Carmans River public comment done

The public comment  period on the plan for  the Carmans River has ended, Brookhaven Town said.

The environmental protection plan would restrict future building near the river while allowing greater density on about 10,000 acres of commercial and industrial lands elsewhere in the town. Property owners near the river would be able to sell so-called development credits to developers, who could use them to build elsewhere with greater density than allowed by current zoning.

The town planning department and a study group that crafted the plan will now analyze the comments and determine if the plan should be modified, town officials said. No timeline has been set for making those determinations.

The river extends from Middle Island to Bellport Bay.

Photo:  A Great Egret in the Carmans River where it flows through the Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge  on its way to Bellport Bay.