HomeMy WebLinkAboutMcDowell, K 6.2025 Board Members and Supervisor Krupski,
I have attended various meetings regarding short and Longterm housing
issues, proposed hotels and also discussions on proposed zoning changes
throughout Southold and Riverhead Town.
I am not a native but have lived on the North Fork for 46 years. I have traveled
extensively but have never found anywhere like the North Fork. I have seen
many changes but still find the North Fork to be a safe and healthy
environment with a strong community. It is my home. I am sure you will all
agree the beauty that surrounds us is outstanding. Our views of the North Fork
are being threatened.
I am proposing a step in a new direction to help with both short term rental
issues and slowing down the increase for expansive hotels and resorts. Every
town on the North Fork has a Halo District. There are properties in the Halo
which are zoned light industrial or RO for example. These are areas which are
mixed use and not strictly residential and there is more activity in general.
They are usually within walking distance of town and public transportation as
well.
Why not allow the property owners in these districts to offer short term
transient rentals and boutique hotels. This would help to maintain the integrity
of the North Fork and eliminate the need for rezoning farmland to
accommodate expansive hotels and resorts . We could encourage the use of
public transportation, increase weekend revenue for local businesses in every
Hamlet, and keep the residential areas for both long term rentals and the
current 2 week vacation rentals. Maybe encourage people in the residential
areas to apply for an ADU so the rentals are either owner operated or
accommodate an on site year round business manager.
This of course would require the zoning to stay intact for the Halo districts,
which I feel is important regardless of whether this is a viable solution. Times
have changed and the value of working from home and raising a family is a
reality. Having a property a professional can hang a shingle and adjacently
enjoy family life is priceless. It also adds a significant value to those properties
and would diminish greatly, for instance if they were rezoned residential.
Change is inevitable. If we can make changes through law to accommodate
tourism rather than changing our pristine landscape, we will maintain the
integrity of the North Fork! Let's repurpose what we already have rather than
rezone Sound Ave to lodge visitors as proposed by Riverhead Town.
I hope you will consider these ideas. This is a starting point which will
obviously need some tweaking. I would be more than happy to meet with any
of you to discuss the endless possibilities.
I would appreciate this letter being shared in the minutes at the next Town
Board meeting.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Kate McDowell