The Village of Manorhaven Board of Trustees voted Monday night to approve the site plan for a proposed 49-unit mixed-use building at 30 Sagamore Hill Drive, igniting a wave of outrage from residents that culminated in some storming out of the meeting in protest.
Despite vocal opposition from a packed room of community members, many of whom expressed frustration over what they called a flawed and rushed process, the board granted site plan approval for the controversial Red Rock LLC development.
The project had previously received a special use permit and zoning variances from the village’s Board of Zoning Appeals in March.
“The BZA found that this project and the variances they granted would not have an adverse effect on the physical or environmental conditions in the neighborhood,” said Village Attorney Christopher Neuman, adding that the development was consistent with E-1 zoning regulations that allow for mixed-use buildings with residential units.
Neuman also stressed that, under village code, the board’s review was limited to aesthetic and practical considerations such as access points, landscaping, parking layout, and drainage.
But many residents argued that the project was deeply out of character with the surrounding neighborhood, failed to comply with the spirit of the code, and would exacerbate existing problems related to congestion, density, and aging infrastructure.
“This is not what Manorhaven is supposed to be,” said lifelong resident Christine Zahn. “This is a soulless, gutless, greedy transaction that will change the character of our neighborhood forever.”
Zahn, who said her father served as a trustee, criticized the board and developers for what she described as a lack of transparency and community engagement. She urged the village to halt the project and bring in urban planners to conduct a more holistic evaluation.
“More could have been done, especially bringing in the community, knowing this was a massive change to the landscape,” she said. “If this was in your direct neighborhood, you’d be on this side of the table.”
Former Mayor Gary Pagano, who led the village from 1998 to 2002, echoed those concerns. He argued that the board of trustees failed to follow the proper legal process and had the authority to halt or revise the project based on village law, which he read aloud.
“The Board of Trustees shall have the authority to review site plans and provide a final decision on any nonresidential or multifamily project on a lot larger than 0.5 acres,” Pagano said, citing village code. “You have the right and the final decision on this project.”
Pagano and others also challenged the project’s environmental assessment, demanding a full environmental impact review rather than the short-form submission approved by both the BZA and the trustees.
Several residents also raised concerns about the project’s size and design.
Scott Stolzman, who has attended multiple public hearings on the proposal, questioned how a three-story building with numerous three-bedroom units and dens could be justified under E-1 zoning. He also called the process “adversarial,” noting the presence of police at the meeting.
Mayor John Popeleski attempted to assure residents that broader reform was underway, announcing that a building moratorium would be introduced during July’s organizational meeting. The moratorium, crafted in partnership with DMB Engineering, will be followed by a comprehensive review and revision of the village’s building codes.
“We are taking the proper steps,” Popeleski said. “I want to have residents back in Manorhaven. I don’t want to be another village where it’s just renters.”
But that message did little to mollify the crowd. Many accused the village’s leadership of prioritizing developer interests over long-term community stability and failing to address fundamental issues such as school overcrowding, traffic, and water infrastructure.
Attorney Philip Butler, representing Red Rock LLC, defended the project, saying it complied with all legal requirements and had undergone a thorough review.
“We didn’t cut any corners,” Butler said. “This project has been vetted by our professionals and by your professionals.”
Still, the meeting ended in frustration, with a majority of attendees walking out after the vote was finalized.
“This doesn’t fit,” said resident Rory Schneider. “It’s completely out of line with the character of this community.”
The development at 30 Sagamore Hill Drive now moves closer to construction, but with the threat of potential legal challenges and a deepening rift between Manorhaven officials and the residents they serve, the fight may not be over.
