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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/10/2021 Town of Southold Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting th Minutes of November 10, 2021 Members Present Members Absent Guests Tom Stevenson – Chairperson Anthony Sannino Kate Sepenoski Chris Baiz John Sepenoski Doug Cooper Jim Glover Steve Schnee John B. Sepenoski Jr. Mark VanBourgondien Scott Russell (TB Liaison) Opening: th The Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting was called to order on Wednesday November 10, 2021 at 7:10 pm in the Southold Town Hall meeting hall. Next Meeting(s): st The next regular AAC meeting will be held instead on Wednesday December 1, 2021 at 7:00 pm in the Southold Town Hall meeting hall and via Zoom. Changes to Housing Bulk Schedule:  Discussion with Supervisor Russell regarding changes to the housing bulk schedule.  Proposals were submitted by the civics committee, Sarah Nappa and Scott Russell.  The current schedule focuses on the 2 dimensional. The new schedule will focus more on the 3 dimensional, counting square footage of each floor not just the dimensions of the foot print. The new schedule will exclude basements, attics, porches, decks, etc., in the total lot coverage. The more acreage the less lot coverage allowed.  The Board and Code committee are still discussing how it may affect any structures that are over the new guidelines, if they will be grandfathered in or not. Most likely it will only affect new builds or demolition and rebuilds. Not existing homes.  The Ag. Advisory’s main concern is to get agriculture and aquaculture exempt from these changes. Or have the new schedule only go up to 2 acre lots. The most specific reason is farmworker housing.  Since farmland is considered residential zoning any changes to the bulk schedule would affect the agricultural and aquacultural community.  Supervisor Russell does not see the need to put an exemption in for agricultural or aquacultural lands. This should not affect farmland since it is only for residential houses. It does not include any accessory structures such as barns or farmworker housing.  Chris asked if this would become an issue with building when going to get a permit for Farmworker housing. Supervisor Russell states only if they don’t consider it farmworker housing. If that is the case you would have to subdivide anyway under the current schedule.  The committee strongly disagrees that the new bulk schedule will have no impact on farmland and would like the exemption added to the new bulk schedule. The interpretation of the new code can make it a problem for Farmworker housing, unless it is specifically stated that this Page 1 | 2 Town of Southold Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting th Minutes of November 10, 2021 new schedule does not include it. Farmers are having a hard enough time with farmworker housing and these changes would make it even harder.  Supervisor Russell pointed out that the town does not currently have anything in the code to define Farmworker housing and that the two issues are completely unrelated. As long as it is considered Farmworker housing the size does not come into play.  The committee agrees that a definition needs to be added to the code to define farmworker housing. But they still want the exemption in the new schedule to make sure that this new schedule will never interfere.  Supervisor Russell still does not agree, but suggests that the committee come up with a definition for farmworker housing and present it to the board on Tuesday, along with their concerns for the proposed changes to the housing schedule.  The committee will look at other towns definitions of Farmworker housing to present to the board and any members that can will attend the work session and board meeting on Tuesday to voice their concerns.  The committee is also asking that the definition of Farmworker housing be approved before or simultaneously with the new housing schedule not after. Chapter 70  Jim asked about possibly getting an agricultural bulk schedule passed.  Supervisor Russell suggested the committee focus on our priorities right now. Which are Chapter 70 and the easements.  The committee has tried multiple times to set up meetings with Land Preservation to go over easement language, but LP has been unable to make the meetings. Maybe try to set up a meeting in the winter when things quiet down.  The committee also asked Supervisor Russell why they have not heard anything on the proposed changes to Chapter 70 and he said it goes hand and hand with the easements and should be discussed with Land Preservation also. . Adjournment: MOTION to adjourn at 8:50 pm made by Doug Cooper, seconded by Chris Baiz, ALL in favor. Minutes respectfully submitted by: Laura Arena Page 2 | 2