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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHeritage at Cutchogue - Alternatives October 29, 2007 MEMBERS Jeri Woodhouse George Solomon Joseph L. Townsend Kenneth L. Edwards Martin H. Sidor RECEIVED ~~ft&"J) OCT 2 9. 200f LU[~ ~-r.B. Southo'~ Town Cler1< TO: PLANNING BOARD COPY: TOWN BOARD COPY: TOWN CLERK Scott Russsell Louisa P. Evans William P. Edwards Thomas H. Wickham Daniel C. Ross Albert J. Krupski, Jr. Elizabeth A. Neville / MEMBERS COPY: SUPT OF HIGHWAYS Peter W. Harris FROM; Julia H. Rapuano 1140 Crown Land Lane, Cutchogue After attending numerous meetings of both the Planning and Town Boards, perhaps a new approach should be considered regarding the HERITAGE project. Instead of condos, there are 2 alternatives - a park or a farmer's market. Following are details for projects, but before I go there I do have questions that you mayor may not have the answerS to. Recently Mr. Scott Russell has been very outspoken regarding the HERITAGE project. At last week's public meeting he said the Town would purchase 25 of the 47 acres to be used as a buffer between the development and Highland Rd. I originally thought that the offer by Mr. Russell to purchase the 25 acres was part of the bargaining to minimize the development of the property. Shouldn't the developer be required by the Town to design the buffers and use whatever land is necessary? It sounds to me that some info is missing. 1 Further, if Mr. Russell has the ability to use Town funds for half of the property, why not purchase the entire 47 acres and use it for the residents of Southold Town? Mr. Russell explained about the zoning and rezoning of SQid property and how the Town would be open to a lawsuit and the Town would lose. What amount of money are we talking about? I did some research and it appears that in 1983, the purchase price was $277,000. According to tax records, the market value is almost $800,000. If my numbers are on target, why can't the Town purchase the entire property and develop it themselves? Just doing a farmer's market which is so appropriate for this area would be profitable. A design that would include parking, thereby removing congestion off Route 25 (Main Rd), renting out parcels to be used as individual farm stands for fruit and vegetables, plants and trees. Why not ask Karen Catapano to sell goat cheese and goat products like her hand cream that is great, locally made jams and jellies - need I go on? Endless possibilities! Another comment from Supervisor Scott was the developer was in negotiation for a farm road. What road and where? Is the Planning Board aware of anything new that we the residents and you - the Planning Board - should be aware of? I have mentioned to you that we have learned quite a bit by attending the meetings. What rattles me is Nancy Sawastynowicz. has a lot of history on this project and it appears that we had slipshod politics. If this is true, and I think it is, then there is a lot more here to be uncovered. I live on Crown Land Lane. Since I have been here I have battled to get the sump across the road from me cleared up - get rid of the rats, yes rats, get rid of the poison ivy, and take care of the rain water flooding. It took 3 years for a new drain to be dug on our street. Mr. Harris had used Hampton Bays Pest Control for extermination but he stopped the contract. I have called his office numerous times, spoken to his secretary, have begged for some help and to no avail. I pay Castillo Landscaping to mow by the sump. I hired Hampton to get the rodents under control on my property. Go and take a look at the sump. I told Mr. Harris to leave the insides of the sump alone, just clean up around the sump; fix the gate that is crooked and unsafe; clean up and remove all the dead plants and debris. I offered to buy trees to replace what we had and now need in front of the sump to give a clean and healthy appearance - all he had to do was his job. Clean it up and I would replace what I could to have it look nice. Just for your info - his answer to me 2 years ago was "There is no time for sump cleanup. We do it when it really has to be done. You are not the only one complaining." 2 So instead of spending money on deals for a project that is just bad, take the cash and spend it on the Hamlet of Cutchogue. Look at the dump! I brought over brush material and was shocked. I told the fellows working the weigh station that day that their dump area was a whole lot better than the sumps on Crown Land. And do we get any help with our garbage? Never! There was only one man who helped the residents - and he was our Employee of the Year and his name is Jessie - so well-deserved. The workers at the dump walk around telling people how we cheat by tossing over an extra wastepaper bag. Does it matter that we pay for the sticker on the car, we pay for the yellow bags THAT STILL FALL APART, we paid to build a new recycle center but we can't get rid of rats in our neighborhood! Again - instead of helping a developer build an unwanted community by negotiation, why not lose the suit, build a park or market, take care of what we have and make it last. Thank you y 3 PROPOSAL. FOR A COMMUNITY PARK Replacement for HERITAGE Condominium Project Submitted by Julia Rapuano 1140 Crown Land Lane Cutchogue, N. Y . The Hamlet of Cutchogue does not have an area like the Peconic Recreation Center or Mattituck (Strawberry Fields) for events. Taking into consideration all residents, seniors, teens, children and all in between, the following would provide recreation year round. A project with the right design, organization and supervision, would also provide jobs and income. We are dealing with almost 48 acres. I am not a draftsman but I am putting forth what should be considered and I am sure there probably is more. First would be parking. Depending on design parking could be around the outside perimeter or separate parking field. The "park" should be parceled out to include: SWIMMING POOL The pool should be domed so it could be used in the winter. The pool would be surrounded by an elevated platform to hold exercise equipment. This same platform could be separated so classes could be held for exercise programs such as yoga, aerobics, dance, etc. TENNIS/GOLF Tennis and/or golf could be planned for outside use. However, tennis could also be designed as the pool, enclosed. This would depend on cost and space. If miniature golf is included that would definitely be outside. If a small golf course is considered we would need instructors and would charge a fee. RECREATION BUILDING This area should include tables for games such as table tennis, children's games, pool table, computers and large screens for educational programs. This area could be made available, AT A FEE, for use by local residents for birthday, graduation or any celebration party. 4 OUTSIDE FIELD We need a field for baseball. football. basketball. hockey. soccer. whatever. We could rent out this area for fairs as well. Do we have room for a man-made ice skating/roller skating rink? How about a man-made mountain for skiing and sledding? These are some suggestions. I am sure we could do more - I and many other residents want you to consider this as a great alternative to condos. You and we can make it work. If money is needed we can charge for many of the uses. Rent tennis courts by the hour; lessons for swimming. golf. tennis; fees for fairs; we would need instructors. coaches. front desk info; whatever. Thank you. 5 PROPOSAL FOR A FARMER'S MARKET Replacement for HERITAGE Condominium Project Submitted by Julia Rapuano 1140 Crown Land Lane Cutchogue, N. Y A Farmer's Market would be so appropriate in our area that is filled with huge as well as roadside produce. We could set it up the same way as we would a Recreational Park but this would probably be open. Not only should product be sold, we should also design the market to include trees, plants, flowers, fresh cheese (Catapano Goat Farm), baked goods and breads. Visit any local farm like Bayview, or pumpkin outlet like Krupski's, or Wickham's apple orchard and imagine centering this in one outlet. Again we would parcel out areas to whomever and they would pay a fee. Parking would be around the perimeter or create a parking field. Year round or seasonal would be incorporated so if the market is closed during the winter it can be used for other reasons. Foods, crafts, local business could use the market for their outlet. This is another great alternative to the HERITAGE. Please consider the alternatives. Thank you. 6