In an escalating conflict between environmental regulators and a Long Island developer, New York Attorney General Letitia James, alongside the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, has launched a legal offensive against David Roberts and his company, Roberts Premier Development, LLC. The suit, as announced by the Attorney General's office, accuses the developer of illegally clearing land and erecting a structure within the environmentally sensitive Pine Barrens.
Roberts allegedly bulldozed 13,000 square feet of protected woodland, disregarding the safeguards put in place by the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act—it's a move that has sparked not only legal scrutiny but also outcry, all because he moved ahead with the construction of a cabinetry business sans the necessary green light from the Pine Barrens Commission. Attorney General Letitia James didn't mince words when she said, "Long Island’s Pine Barrens are one of New York’s most precious environmental treasures, and we are committed to protecting it," highlighting the vital role of the Pine Barrens in maintaining the quality of Long Island's drinking water.
The property in question, which Roberts Premier Development acquired back in July 2022, is situated within a zone where commercial projects are strictly forbidden. Despite this, Roberts forged on with his plans, submitting a permit request to the town for a new barn and then proceeding with construction before receiving a response. The newly filed lawsuit is demanding that Roberts not only dismantle the unauthorized barn but also restore the area to its former natural state under the watchful eye of the Pine Barrens Commission; furthermore, Attorney General James is seeking significant financial penalties totalling up to $25,000 per infraction, and an additional $1,000 for each day the violation continued.
According to the Attorney General's office, this legal action comes after efforts to negotiate a satisfactory outcome with Roberts and his company fell through, pushing the Pine Barrens Commission and Attorney General James to use litigation as a means to enforce environmental protection laws and hold the development company accountable for its disruptive actions which, if left unchecked, could serve as a dangerous precedent for future conservation efforts within the Pine Barrens and beyond.
