HomeMy WebLinkAboutAdditional Facts & Proposals for Development Plan 1970
ADDITIONAL FACTS & PROPOSALS
for
SOUTHOLD'S PLAN I'OR DEVELOPMENT
October 1, 1970
In tl1e, more than seven years of continuing study of trends in the Town of Southold
many revealing facts have been uncovered and, in general, the Planning Board has tried
to'present them to the public. At the same time it is recognized that change is the order
of the day in Southold and further study is necessary. Nevertheless five years have
elapsed since the first reports and projections were made, and there is now an opportunity
to evaluate and recapitulate.
POPULATION. The 1960 census shows Southold with a population of 13,295 and
a population density of .426 persons per acre (Riverhead .334 and Southampton .291).
The Cornell study in 1964 showed 14,186 exclusive of Fishers Island, which agrees with
the Lilcofigure of 14,626. If present estimates of about 17,000 are correct the population
density would be 6 persons per acre. Cornell's medium projection for 1970 was 15,885. In
1975 we will have 19,750, in 1980 - 23,000, and in 1985 - 28,000 by the estimates of the
Nassau-Suffolk Planning Commission.
WATER. The water study made by Malcolm Pirnie Engineers in 1963 and 1964
was made during a series of deficient rainfall years and thus established the danger point.
Subsequent years have seen greatly reduced pumpage for irrigation. Pirnie's factor of 40%
"run in" would contribute 16 inches of rainfall per year to the ground water reserve.
Since irrigation never exceeds 6 inches per year, and in 1970 was less than 3 inches per
acre actually irrigated, it can be seen that open land in agriculture contributes tremen-
dously to Southold's water resource and thus provides for existing areas of denser popula-
tion.
Water must be properly distributed and sources of water adequately protected.
AGRICULTURE. Southold has 10,000 cropped acres of some of the most productive
land in America. It is probably the Number Two agricultural town in New York State.
An average sized farm of 80 acres in Southold produces enough potatoes to feed 24,000
people with potatoes every year. Clearly Southold farms supply food not only for the
local market, but also a large area of the eastern seaboard. Although total land in farms
is somewhat higher than the 10,000 cropped acres there has been some movement out of
agriculture. Nevertheless tenancy has not increased. Farmers still own about 43% of what
they operate. Much of what they rent is owned by former farmers.
( over)
LAND USE. The Plan for Development indicates that in 1963-65 there was in
agriculture 13,136 acres or 46.7% of the Town's total area. Development of all kinds was
5,133 acres or 18.2%, including homes, commercial, industrial and public uses as well as
highways. Still remaining in vacant and private open space was 9,881 acres or 35.1 % of
Southold's land. Since this base period and contrary to trends elsewhere there has been
a building boom with June 1970 setting an all-time high for any month.
It would seem that a resident population of 28,000 in 1985, being slightly over
Cornell's medium projection for that year of 26,700, could readily be housed on the
10,000+ acres in the Town not in farms, and that existing land in agriculture might well
remain in that use, at least until that time.
The study and report just submitted by Dr. Joseph Sullivan for the Town Board
indicates considerable interest in this direction on the part of the Town's farmers. This
study also points out in detail what has happened to agriculture and the Town in the past
7 years, and our deductions have been drawn as a result of this study.
Planning at all levels, National, State, and County all recommend retaining land in
agriculture as long as possible. It assures a supply of food for future needs, it relieves
the tax burden for all local services as shown by the Suffolk County Planning Commission
and by lowering the population density greatly, it enhances Southold both for permanent
and part-time residents.
Since the Cornell study stresses the importance of maintaining Southold's rural
atmosphere, it is hoped that means will be found both to preserve open space in agricul-
ture as well as woodlands, wetlands, scenic areas, and shorefront.
Progress is being made at the Town level in each of these areas.