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1_Intro & Vision_Final 5-14-2019 CLEAN
SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate Chapter1 VisionStatement& Introduction Final March15,2017 UpdatedMay14,2019 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-1 VISIONSTATEMENT TheTownofSoutholdisacommunityofextraordinaryhistoryandbeauty. Residentsandvisitorsbenefitfromitsdiversehamletssurroundedbypastoral landscapesandexpansivenaturalresources.OurcitizenscherishSouthold’ssmall- townqualityoflifeandwishtopreservewhatwecurrentlyvaluewhileplanningfor aproductiveandviablefuture. Futureplanningshallbecompatiblewithexistingcommunitycharacterwhile supportingandaddressingthechallengesofcontinuedlandpreservation, maintainingavibrantlocaleconomy,creatingefficienttransportation,promotinga diversehousingstock,expandingrecreationalopportunitiesandprotectingnatural resources. 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-2 INTRODUCTION Acomprehensiveplanistheofficialpublicdocumentusedtoguidethedevelopmentofa community.InNewYorkState,thecomprehensiveplanprovidestherationaleforthezoning andotherlanduseregulationsfoundintheTownCode.SoutholdTown’sComprehensivePlan hasrecentlyundergoneanupdate,thesecondinitshistory.ThenewlyrevisedComprehensive PlanwillhelpshapepolicydecisionsregardingtheappropriateuseoftheTown’sresourcesand mayresultintheexaminationandpossibleupdatingoftheSoutholdTownCode. Essentialtoanycomprehensiveanalysisisitsvisionstatement,whichguidestheentireprocess. TheVisionStatement,thecollectiveproductoftownstakeholders,underpinsSoutholdTown’s ComprehensivePlan. PREVIOUSPLANSH1 ComprehensiveplanningprojectsinSoutholdhavebeenamulti-yearprocess.Thefirstplan, comprisingaseriesofstudiesandplansbeguninthemid-1960’s,wascompletedinthelate 1970’s.Thefirstupdatetothatplan,begunin1982,tookaboutsevenyearstocompleteand culminatedinanentirelynewzoningmapadoptedin1989. Sincethattime,therehavebeenmanyotherplansandstudies,andtheTownBoardhas implementedmanyoftheirrecommendations.Completinganoverhaulofthesubdivision regulationsthatmadeopenspacemandatoryandformalizedtheconservationsubdivisionand designatingNewYorkStateRoute25andSuffolkCountyRoute48asNewYorkStateScenic Bywaysarejusttwoexamplesofmany.TheTownBoardhasalsoamendedthezoningcode manytimestofollowthroughontherecommendationsfromthoseplans.Examplesofthis includechangingthecodetoensure“bigbox”storesweredesignedtofitinthecommunity, restrictingfastfoodrestaurantstoshoppingcenters,andmakingaccessoryapartmentslegaland easiertocreate.Onegoalcontainedinjustabouteveryplanandstudyistopreservelandfrom development,andtheTownhascontinuedtomakefarmlandandopenspacepreservationa priority. SomeofthemorecomprehensiveplanningeffortsincludetheSoutholdTownStewardshipTask ForceFinalReportin1994,theBlueRibbonCommissionforaRuralSoutholdof2002,the ComprehensiveImplementationStrategyof2003,theLocalWaterfrontRevitalizationProgram (LWRP)completedin2004,andtheworkundertakentoproducethe2007-08Hamlet StakeholderInitiatives. Theseplanswereallworthwhileeffortsandprovidedanimportantfocusforcertainissues; however,nonewasbroadenoughinscopetobeconsideredacomprehensiveplanonitsown. Nevertheless,thoseplans,studies,andreportshaveechoedsimilarvisionsandgoalstimeand again,andhaveguidedtheTowninitsdecisionsonlanduse. 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-3 Thevisionandgoalsofthesepastplans,studies,andreportsarecarriedforwardintothis document.Suchgoalsincluderetainingtheruralcharacterthatresidentsandvisitorsvalueand ensuringthatfarmingcontinuesasamajoraspectoftheTown.Onebenefitofthisdocumentasa singlecomprehensiveplanisthatitwillconsolidatetheTown’sgoalsintooneplace,making themeasiertofind.Thisdocumentprovidesdetailedobjectivesforaccomplishingthegoalsand assignsresponsibilityfortheobjectivestoensuretheycanbeimplemented.Oncethisplanis adoptedastheTown’scomprehensiveplan,allfuturezoningactionswillneedtobeconsistent withitsgoalsandvision. ThecatalystsforthismostrecentcomprehensiveplanupdateweretheHamletStudy(2005)and the2007-08HamletStakeholderInitiatives,twoplanninginitiativesthatreliedheavilyonpublic participation.TheHamletStakeholdersInitiativesworkbuiltonthe2005HamletStudyand usedcommunityparticipationtotransformtheHamletStudyintoactionablerecommendations fortheTown.In2008,theTownformedaHamletImplementationPaneloftownstafftotake actionontherecommendations,whichwereclassifiedaseithershort-termgoalsorlong-term goals.Manyoftheshort-termgoalsweresuccessfullyimplementedbyearly2009;thelong-term goals,however,werebroaderinscopewithmanyrequiringamendmentstothezoningcodeto accomplish.Theselong-termgoals,althoughimportant,werefocusedmostlyonthehamlet centers,withmanyotherareasandtopicsnotaddressed.Itbecameclearthatanevenmore inclusiveandcomprehensivepublicprocesswouldbeneededtoidentifythebroadergoalsofthe entireTownandcontinueimplementationofthelong-termgoalsoftheHamletStakeholder Initiatives.Thiswasbestaccomplishedthroughanewcomprehensiveplan. LocalWaterfrontRevitalizationPlan TheTownofSoutholdLWRP,adoptedbytheTownBoardin2004,isincorporatedintothe SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanbyreference.TheSoutholdTownComprehensivePlanhasno effectorimpactandisnotintendedtorepealorotherwisediminishtheapplicabilityoftheLWRP. TheComprehensivePlan,althoughseparatefromtheLWRP,mayaddresssomeoverlappingareas. IncaseswherethereisaconflictbetweentheLWRPandtheComprehensivePlanintermsof policies,theSoutholdTownPlanningBoard,withrecommendationsfromtheSoutholdTown LWRPCoordinator,willdeterminetheoutcome.Theresolutionofconflictsshallnotbeinterpreted inawaythatrenderstheLWRPineffectiveorinvalid. THEUPDATEDCOMPREHENSIVEPLAN Thesignificantdifferencebetweenthisandthepreviouscomprehensiveplanningeffortsisthat previouscomprehensiveplanswerewrittenbyconsultants,whereasthisonewaswrittenbytown officialsandstaffincollaborationwithresidentsandotherstakeholders.Experiencehasshown thatplansproducedbyoutsideconsultants,whileprofessional,oftendonotprovideexactlywhat theTownwantsinaplan.Neitheroftheprevioustwocomprehensiveplans,bothcompletedby outsideconsultants,wereformallyadoptedbytheTownBoard. Moreimportant,thisplanwaswrittenincollaborationwiththeresidentsandotherstakeholders throughanunprecedentednumberofpublicinputmeetings.Beginningin2010withapublic 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-4 inputmeetingabouttheVisionStatement,therehavesincebeenover40meetings,where hundredsofpeoplehaveprovidedtheirthoughtsonearlydraftsofeachchapterintheplan,both inpersonandonlineviaemail.Eachcommentwasrecordedandrespondedtopublicly(i.e., postedonthewebsite)andincludedsuchfeedbackaswhetheritwasusedtoinformtheplan,and ifnot,whynot.BySeptember2018,allofthechaptershadbeendraftedandvettedbythepublic inaseriesofpublicinputmeetings,withpublicinputincorporatedintoeachchapter.Each completeddraftchapterwaspresentedtotheTownBoardandpostedonline.Bytheendof February2019,allofthechaptersweregivenafinalreviewtoidentifywherestatisticscouldbe updated. Thisplandoesnotcontainanewzoningmap,orsweepingchangestothezones,uses,orbulk schedule.Thereasonsbehindthisareseveral.ZoningwasarelativelynewconceptfortheTown backwhenthefirstzoningordinancewasadoptedinSoutholdin1957.Nowthatzoninghas beeninplaceforover60yearsandthecurrentzoningmapineffectfor30,itisclearthatany futurechangestozoningneedtohappeninacollaborativeway,workingwiththecommunities thatareaffected.ThisupdatedComprehensivePlanpointstheTowninadirectionfor consideringpotentialzonechanges,leavingthedetailstotheimplementationphase.Any changestozoningthatmightresultfromthisplanwouldhappenlater,aftertheplanisadopted andprioritiesforimplementationoftheplanareidentified. Twoadditionalreasonsforwaitingonmakinganyzoningchangesuntilaftertheplanisadopted aretimeandfunding.Thecollaborativeprocessthatwouldbeneededforanymeaningfuland feasiblezoningchangeswouldinvolvenumerouspublicinputmeetings,allofwhichrequire preparation,promotion,andfollow-up.Alsorequiredarethedetailedanalysesthatprovidethe backdropofinformationneededtomakeinformeddecisions.Thisessentialworkwouldrequire timeandfundingbeyondtheinternalresourcesoftheTown.Onewaytoproceedwithsuchan effortwouldbetoconsiderapplyingforfundinggrantstohelpwithfuturemajorzoning initiativesduringtheimplementationphase. Theimplementationphaseoftheplanoccursaftertheplanisadopted.Theadvantagetowaiting untilthisphasetoworkonthedetailssuchasspecificzoningchangesisthatitgivesresidents andtheirelectedofficialsplentyoftimetodiscussandconsidertheproposalsfoundintheplan, onebyone.Italsoprovidesmoretimetoconducttheinformationgatheringandanalyses necessarytoprovidetheinformationthatcanpromptdiscussionanddecision-making. ImplementationoftheComprehensivePlan TheTownBoardisresponsibleforimplementingthegoalsandensuringtheyareaccomplished. TheTownBoardwilldirecttheprioritiesforwhichgoalsaretobepursued,andwilldecide whethertoprovidefundingorstafftohelpaccomplishanyonegoal.Toorganizethe implementationoftheplan,thegoalsmustbeprioritized.TheTownBoardwilldecidethe methodbywhichitwillprioritizethegoalsandpursueimplementation. Tokeepthisdocumentalive,thereisa“ResponsibleParty”identifiedformanyofthegoalsand someindividualobjectives.TheroleoftheResponsiblePartyistobringthegoalorobjectiveto 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-5 theattentionoftheTownBoard,promoteawarenessthatitexists,andgaugetheinterestofthe TownBoardinpursuingit.ThiscouldinvolveworkingwiththeTownBoardonprioritizingthe goalsastimegoesbyandcircumstanceschange.WheretheResponsiblePartyisatown committee,thegoalscanserveasguidancefortheactivitiesofthecommittee.TheTownBoard mayre-assignResponsiblePartiesduringtheimplementationphase. UpdatingtheFutureComprehensivePlan Thisdocumentisalivingdocumentinthatupdateswillbedoneasneededtoindividualchapters orindividualgoals.Continuousupdatingofsmallerportionsatanyonetimewillensurethe documentstaysrelevantovertime,andmakeitunnecessarytoattemptanupdateoftheentire planallatonce. DescriptionofSoutholdTown SoutholdTownislocatedinthesoutheastofNewYorkState,ontheeasternendofthearea knownastheNorthForkofLongIsland.Southold’smainlandisalongandnarrowpeninsula, averagingthreemilesinwidthinthewesternportionoftheTown,andnarrowingconsiderably ontheeasternend.TheentireTown,includingitsfiveislands,is54squaremilesinsize,with 163linearmilesofcoastline.Town-adjacentwaterbodiesincludetheLongIslandSound,Fishers IslandSound,BlockIslandSound,andGardiner’sandPeconicBays.Threeadjacent municipalitiesincludeGreenportVillageinthesoutheast,RiverheadTownatthefarsouthwest end,andShelterIslandTowntothesoutheast(separatedbythePeconicRiver). SoutholdTowniscomposedof10hamlets,9ofwhicharelocatedonthemainland(the exceptionisFishersIsland).ThehamletsareCutchogue,EastMarion,FishersIsland,Greenport West,Laurel,Mattituck,NewSuffolk,Orient,Peconic,andSouthold.Eachhasitsown individualidentityandvariesgreatlyinsize,populationandcharacter.Thehamletsaredescribed inmoredetailinChapter3,“LandUseandZoning.” SoutholdTownincludesnumerousislands,manyofwhichareinhabited,withinitsjurisdiction. ThelargestoftheseareFishersIsland(3,200acres),PlumIsland(816acres),andRobinsIsland (435acres). AdditionaldetailsofthephysicalaspectandhistoricalcontextoftheTownarenotincludedin thisplanupdatebutcanbefoundinmanyofthepreviousplans,includingtheLocalWaterfront RevitalizationProgramVolumeI,SectionII(2004)whichcontainsathoroughdescription.This plancanbefoundonlinethroughtheTown’swebsiteatwww.southoldtownny.gov. Figure__(tobecreatedinGISorbyGraphicDesigner): BasicmapofSoutholdTown -Hamlets -MajorRoads 1VisionStatement&Introduction SoutholdTownComprehensivePlanUpdate 1-6 HOWTHISDOCUMENTISORGANIZED Theplanisdividedintochaptersthathandlethevarioustopicsthatinfluencepolicydecisions aboutlanduseandzoningwithinSoutholdTown.Chapter2,“Demographics,”introducesthe Town’sinhabitantsandprovidesperspectivesandstatisticsabouttheircharacteristicsincluding profession,age,housing,andincome.Chapter3,“LandUseandZoning,”providesanoverview oflanduseandzoninginSoutholdTown,andpresentsbroadgoalsforfuturelanduseand zoningtoachievethevisioninthisplan.Subsequentchaptersnarrowthefocustospecificland usetopics,includingtheeconomy,agriculture,landpreservation,communitycharacter,water andlandresources,housing,humanservices,recreation,transportation,infrastructure,and naturalhazards.