Residents Pack East Marion Fire House to Discuss Master Plan

The first in a series of public meetings seeking community response to a draft chapter of Southold Town’s Comprehensive Master Plan filled the on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Southold Town Planner Heather Lanza asked attendees to form groups at each of the tables in the meeting room so they could evaluate portions of the plan devoted to the town’s economic development. The plan will consist of 14 chapters when it is finished.

The master plan is being developed by town officials in conjunction with Nelson, Pope and Voorhis, a Melville based planning firm hired by the town. The Southold 2020 Committee is also involved in the development of the master plan.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell attended the meeting along with town councilmen Albert Krupski, Vincent Orlando, William Ruland ,and Deputy Supervisor and special projects coordinator Phillip Beltz.

The main themes of this chapter were jobs and housing.  The creation of a regional farmer’s market at a central location was strongly advocated by residents who indicated it would provide a boost to the area’s tourist and agricultural economy now being referred to as agri-tourism.

“We could do this in a way that did not compete with individual farm stands,” said Walter Gaipa, a farmer who runs a greenhouse in East Marion. “These farmers markets work everywhere and it could work here too.”

Gaipa noted visitors would be introduced to produce from individual farms around the North Fork at one central location and would seek out each stand on subsequent visits during the week, once they were introduced to their produce at a centralized market that was open only one day a week.

Affordable housing, jobs and educational programs aimed at stopping the brain drain and making it possible for young people to live and work in town were discussed as well. Despite the town’s sizable senior citizen population, which statistics now beforethe town town estimate at over 40 percent, the plan makes no mention of employment opportunities for residents aged 55 and over. Many of whom are still working.

“Not everyone is retired,”said  East Marion resident Vincent Panzarelli owner-broker of Vin Pan Realty, “I’m 75 and I am still working.”

Residents advocated relaxing rules and regulations concerning two family houses and auxiliary apartments as ways to create more affordable housing stock.

Permitting farmers to carve out building lots on their land for family members was another suggestion made, which would make it possible for farmers to help their children stay on the farm for another generation. Encouraging the rental of preserved land to young farmers was discussed as a way to boost the agricultural economy and allow new farmers to establish themselves.

“The community does not seem business friendly,” said Orient resident Rona Smith. “We need to speed up the permit process and make concessions to businesses.”

 Smith suggested the creation of a two way street that encouraged businesses to give back to the community. “If they want to be in business here,” Smith said, “they have to participate in the community.”

Smith used the creation of an ice cream shop as an example.

“If someone opens an ice cream shop they should have to be willing to teach school children how to run a small business or open up an ice cream shop,” Smith said.

The creation of a small scale sewer district for downtown Orient Village was cited as a future concern along with the creation of kayaking or blue trails. Waterfront property owners cited the need for more enforcement on the water preferably by creating a volunteer corps that would not pose a threat to the labor unions that town officials must deal with. The town has two full time bay constables according to town officials present at the meeting.

“There is no doubt that we have miles of coastline being patrolled by very limited enforcement.” Russell said.

The plan proposes the expansion of a commercial zone on Fisher’s Island, an area devoted primarily to high-end, seasonal residences by changing the existing residential zoning to commercial. This zone change is expected to encourage the creation of jobs and businesses on the Island.

Town Councilwoman Louisa Evans, who lives on Fisher’s Island did not attend Saturday’s meeting in East Marion. Evans is advocating the scheduling of a public input meeting on Fisher’s Island so residents can participate in the planning process.

Information concerning the Master Plan is available on the town’s website. Copies of the completed chapter on the economy are available at local libraries.

Anyone who wishes to comment on the plan is encouraged to send their comments to Heather Lanza, either in writing or by email, at the town hall.

“You can call me too,” Lanza said.

The chapter concerning economic development is the first chapter available for public presentation. A second public input meeting on the economic chapter will be held at the recreation center in Peconic on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.Town officials hope to present another chapter dealing with community character to the public in February.