HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIshers Island Zoning Subcommitee 8.2025
Subject: Comments by Fishers Island Zoning Subcommittee Meeting on Proposed Zoning July
2025
To: Heather Lanza
From: Fishers Island Zoning Subcommittee
Date: August 1, 2025
Dear Heather,
We are writing to share a summary of the Fishers Island Zoning Subcommittee meeting held on
July 23, 2025, during which we reviewed the proposed zoning updates, discussed community
input, and identified several items for clarification and potential revision. We have also included a
worksheet that we put together that compares the current proposal to what was originally
proposed.
Zoning District Clarification and Recommendations
R-80 vs. R-40: What is the functional difference between these two zones? Should all
parcels under 2 acres currently zoned R-80 be changed to R-40?
Multiple Dwellings: Defined as more than one unit per buildingclarity requested on
whether this permits more than one residential structure per lot.
HMU 1 Zone uses very similar to the more intense HMU 2 Zone. Can we review and
minimize the intense uses in HMU1 to align better with the historical character of the
downtown?
Community Feedback Highlights
Parade Ground Area: Feedback from Gordon Murphy suggests this area should not
remain R-400. Preserved Land Overlay: Request for clarification on the purpose and shape
of the overlay, especially near the airport.
Contractor Yards: Recommended expansion of RB-1 zone southward to include current
contractor use areas.
Airport Road: Consider expanding the road south and potentially adding another row of
homes along the west side of Airport Drive.
Map and Code Revisions Needed
-owned property
as HMU-1 (Health Mixed Use).
Ballfield and Graveyard: Recommend designation as Preservation Overlay or Recreation
zones to protect both areas.
Island Marine: Suggested additions to permitted uses include multiple dwellings,
contractor shops (not yards), public educational centers, community centers,....see below
chart..
Community Character & Architectural Review
attention to this issue.
We ask: Do other Southold hamlets use such guidelines?
The current Architectural Review Board has few (if any) Fishers Island representatives. We
request consideration for greater local representation.
Enforcement: There is deep concern that the proposed changes may not lead to better
code enforcement on the island.
Lighting: Members expressed interest in further review of the outdoor lighting regulations
included in the proposed code. Concern for environment, migrant birds, etc. Concern with
lack of enforcement of lighting on Fishers.
Economic Development
Does the proposed zoning map and written code actively support current businesses and
a vibrant village center? Additional clarity and consideration are needed in the code to
promote economic vitality on the island.
Housing Affordability & Workforce Housing
Workforce Housing District: Heather and Gateway Properties are exploring a new zone
requiring residents to work on the island (not remotely).
Airport Road & Utility Land: Concern over community character and uncertainty whether
these sites will result in true workforce housing.
Suggestion: Consider blended zoning options to allow both private and workforce
housing types.
We understand the Utility Land across from the ballfield has requested HR
designation. Concern with this request by some community members is that this
from the ballfield- an island recreation center- would be problematic and take away
from the recreational use. Additionally, given the recent accident, a real concern
on congestion in this one area of the island. Additionally, the Utility company
mentions need of housing, however, at the moment the Utility Company is renting
one of their homes to a non-employee. And, if the zoning as suggested is
approved, we will be zoning many more areas for HR: airport road, additional
HMU1, and Gatehouse area. And, if the Gatehouse area is developed for Club
employees, houses in the village will now be available for year round residents.
We appreciate your attention to these items and welcome further discussion or clarification as the
process continues. Please let us know how we may assist in moving forward.
Warm regards,
Fishers Island Zoning Subcommittee
FISHERS ISLAND ZONING CODE UPDATE - DISTRICT COMPARISONS + QUESTIONS -
PLEASE NOTE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS
SOUTHOLD TOWN PROPOSED DISTRICT FIZ PROPOSED DISTRICT
Hamlet Mixed Use 1 (HMU-1) Fishers Island Hamlet (FIH)
Locations: Hamlet Center, Market Area, Yacht Locations: Hamlet Center, Market Area, Yacht
Club/Mobil, Pequot/Texaco, BD + Environs Club/Mobil, Pequot/Texaco, BD + Environs
The purpose of the Hamlet Mixed Use I (HMU-I) The purpose of the Fishers Island Hamlet (FIH)
District is to provide for a mix of walkable uses in District is to promote a vital hamlet center with a
the hamlet centers of Laurel, New Suffolk, mix of year-round business and housing
Peconic, East Marion, Orient and in appropriate opportunities while preserving Fishers Island's
locations on Fishers Island by limiting the uses to unique culture, environment, economy, and
exclude those too intense for these smaller character in accordance with Smart
hamlets, while protecting and promoting their Growth Principles (SGP).
historic character.
strikethrough = desired exclusions red = desired inclusions/questions
red = desired inclusions & exclusions/questions Residential
Multiple Dwelling Types, Including Live-
Residential
Work
One-Unit Detached, One-Unit Attached,
Two-Unit Dwelling, Multi-Unit Dwelling,
Commercial/Office
B&B, CCRC, Senior Living
Restaurants
w/special exception:
(Food Catering Facilities are not allowed
Cottage Court Housing
under new code: does this apply to Food
Commercial/Office
Arts Cafe, Toppers Ice Cream Shop,
Artisan Manufacturing
and/or the Island Market and mean they
Maritime Inn/Hotel - too intense? Move to
are non-conforming?)
HMU2
Retail
Country Inn/Hotel- too intense- Move to
Professional Offices/Studios
HMU 2
Home Professional/Business
Office
(Home Occupation is an Accessory Use
Full-Service Restaurant
under new code)
Retail Recreation- clarification needed on
Repair Shops
what this would look like
(No Vehicle Repair Garage allowed. Does
Retail Sales
this Make Texaco non-conforming?)
Small Retail Stores
Artist/Craftsperson Workshops
Service Business
Theater or Cinema-too intense move to (Contractor Shops not allowed under new
Transitional
code: does this mean that the
Veterinary Hospital or Clinic- too intense contractor/wood working shop on Montauk
move to HMU2 or RB1
is non-conforming? Does this mean that
Wireless Communication Facility- too
BD (contractor offices, parking, hardware
intense move to HMU2 or RB1
store, some material storage) is non-
Public Safety Service
conforming?
Religious Facility
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Accessory Uses
Art Galleries/Museums/Libraries
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Caretaker Dwelling
Theaters/Cinemas/Auditoriums- NOW IN
Home Day Care
TRANSITIONAL
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Public and Private Education Facilities-
Event Space
NOW IN ISLAND MARINE
Home Occupation
Tax Districts
Private Garage
(School/Library/Ferry/Fire/Waste)
Residential Storage Shed
Utility Companies- NOW IN HMU1- BUT
Solar Energy Production- clarification of
what this would look like- is this too
IS IT CLARIFIED WHAT THIS MEANS
intense in HMU1
AND USE-
Open Space (Green Space, Recreational)
Additional Questions/Comments Additional Questions/Comments
Island Marine (IM) Fishers Island Marine (FIM)
Locations: Ferry, Mobil/Yacht Club, Pirates Cove Locations: Ferry Area, Mobil/Yacht Club, Pirates
Cove, Texaco
Fishers Island is water-dependent for
(TBD) transportation, economy, and
recreation. The purpose of the Fishers Island
Marine (FIM) District is to protect critical
infrastructure, services, and transportation while
creating opportunities for year-round housing
and business in accordance with Smart Growth
Principles (SGP).
strikethrough = desired exclusions red = desired inclusions/questions
Residential Residential
One-Unit Detached Dwelling
Multiple Dwelling Types, Including Live-
B&B
Work
( Does not allow One-Unit Attached, Two-
Commercial/Office
Unit, Multi-Unit Dwellings, Live-Work.
Artisan Manufacturing
Does this mean the Walsh Park
Day-Care Center
apartments over the
Food Catering Facility
Retail Garden Center
freight is non-conforming?
Maritime Inn/Hotel -Do we want a hotel on
Why does this not allow Accessory
Fishers in this area? Exclude?
Dwelling Units but does Caretaker Dwelling?)
Office
Medical Office
Commercial/Office
Personal Services
Pet Boarding Service, Pet Care Facility, Restaurants
Pet Day Care, Pet Grooming
Professional Offices/Studios
Full-Service Restaurant
Repair Shops
Quick-Service Restaurant
Artist/Craftsperson Workshops
Retail Laundry Facility
(Contractor Shops not allowed?)
Retail Recreation
Retail Sales
Industrial/Marine
Small Retail Store
Marinas, Boat Storage Yards, Boat
Service Business
Veterinary Hospital or Clinic
Building/Repair
Wireless Communication Facility
Marine Sales/Boat Brokers
Aquaculture and Mariculture
Automotive Use
Transportation Terminal
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Vehicle Repair Garage
Art Galleries/Museums/Libraries
Community Centers
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Art and Cultural Use
(Not allowed unless falls under Cultural
Beach Club
Use?)
Nursery School
Public and Private Education Facilities
Public Administrative Facilities
(Not allowed unless falls under Cultural
Public Safety Services
Use?)
Public Utility- what is entailed?
Tax Districts
Industrial/Marine (School/Library/Ferry/Fire/Waste)-
Boat Yard
Utility Companies
Fish Processing
Open Space (Green Space, Recreational)
Marina
(Does not allow Accessory Recreational
Outdoor Storage
Structures - a possible future issue for the
Vehicle and Boat Storage Facility
Community Center?)
Private and Public Warehouses
Yacht Club
Accessory Uses
Accessory Uses
Solar Generation
Private Boat Dock
(Does not allow Solar Energy Production)
Cabana/Pool House
Caretaker Dwelling
Home Day Care
Electrical Vehicle Charging Station
Home Occupation
Private Garage
Residential Storage Shed
Additional Questions/Comments Additional Questions/Comments
Education /schools and community center
not included
Rural Business 1 (RB 1) Fishers Island Enterprise (FIE)
Locations: Airport area, Mosquito Hollow Locations: Airport area, Mosquito Hollow
The purpose of the Rural Business I (RB-I) District The purpose of the Fishers Island Enterprise (FIE)
is to provide for service business uses outside of
District is to designate and protect areas for
hamlet centers with a development pattern that is
consistent with the rural, agricultural, and historic
character of surrounding areas and uses. commercial uses, public-private partnerships, and
start-ups that complement the unique culture,
environment, economy, and character of Fishers
Island.
strikethrough = desired exclusions red = desired inclusions/questions
Commercial/Office Commercial/Office
Artisan Manufacturing Contractor Businesses
Day-Care Center
Contractor Yards
Retail Garden Center
Material Storage/Warehousing
Wireless Communication Facility
Retail Items
Produced/Manufactured/Assembled On-
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Site
Parks and Recreation
Greenhouses
Religious Facility
Professional Offices/Studios/Workshops
Industrial/Marine
Contractor Shop
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Contractor Storage Yard
Tax Districts
Wholesale Garden Center
(School/Library/Ferry/Fire/Waste)
Private Warehouse
Utility Companies
Accessory Uses
Agricultural Processing
Agritourism
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Caretaker Dwelling
Home Day Care
Accessory Farm Residence
Farm Roadside Sales
Farm Winery
Home Occupation
Private Garage
Residential Storage Shed
Solar Energy Production
Additional Questions/Comments Additional Questions/Comments
Tax district Waste management?
Hamlet Residential (HR) Hamlet Density (HD) existing district
Locations: Whistler, Airport Road, Walsh Park on Locations: Whistler, Airport Road, Walsh Park on
Madeline, Gatehouse lots
Utility Houses at ballfield (existing)
The purpose of the Hamlet Residential (HR) The purpose of the Hamlet Density (HD) District
District is to permit a mix of affordable housing is to permit a mix of housing types and level of
types and residential density appropriate in areas residential density appropriate to the areas in and
close to the major hamlet centers. around the major hamlet centers.
The HR district may only be mapped within one-One- family detached dwellings or multiple
half mile of the major hamlet centers of dwellings/townhouses require a .5-acre minimum
Cutchogue, Mattituck and Southold, and the lot size; with both community water and sewer,
minimum lot size is .25 acres. The row of houses
not required to be located within one-half mile of a along Whistler Avenue is currently zoned HD.
hamlet center.
strikethrough = desired exclusions red = desired inclusions/questions
Agricultural Agricultural
Farm Operation TBD?
Residential Residential
One-Unit Detached, One-Unit Attached, Multiple Dwelling Types, Including Live-
Two-Unit Dwelling
Work
w/special exception:
B&B, CCRC, Senior Living, Cottage Court
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Housing
Tax Districts
(School/Library/Ferry/Fire/Waste)
Institutional, Public, Recreational
Utility Companies
Public Administration Facilities
Open Space (Green Space, Recreational)
Accessory Uses
Accessory Uses
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Accessory Recreational Structure
Accessory Recreational Structure
Private Boat Dock
Private Boat Dock
Cabana/Pool house
Cabana/Pool house
Home Day Care
Home free Day Care
Home Occupation
Home Occupation
Private Garage
Private Garage
Residential Storage Shed
Residential Storage Shed
Solar Energy Production
Solar Energy Production
Temporary
Temporary Uses
Yard Sales
Yard Sales
Additional Questions/Comments Additional Questions/Comments