HomeMy WebLinkAboutCostello, J 4.2024 John A. Costello
1210 North Road
Greenport, NY 11944
April 19, 2024
Southold Economic Development Committee
P.O. Box 1179
Southold,NY 11971
RE: Recent Town of Southold Zoning Meeting
To whom it may concern:
After attending the April 17, 2024, meeting regarding the Town of Southold Zoning, I would like
to include the following comments into the public record.
First, one of the members stated there was a vacancy on the Economic Development Committee.
I would submit an application and/or resume to be considered for such a committee.
There are a couple of points I would like to reintroduce into the record given that many in
attendance could not hear some of the meeting. Mr. Bill Lieblein mentioned he could not hear,
and it wasn't until after that comment that a portable microphone became available for all the
speakers.
Back in Southold Town history, starting in the 1600/1700s, the Town allowed boarding houses
where most people who had needed help in the area could reside in or on their property because
of the similar housing problems that existed then as they do now. Later on,the boarding houses
evolved into labor camps for the local farmers'labor needs. I still think the idea of boarding
houses in the Town should be entertained so that businesses that are open in the summer can find
housing for employees. Bed &Breakfasts may be able to help with such accommodation.
I would also recommend a housing program be unsubsidized. In the past,I was involved with an
Affordable Housing project(Cedarfields).Now, I offer housing options NONE of which
presently exceed$2,000 per month for rentals.The Town of Southold should consider taking
individual properties such as farmland and open space to see if there is any possibility for'/4 acre
home accommodations if clustered. I know the property adjacent to my 1210 North Road
residential home,on a full one acre parcel, in the past had a 13-bed nursing home at the corner of
Manhasset Avenue and North Road(Route 25)with the remainder of the eastern part of the
property being farmed by the Herzog family (potato farm I believe). This would be an ideal
situation to cluster two 12-person workforce/affordable housing in the east near Stirling
Cemetery which has public water and public sewer available. It was suggested at one time to
introduce affordable housing on that site, but the person walked away from it. There is an
important small area of wetlands with a freshwater lens that drains into Sterling Basin. That
wetlands should be protected at all costs.
In Ms. Lanza's discussion, she made reference to definitions several times. One definition that
should be addressed is"wetlands." On a rainy day,the majority of Southold Town could be
described as wetlands. There are many other regions with heavy clay/brick with no percolation
of water and those too could have been declared wetlands.Also,many areas have predominately
oak trees, which are not a wetlands species. In Moore's Woods, oak trees are primarily present.
There were multiple drainage ditches dug which originate at Silver Lake with drains at 3`d and
2°d Streets.All the water of Silver Lake and the drainage in Manhansuck River(as found in Paul
Hunter's book Momowetas People), go past Sill's farm(now park land)to an upper elevation of
13. Units could be considered there for a small cluster of housing.
I would also attempt to prioritize zoning for the workforce in the summer.
My last suggestion was making the entire Town of Southold a sewer district at the higher density
properties as an extension of the Village of Greenport sewer treatment plant.
Maintaining a more active waterfront will help keep jobs here year-round and should be an
important top priority for our community. Thank you for listening as did Mr.Mark Terry and
Supervisor Al Krupski.
Reaper tlul ,
/ohnZA. Costello
cc: North Fork Authentic
P.O.Box 612
Greenport,NY 11944