Locals Worry Park District Building Conversion Will Raise Mattituck Taxes

Commissioners have begun converting a building, used primarily for storage at , into a community center for small parties or public assemblies — and the project is stirring controversy just before the commissioners' election on Thursday.

Park Commissioner who is up for re-election, said he envisions the building turning into a facility similar to , part of the . The fee structure for the site has not been set in stone but the district will model it after the Southold facility.

Deegan said that floor work and the installation of some sound deadening material are the only tasks left to finish off the conversion. The district will not install a commercial kitchen at the site and will instead use a warming kitchen. Deegan said the park district already has a commercial kitchen installed at the lodge at and that there is no need for a second one.

"I'm looking forward to when this building is converted and will be used by the community," said Deegan.

But Deegan's opponent said he's against using the building as a for-profit facility because, he said, Mattituck-Laurel Park District is a municipality. Goehringer said there are some things the district simply cannot do without it costing the taxpayers a big chunk of change. With a change in use, the district's fire insurance will increase, and parking woes will most likely rise because there isn't much off-street parking at the park.

Goehringer argues that commissioners must first take a harder look at how the building will be used and how it fits in with the entire property.

"A municipality is a tax exempt entity," he said. "We cannot rent property on tax-free land. We cannot charge more than one single dime over what it costs to operate the facility for that time."

Goehringer said he understands the comparison to Founders Landing but said the Southold property pre-existed current Town zoning laws and the Mattituck building was built recently — and was never intended to be a catering facility. He said that the Suffolk County Health Department informed the commissioners that sanitation would be an issue at the site because of its location, and because of these concerns, the commissioners did not pursue expanding use at the site and used it for public assemblies and storage.

"This was never intended to be a catering facility," Goehringer said. "It was built strictly for public assembly."

Insisting he is looking to contain costs for district residents, Goehringer said that is the district charges too much rent for the building, the assessor's have a right to tax that property.

"With the amount of waterfront property, it will cost the taxpayers a fortune if it goes on the tax rolls," said Goehringer.

The commissioners consulted the district attorney prior to the conversion. Deegan said the attorney does not believe the conversion will change the tax-exempt status. Once the building is operational, only park district residents will be able to rent the building for a nominal fee.

"We're just looking to cover our expenses," said Deegan.

At this stage in the election process, Deegan said his opponent is simply fear mongering. He said the community was never brought into discussions during the building's planning phase.

"A prime location on the waterfront should not be a storage facility," he said.

Robert Scott, chairman of the , said he had not seen an application make its way into the assessor's office and he was unable to say what the new building's tax status will be. Scott said it may become non-exempt but it may remain exempt.

"It all depends on the property's use," he said.

Voting for Mattituck Park District commissioner takes place on Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. at in Mattituck.