Mastic Beach residents will get an update on the long-anticipated downtown redevelopment project at a meeting later tonight when the developer, the Beechwood Organization, presents its proposed land-use plan.

The proposal includes transforming the mostly blighted and empty half-mile stretch of Mastic Beach by making it more pedestrian-friendly, opening more business opportunities, building more housing, and improving public safety.

“It needs some revamping," one Mastic Beach resident said.

“They do need to clean this up and some new businesses would freshen the place up, maybe a place to eat, something decent," Mastic Beach resident Charlie Wrobel added.

Renderings of the project show a full overhaul of roughly 37 acres and 140 properties between Commack Road and the intersection of Mastic Road and Doris Drive to the north; Doris Drive to the east; and Victoria Place, Linden Place and Commack Road to the south.

Brookhaven town supervisor Dan Panico, who grew up in Mastic Beach, said the proposal would uplift the community, provide a major economic boost and offer residents the downtown they deserve.

“Growing up here and now serving as a councilman and now the supervisor for this area; people have talked about getting this done for decades," Panico said. "I’m going to be the supervisor with a town board and a community that’s going to get it done.”

However, some business owners shared concerns that the plans would force them to close.

“All the local businesses will be gone," Handy Pantry owner Matt Morgani said. "We employ a lot of people. I have 20-plus employees that work here, they all live here and no one knows what’s going on. It’s very unfortunate but it could be a good thing but we don’t know yet.”

Following tonight's presentation, residents will have a chance to go into break-out stations to speak directly with representatives from the developer and the town to gather comments and feedback.

Officials will also share a timeline and next steps.

Earlier this year the town of Brookhaven entered an intermunicipal agreement with Suffolk County to fix its aging pipelines and sewer system. That deal, which is expected to take years to fully implement, helped pave the way to move the downtown revitalization forward.

Agreeing on a land use plan will allow the town to move forward with other critical steps before shovels can hit the ground.

Tonight's meeting will be held at William Floyd High School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.