Greenport Notebook: B&B Proposal Back to Code Committee

The Greenport Village Board will send a proposal to raise the number of rooms allowed at Greenport bed and breakfasts from three to five back to the code committee for further review after neighbors complained about the operations of

Mayor David Nyce said that in recent public comments, a single bed and breakfast was singled out by neighbors for alleged code violations and those comments were separate issues. Nyce said the current code “dances around” the issue of commercial uses in residential neighborhood, which was at the heart of the complaints. In fact, the mayor said, very few of the current bed and breakfasts would be able to take advantage of the proposed rule because they did not have the space for it.

Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said some of the events happening at bed and breakfasts are “way beyond” what the original use is and supported bringing the proposal back to code and even redefining what bed and breakfasts are in the village. She did say variances are available for owners who seek relief from the current code restrictions.

Trustee George Hubbard agreed with Phillips. He said he thought the village should straighten out issues with the current code before changing it.

“We need to make sure everyone is in compliance before we change it,” Hubbard said.

Trustee Questions Railroad Dock Lease

Trustee Christine Kempner took village attorney Joseph Prokop to task over a discussion of the sublease on the railroad dock to The Village does not own the dock and leases it from Suffolk County and Kempner said she does not feel the village is talking to the right people in the county to get a favorable lease for the boats.

Prokop had informed the board the county wanted a 90-day termination clause placed in the contract and the attorney for the Peconic Star wants a longer termination clause.

Kempner said these boats were successful businesses that bring people into the village and she could not understand why the village was not negotiating harder for a better deal for subleasers. She also asked whom the village attorney was talking to at the county and whether or not he was speaking to the county executive’s office, the local legislator, or only the attorney.

Nyce said an application was submitted to the board; it was reviewed and then sent to the county. The village originally wanted a 365-day termination clause but the county turned them down and the county must approve any lease the village signs for the dock. 

“We had put a long-term lease together but the county wants a 90-day termination clause. Attorney Prokop is negotiating for a 180-day termination clause,” Nyce said.

Kempner said she did not believe the village was advocating for the 365-day lease and said she feels like the village is “hassling” the boat owners at this point.

The attorney responded they were still negotiating the contract at this point and all correspondence is available at the village clerk’s office.