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Home My WebLink AboutEconomic Development Plan-1997Econamic Develooment Plan: Town of= Southold: 1997 To be suOmi~ed ta me Suffolk Ccunc'y Legislature as Sauthold's IC!8, Indusuial and Commercial Incentives Plan PREFACE Historically the three (3) base indus~ies in 5outhold's economy are: Commercial Rshing; (3) Tourism and Recreation. (2) A~rlculture While farmland and open space conuibute to the landscape of farming suppor~s a dynamic agricultural produc, s in all New Yor~ Si~te: over ! share of acidve farm acreage (second only to within its borders, farmland preservation is a ,key 5our~old Town. winery industry policy issue for There sro approximately 9, acreage, development dghls have has been acquiring developmenE n spent to acquire the development sum averages out to aDout 437 dg~[s million bond passed by inves~enE ~nds ~r ~ less farms arou! g' 3r 1996. Of this 1800 acres. The Town 6 million dollars have been 1cultural land. This years. ~e development le nex~ ~wo years suUsequent to a $2 ie sulaSCandai nature of the Town's ore than $100,000 in additional federal acres) has been obt2ined by the the combined Town and e than 1800 acres from development, mis sum represents farm acreage within 5ou~Sqold. The viaPility of ~ese residen~al development spring up between and 1996, Sou~old last an es~mated 2100 acres of Clean¥ the agricultural base is being Ios~ faster than it is being situaQon, we e~mate that half to three-quar[ers of the land is no longer owned by farmers, but by landholders who the land to ~ ~h'ners. SI gh~y more ~ nan= the acuve acreage (5869) s n the Agncu tural D s~ prag~m, wnic~ up ~o 80% ¢ mai prope~ :xes. However, even with ~is soil pays mere in ~xes ~an it receives ar requires in se~ices. rt of the burgeoning and lucrative winery industry, the Town has enacted sDeclffc zoning code chan~es which encourage and facilitate the esl~Plishmen~ and operation of wineries located on vineyards. ¢urU~er, as par~ of its obligaaons ~o the federal Sour~old government in ra~m for ~nding ~r acquisition of development rights or easements, tiao Town anticipates prepanng a long corm planning document which will out2Jne current and future %rategies for presep4ng ils agncul~ral base. Economic Development Plan: Town of Sour.~,old: 1997 Commercial Rshin~ This industry has suffered significant declines in recent years as tisn stoc~ nave been depleted and poor water qualib/has closed some local shell fishing areas. The situa~on has been compounded by the general woOd-wide ovengshing of fisheries, and the ineffectiveness of national policies designed co manage those fisheries. FuCtherrnore, suffered the closure 0t= many pdme mellfisning grounds due to cut~acY, s for sanitary inspectors and te~ng. The la.er situation has and voluntary efforts by local baymen and d~e of State manpower in the field. However, there is Madculture or aquaculture is an federal, state and regional levels. One large scale within the Town's boundaries, tf approved, this New York State. At present, however, the industr private shellfish hatchery programs. tirst of i ~dmadly by' and The current focus of the Peconic Estuary management measures that would allow the i rebound bac~: to former levels. In addition, the program will try co tide. Proper resource manag not only for the comma la.er has not trod t anally been c~idered is respcnsbte for a significant ~ Peconic estuary to and of the brown nificant repercussions donal fishing industry. The :ommeroial timing, but it The lac',< of cohesion in (e.g. state fuel ~axes) i le situation and other policies the industry within the S~te of New as the Local Waterfront Revitalization The maritime industry incorporates many g and recreational sectors. At this paint, it is incentives would be sufficient to address aqe hurdles This element of ~ economy bdngs money and jobs to the Town with less ~dverse environmenta~act than many other potantiaJ industries. The divers~ed natUre of this ~nclustTY in ~wn supports cvemight accommodations, various t,~es of business, eating ~~, land-side and w~[er-related recreation activities. ~x~ension of the ~.ounst ~f(~J ~ith year-round recrea~onal facilities availaOle to tounsl: and rasident alike would ~ficial to the Town's economy. Not only would ~ese f~cilities resolve unmet needs o¢ the local resJdenEs, ii would provide year-round rec. reation oleportunJbes, both of which may help mitigate r~e marked seasonal,disparities of employment ~nd income. The Town has been revisiting ils business and industrial land uses in an au:ampi ta update the Zoning Code and to direct certain b/pos of land uses into clear, defined ;ones. Spech9c legislative proposals have been drafted to introduce recreation-related indust71es inca the light industhal zoning districts and to direct ret=il trade into the cenu-ai business dls~gc~ of the Town's traditional hamlet centers. Additional zoning proposals are being developed :a enhance those hamlet business canters. Currently, the Town hades to complete these proposals during 1997. Economic Oevelocmen~ Plan: Town af -;au[hold: 1997 OUler The service and professional industhes within ~e Town probably comprise a sizeable and relatively unexplored sector of the local economy. The second-hcme population e~mated one-third of ~he housing is considered second home stock) and the skewed demographics (according ~o the 1990 U.S, Census, median age was than 36% of the population was aged 55 or older.) provide fertile businesses including health care. A recent: but potentially lucrative addition ~:o the production. While this activity is sporadic, it is also The Pull( of this activity has Oaken place within the within the Town proper. However, police and other services under its jurisdiction: thereby attracting the industry to the Town. if this on-location during the O'adlticnal off-season touns~ season. producl~on ¢ s down, be encouraged to shoot effectively lengthen the An unherelded, but potentially important provision of transportation sePzices by [ working to develop long-range and alternative forms As travel demands created by th season will result in ~raffic to ~ private sector join forces , be the he Town is currently which stress intermodalism ~ulation increases, the ing the height of the , Hamptons unless the Town and me options to the automcbile. In 1 g! busi to 1764 I ~m 47' t cf its businesses. Since the Town does not require and most of its businesses are too small to be lies, it did not have a precise picture of the struC~Jre of its ] this lad( of information, questionnaires were sent ht to be operating within the Town. ,~esponses were the businesses surveyed. ed the fallowing ¢ac1~: 64 crc the respondents (16~'~ are seasonal, with the season s~¢g during the months of March (28%), Apdl (34%) and May (27%) and ending )er (20%), November G0%) and December (35%). s responding represent 2.400 full or parc-Lime year round employees ~r parc-brae seasonal employees. Gross revenues for 153 of these businesses (35%) r~nged between $50,000 and $9g,000. Anomer 150 ranged be~ween $100,000 and $400,000. Over 60 businesses (17%) ,~nged between $400,000 and $99.999; and 58 (I~%) r~nged beu/veen S1 million and $4 million or more in gross revenues. ~escondents to the survey were categorized as follows: agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, retail sales, service, professional and o~her. Since survey respondents were asked to indicate all applicable business categories, and many of these businesses are mult~-P4cated, it was ncc possible to obtain a precise breakdown of the vadous so.ors of the economy. This is not a Econarnic Oeve{ocment P!an: Town of ~cur. n, cla: 1997 surpnsing finding. One reason the Town is consis~entJy left out of regional statistical analyses o¢ ~he economy is ~he small and fluctuating nauJre of its pdvate business sector. Eighw percent of its businesses have 9 or Cower employees. And, of mat percentage, 40% have none to 2 employees in addiLion to ~e owner. These same businesses reflect a positive a~ude about their growth and a three to one margin ~ey an*Jcipate adding employees. By a tour to ex~end bheir days and hours of operation, and inves~ more. mad businesses. Of' ~ose businesses responding 1969 or eanier; 18% were sr. ar~ed between 1970 and and 1989; and me remaining 28% were s health. By they plan s in ~eir business since When asked which acdons more than 65 ,~ checXed off 'Lowe promotion of 12e Town on a year-round basis; 37, asking ~r more responsiveness from $~ and transportation links to and within Town. 35.6% and 24% calling for improved Vision of the Future sedes of' Hamlet Planning disc,~C~'ns ~at,W~re held ~i~ me resioencs or mese commun~ues in 1994, and me ongoing me Town Board and implemented by the Planning Board. Acco g within ~he exisdng hamlets of the ,g rural areas, me residents of the Je small town, agricultural and marit2me characterfs~cs o¢ the ~ touds~-sector of the Town's economy. Eflsudng the ;ties within me Town without losing Che nigh pdonb/pardcutany as development pressures begin to ~ore'~ proposed changes to ~e b/pes of uses pertained within its k similiar set of proposed changes f~r business zones is being ~- ~ese changes is to bhng the Zoning Code into closer compilance ~ectives of ~qe Mas~er Plan. spec~cally ~ose wnicn speak to concenr, rel2ng,~wm within t~ge hamlet centers SO as to preserve ~e counm/side. ~rget this parlaal incentive program as tallows: ill, one or none of tree ¢ollowing can be chosen) r.o encourage exis'dng local businesses in r~rge[ed indus-~es -.o expand, upgrade or diversiff/in order ~c mee~ changing needs of a~e 21% census. to encourage new businesses in [2rgeted Jndusthes to Ioc2£e within Town ~o broaden the r, ax base and provide local employment. Economic Oeve~ccmenc g!an: Town of Souc~,a~d: 1997 Page 5 In proof To ensure ti~ac new growm is in accaraance wJ~m me ~ommuniL'Ys Vision, it is imperative mae me proaosecl expansions, upgracJes, and diversifications be Iccat:ed within appropriate zoning dlsmc:s. Furmer, the Town wishes To encourage creaMve re-use anti inCegraMon of e~srJng buitclings instead of wholesale sbandonment in favor of new consr, ruction. Where feasible, whole or partial preservaMon of smJctures of regional or local significance ~r~qitecturally should be encouraged, ss mese conCibute to me stodcal character. It is recognized mae farmers are under increasing sell off the su~lus lands for development. Aisc undergoing internal onanges as pot=to farms give farms, wineries, and greenhouse s',.acK. The suppor~ and sustain me agricultural inclustry. ~ture to expl, erations It: is agreed ma~ commercial fishing and r reflec: me character cf Scumotcl. CreenpcrC and o~er exiS~ng improvements not aclversel' govemmen~l regulations, and Jndus~es can be exnenswe examining mis issue more c WaterFront Revitslizaaon ctiviMes which of expansion and a to environmental and --.e facilities and suppa~ng , is involved. The Town will be it works to complete its Local er man one is a lack of f eco6 strength of its agricultural and maritime unmeasurable qualib/of life factors such as ~he character, me small-town community life. ~ me clevelcpment, expansion or upgrading of dining amenities which would attract touMsts to stay for pedocls relatively untappecl sector is me business conference market. ~e of event:. Health percen~ge of people o1: reMrement age, Mne Town must take into account Seniors and reQred iaersons need to have conficlence 5hat health care services are ancl at sn ~ffordatale price. STRATEGY - How to acllieve t~e Vision The Town's gcal or vision is ~o encourage economic growth and expansions within its hamlets. This Js in keed~ng with its goal of c~nserving ~he ccunm/sicle (ag~culturat industry) anc~ ccnscliclaang its caoital Jnfras':rtJc:ure inve5Qnents wimin geograpnicall¥-managealale boundaries. Economic Oeveloomen~ P~n: Town of Sou~olQ: 1997 P~e 6 Towards :his end, the Town already has amended iQ zoning regulaMons to prevent stnp stores. It is in the process of malting additional changes which will direct most future business deve(opment into the hamlets and which will encourage appropriate industries in the indust~al disOicts outside of the hamlets proper. Further, the Town is nego~ating with the NYS Department of TransporcaMon to under~l~e a town-wide (:r~nsportaMon provide for adequate access to the hamlets, including centrally and off-street pedestrian and bicycle t~ils ~: will address additional economic issues, pa~culad enhanced indust~es. which will : lots ~he That program and water- At this precise point in Mine, the Town is not in a IndusLT~al Code) list of t~rget induslay or year, after we have completed key planning level of de~ail. in a posiMon t, We do not feel it necessaP prefer to ~arget categoMes of industries whicri incentives to expand, upgrade or diversify. Rather we would be in need of The list below represenr~ ~e Wpes of tax incentive, IF it decides ~o pursue __ consider ~argeMng ,=or Suffolk CounW. (Note: in ~e been 1ce of nsof is a tent~Mve list which has s no~ reflect any exi~ng facilities pport services trades/wood boat re~or~tion services A~.~ ~ounsm .~ ~l,,, ~d ng and dmvem;ficaacn ¢ e~ng mo~els :'~. ..~ wi~ con.fence cente~, ~u~n~, heal~ spas :~~ and mc~aMonal ~ciliMes ~~' ~nspo~on ~ices (bicycle ~n~ls, mini-vans, wa~er ~s, omer affordable health care facilities recreation ~ciliMes EconornJc Oevelonment Plan: Town of ~curj~old: 1997 The plan set forr. h here is basec~ on r. he following document, s: Economic Analysis- 1983 [Raymond, Potash & Pine) Mas~er Plan - 1985 (Raymond, Parrish & Pine) Report - 1992 (Town StswardsiniD Task Force) Hamlet S~cJy - 1994 (Residen~'s Views) Business Survey - 1996 (Town & Coun~ Planning & Zoning Commi~ee discussions - ,to. Town Board Resolutions and Planning Board discussions - ongoing Page 7