HomeMy WebLinkAboutO'Mara, Kevin 7.2025
To the Town Board July 21, 2025
Zoning Code Comment
The draft Zoning Code threatens a priceless Cutchogue resource beloved by locals and visitors
alike. The proposed code changes the definition and the approved uses of what is now the Light
Industrial Zone to an Industrial Zone (the zone in question runs from Rt 48 to Oregon Road, and
from Cox to Depot). What is now open farmland on Depot and Oregon within this zone could
legally become any (or all) of the following, according to the draft: a car wash, tanning salon,
self-storage facility, a public utility (yes, a LIPA plant and/or a battery storage facility), dry
cleaner, “medical facility,” and a medical cannabis dispensary. It feels as though the authors of
the draft Code drove down Route 58 in Riverhead and decided this is just what we need on
Oregon Road. None of these uses comports with the character of Oregon Road or the Town’s
own Comprehensive Plan. Whatever benefit the Board may believe the Town gains from this is
far outweighed by the loss of the rural and agricultural character of Oregon Road.
The Town may argue that we need to provide opportunities for job-creating businesses. This
hasn’t worked out: the most recent addition to this zone is Stonewall Storage, a large self-storage
facility running along Oregon Road. At any given time, it employs one or two people – so for a
single job created in the Town, we sacrificed open space for billboard signs advertising the
facility, its connection with UPS, a paved parking area and corrugated metal structures. The
largest job creator in the Town is tourism; why threaten that?
Plus, there is already a significant amount of vacant commercial/industrial space in this zone of
Cutchogue that is already built. We don’t need more.
The Town and County have spent millions of our tax dollars purchasing development rights
along Oregon Road. Allowing a public utility or a car wash on Oregon Road is completely at
odds with the prior expenditure of our tax dollars which were spent to preserve all of the land
around it.
The Board may argue that the draft code lists many permitted uses, but it doesn’t mean any of
these eyesores will actually be built. Once a business is defined as a permitted use, the Town
cannot say no. Heather Lanza described the four houses on Griffing Street as an “unfortunate
mistake” but were built as of right because of lax zoning. The time to curtail these uses is now.
The remaining farmland in the proposed Industrial zoning district in Cutchogue should be re-
zoned agricultural, to preserve it as it is. As the recent sales of Peconic Land Trust parcels to
farmers along Oregon Road show, there is strong demand from farmers for agricultural land.
Industrial zoned farmland prices these farmers out.
The largest source of jobs in the Town is tourism (including second home owners). Changing the
character of one of the noted attractions in the Town threatens the proverbial goose that lays the
golden eggs. Will tourists really want to spend a day riding down Oregon Road (and frequenting
wineries and restaurants) if they are dodging trucks and a car wash?
Whatever happened to Save What’s Left?
Kevin O’Mara, Friends of Oregon Road