Rain gardens, roofs and walls made of living plants, a pedestrian walkway suspended over Artist Lake and a sports complex are prominent features of Garden City developer Wilbur Breslin's updated plans for the site. Mr. Breslin's architects, Heller and Associates of Massapequa Park, have designed a complex that encompasses not only the 74-acre parcel, but also Artist Lake, just across Middle Country Road.

The preliminary master plan, dubbed Artist Lake Plaza, was filed with the Brookhaven Town Clerk's Office last week. It includes a mixed-use development with two large rain gardens in the front, along with seven small free-standing buildings.

"It's something the community has wanted for a long time," said Middle Island Civic Association president Thomas Talbot. "That location deserves something other than to stay just a plain run of the mill strip mall. I think that Mr. Breslin could capitalize on the project and draw tenants because of the beautiful setting."

The developer had previously floated less ambitious plans.

The new design for the eastern side of the property, which is across from the town dog park, includes a 700-foot rain garden and green wall and an access road from Woodville Road.

The parking lot would be located in the middle of the development and will be linked by a variety of landscaping and traffic-calming features such as walkways and roundabouts.

In the back of the property, there would be two anchor stores linked by a garden center. One building will be 142,738 square feet and the other 157,441 square feet, according to the plan, which does not indicate what kinds of businesses might occupy the buildings. The plan also calls for two ballfields, a soccer field and open space. Features of the sports complex include a field house, bleachers, concession stands and a porous paved ballfield plaza with a pedestrian connection to the shopping center and rain garden.

In addition to the sports complex, the plan mentions a host of other "public improvements," including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design features, a solar roof system and rain harvesting, as well as dockage for motorless boats and a pedestrian walkway that forms a crescent across from the shoreline of Artist Lake.

The preliminary master plan has yet to be accepted by the town. Mr. Breslin applied for a zone change, which is required for the plan to be approved, in 2009. Brookhaven Town Board members are expected to hold a public hearing on the property's environmental impact study later this month.

Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said he thinks the proposal will be something that will benefit the community.

"We've been in talks with Mr. Breslin, not only to eradicate that blighted property, but to do so in a way that provides a significant amount of community amenities," he said.

Councilwoman Connie Kepert agreed.

"We're much in favor of the plan," she said. "It will be a pedestrian-friendly design, it's going to be something to enhance the area and it will include athletic fields, and other community uses."

"The project will be environmentally friendly and it will have LEED standards," she added.

Over the years, the Kmart property has housed several department stores, including a Times Square Store and Two Guys store, as well as a Fair Land amusement park. But it has been vacant since Kmart pulled out in 2006. In 2008, the property was proposed as the site of a farmers/flea market, but town officials scoffed at that idea because the zoning would not allow it.

Jennifer Gustavson contributed reporting to this story.

peggy@northshoresun.com

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