ordered the system installed in February after a test of the equipment with local first responders, but Scott’s Pointe failed to install the system, documents show.

Eric Scott, president of Island Water Park Corp., which operates Scott’s Pointe, did not respond today to a phone call or email seeking comment.

The investigation into Scott’s Pointe was sparked by a Riverhead Planning Department staffer who saw a Facebook video of the trail, lead investigator Rich Downs said in an email. The staff member said “the asphalt pathway was not on the original site plan and did not have approval from the Town of Riverhead,” according to an investigation report written by Downs.

The video, which was posted to Scott’s Pointe social media pages the day before the city opened its investigation. shows both go-karts and a race car driving and drifting along the track. Its description says the track is “almost finished.”

The go-kart track was also featured in a Newsday television segment and in an article about Scott’s Pointe published on May 21. The article states that the park has a ¾ mile go-kart track, with adult and children’s karts that can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

The Newsday article also states that there will be six batting cages on the property – structures that were also not included in the amusement park’s site plan approvals.

Violations of city code carry criminal and civil penalties and are prosecuted by the Riverhead City Attorney’s Office. In addition to these penalties, an applicant submitting a site plan seeking to legalize existing construction or alterations must pay double the filing fee to the city.

“Unfortunately, Scott’s Pointe, a business and attraction that the city was happy to finally see open and working to realize its potential, prematurely exceeded the scope of the approvals granted by the city,” said Riverhead City Attorney, Erik Howard, in an email response to a request for comment from RiverheadLOCAL. “The council and various departments invest significant time and effort to review and process applications quickly, but with due regard to practical and environmental impacts. In this case, there is an established process for adding attractions, changing site plans or further developing the property which, following an investigation by code enforcement and the fire marshal, it was obvious that Scott’s Pointe had not followed,” Howard wrote. “As a result, they will be held to the same consequences as any other property owner who would be forced to face when efforts are made to circumvent city code.” »

Situated on a 46-acre site, the park has a 20-acre man-made lake originally approved years ago for use by a water ski club. After the developer’s excavations hit groundwater, the state DEC banned the use of gasoline-powered boats in the lake. Island Water Park, as it was then known, changed its plans for the site to eliminate prohibited water uses. It offered a rope-towed water ski system and non-motorized water sports vehicles including canoes, sailboats and kayaks.

The owner received a stop work order in November 2021 for unauthorized construction on the site. That order came about a week after the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency approved financial assistance for the project, then reimagined as an “extreme water sports park.” The financial assistance approved by RIDA included a 10-year property tax abatement, as well as mortgage registration and sales tax exemptions.

The recreational facility would include an “indoor/outdoor extreme water sports park, including an indoor surf pool, climbing walls, indoor and outdoor volleyball courts, zip line, spectator seating, courses obstacles, bumper boats, water slides, a fitness center. center, spa, pro shop and restaurants,” according to the owner’s request for assistance to the IDA. The park is expected to attract 900,000 visitors per year, according to an economic impact analysis submitted to RIDA by the applicant. A company executive told the IDA board that he anticipated the park would attract “thousands and thousands of visitors per week, potentially a few thousand per day,” when fully operational.

MORE COVERAGE: Riverhead IDA approves financial assistance for Island Water Park

Last July, the Riverhead Fire Marshal issued a notice of violation for hosting a Fourth of July party at the site without the required permits to occupy the site. The company did not receive a citation for this violation. A RiverheadLOCAL investigation last summer into the amusement park’s social media and city approvals showed people were hosting parties or using amenities at the Calverton location without required approvals for years before this citation was cited. is issued.

At the time, the city attorney and other city officials said parties and private events held at the site did not violate city code requirements for certificates of occupancy, since the facility was not open to the public.

MORE COVERAGE: Social media posts showing CO-free Calverton Water Park parties lead to notice of violation

Scott’s Pointe held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its opening in November. The project has been touted by city officials as a tourist attraction that will be a major economic generator for the city, offering a variety of activities including a surf pool, mini golf course, racing simulators, restaurant and water sports on the lake.

With Denise Civiletti