HomeMy WebLinkAboutDevelopment Plan Town of Southold 09/1969
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
FOR THE TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
For SoutholcL planning has now become essential for main-
taining its agricultural character. protecting natural and
historic features which attract seasonal residents and
tourists, preventing" obsolescence and deca:v, and preserv-
ing the Tovvn's rich coastal resources.
A large increase in population is predicted [or Suffolk
Count}, by 1985. The Town with its 14.780 residents in
19(j(j, is bound to [eel the pressures of this growth. The
question before the Town is whether it can meet the
demands of new residential development, traffic, ancl
commerce \vithout losing the rural character that Southolcl
now enjo}'s. The ans\ver will be positive only if the Town
plans its future by' establishLng ancl pursuing: the com-
munity goals shared b:V its citiz;cns.
It is important to understand that planning for cOllUllunit.v
improvement is a continuing process. Although any area
is always subject to unforeseen changes. the community
without a plan may find itself the victim of such changes.
With a plan a cOll1ll1uniL:v can adapt and take hetter advan-
tage of changing conditions.
THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
This leaflet presents a summar}' of the Development Plan
for the Town of Southold, a t\vo-volume work prepared by
the planning consultants \vorking with the Planning Board.
Valuable background for the plan was provided by the
Cornell Universit:v studies of agriculture. the economic
base, recreation and fisheries. and the analysis of
underground water resources by 1Vlalcolm Pirnie Engi-
neers.
Part T of this Plan contains the background st.udies cleal-
ing \vith population composition, housing conditions, the
local economy, and land use. It describes the goals and
objectives of the Town1s planning program and contains
a discussion of various means to carry out the proposals
in the Plan. Part II contains the detailed proposals for
achieving the objectives set forth in Part 1. It estab-
lishes broad planning policy with respect to transpor-
tation. future land uses and community facilities. The
Plan proposals are graphically expressed on the Devel-
opment Plan l\lap which is reproduced on the reverse
side of this leaflet. \-Vhether proposals are precisel:v
set forth or onl}' generall:y described and located. their
interrelationships are significant. and these must be
studied \viLh each new step in SoutholdTs growth.
Beyond certain needs \vhich exist today the Development
Plan sets no precise timetable for the achievement of
all its recommendations but should rather serve as a
guide to the location of various land uses and faciHtles
as they develop in the future.
HOMES
The TO\\l1 of Southold is primaril:y a residential and
agricultural community, and the Development Plan pro-
poses that this character be maintained in the future. Over
the next twent.v to thirty years the Town can be expected to
grO\v from its present population to about ;}4, 000. Because
buildable land is abundant. care must be taken to see that
new homes are not developed in a random pattern destro.v-
ing the agricultural economy and the countryside.
The Development Plan proposes that. in general. intensive
residential development be confined to the vacant lanel
south of State Route 25 and a narrow strip on the north
shore along Long Island Sound. Prime farm land lying
north of Route 25 should be preserved for agricultural
uses. and any development that might occur in this area
limited to a very low density. (See Plan .l\lap)
The AgTiculture-Residenee Area covering most of
Southold's important agricultural land is located
primarily north of Route 25. Housing types are
limited to one family homes and density recom-
mendations var:v from. 5 to 1 dwellings per net acre
depending upon the availability of a public water
system.
Low and Suburban Density Residential Development
is shown on the Development Plan primaril:y along
the south shore and in a narrow strip along Long
Island Sound. Housing t:'>1)es suggested here are
limited to single f;:lmily houses, but a higher density
than in the Agricuiture-Hesidence Areas. The
densities [or these areas are 1 to 2 d\velling units
per net acre depending lIpon the provision of a
public water system.
AGRICULTURE
Approximately half of SouLhold1s 28.1;)0 acres of land are
in agricultural use. The 19GG value of the total farm
crop was in excess of eight million dollars. making South-
olel one of the leading: dollar-value agricultural to\vns in
1\ew York State. If the Town LS to exert effective control
over the development of agriculture and open lands,
financial measures will have to be employed in addition
to the normal regulator:y devices provided by zoning.
The following are several ways which the Town ma.v
consider in seeking to preserve its farm lands:
I. Adjusting: tax assessments on the basis of
periodic contract~.
2. Purchase of development right~.
:}. Restriction of municipal services to areas
proposed for inten~ive development in the
plan.
If the basic policy of ageicultural land preservation set
forth in the Plan is adopted an intensive effort should
be undertaken to de\'ise an appropriate program for the
achievernent of thi~ aim.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Indu~trial Areas. :\Tore than ;')00 acres arc provided for
light and heavy industrial uses in areas convenient to
transportation routes.
The largest is in the Cutchoque area north of the Railroad
and ii.oute 27. Other substantial areas are west of ;vTattituck
central district bet\veen the Hailroad and Houte 27 and qn
area in Arshamomaque with frontage on the H.ailroad and
Albertson Lane. It is expected Greenport Village \vill
establish an industrial area on l\loores Lane within the
expanded Village limits.
The nature of the inuu::;trie::; attracted to these areas and the
impact they have on residential areas and highwa\' traffic
can be controlled through appropriate zoning rep;ulations.
COMMERCIAL AREAS
Retail develoIJment is primarily limitecl to business
centers which are presentl:v in existence. The 1\lattituck
Central Area is of 1na.1or importance since it is already
subject to developmental pressures from growth spread-
ing easD-vard from Riverhead. To strengthen the retail
development of established business centers. conlmercial
ribbon development should be discouraged along State
Route 25 and absolutely prohibited along County Route 27.
TRAFFIC CIRCULATION
Street s.ystem proposals are desig11ed to satisf.y present
deficiencies as \\'e11 as those which \vill surel.y develop
as the result of the inevitable increase in traffic result~
ing from the population grO\vth and greater use of the
automobile in the Town.
The major goal of the Development Plan is a highway net-
\vork that will eliminate present hazards and bottlenecks
and accommodate the greater traffic volumes anticipated
in the future. To this end each thoroughfare in the Town
has been identified either as a major street; a collector
road (linking major and minor streets); or a minor
street (giving direct access to homes and stores). Pro-
posed standards for each type of street are set forth.
and specific recom mendations arc made for raising
existing and future streets to these standards.
and the size and location of buildings. The Town's
present ordinance is, in some instances not ade-
quate to enable the Town to realize the aims of the
proposed Plan. The new regulations recommended
by the consultants have been reviewed by the Planning
Board and the Town Board, and with such changes
as may be appropriate will be submitted to the
community at a public hearing prior to adoption.
One of the Major streets proposed is a link between
Routes 25 and 27 that would enable through traffic to
by-pass the Village of Greenport. To solve this problem
a by-pass is proposed west of the Village at Chapel Lane.
Subdivision regulations are designed to insure high
standards of residential development. A ne\v set
of ~gulations were prepared by the planning con-
sultants and after a public hearing, they were
adopted by the Planning Board with the approval of
the Town Board.
Perhaps the most important collector street proposed
is an extension of Sound View Avenue along the north
shore. The Development Plan also proposed the exten-
sion of Ackcrl:y Pond Lane to Sound Vicw Road. Both
of these recomrnendations v,lOuld facilitate more direet
access to and from the residential development and
proposed parks and beaches on the Long Island Sound
shore. A ne\\/ street plan for better traffic circulation
in Southold is now being implimented,
Official i\lap
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
An Official Map is a legal document which prevents
building' in future or \videned streets, parks. and
drainage-rights-of-way. In this way, the eventual
cost of installing such improvements can be sub-
stantially reduced. The first step is the adoption
of a map shO\ving all existing streets, parks, and
drainage areas. Based on the Development Plan
proposals for these facilities. amendments to the
Official Map should then be made.
Recreation. The rural character of Southold has hereto-
fore precluded the need for an extensive program for
active and passive recreation. However. as the communit:y
character becomes more suburban, and as family leisure
time increases. ncw demands for recreation facilities \vill
arise. The Plan proposes that a number of new parks be
developed that will take advantage of the Town's extensive
shore frontages. Beachfront recreation arcas should be
developed in the vicinit:y of Mattituck inleL Peconic Inlet.
at Cedar Beach, and in the vieinitj' of Hog Neck Ba:y. Both
State and Federal aid is available to acquire park land.
In addition. the State Park at Orient Point should be en-
larged to include the salt marsh areas to the north.
Capital Improvement Programming'
\Vetland and Inlet Preservation. The Development Plan
recommends the permanent retention and public control
of wetland and inlet areas. The dredging of wetland
basins can jeopardize the fresh water character of the
underl\'ing aquifers. In addition, such dredging seriously
contributes to salt water intrusion into fresh water
storage areas. The Proposed Zoning Regulations prohibit
developmental encroachment on "Wetland Areas" design-
ated on the Proposed Official :\'lap. These areas can still
be used for private purposes of an open nature which will
not adversel~v affect the natural attributes of the wetlands
and inlets.
The Plan urges the Town to undertake a systematic
procedure for preparing annual and long range
programs for all improvements to be financed
wholly or partly with '1'0\\111 funds. Under this pro-
cedure a program is drawn up annuall:y for public
improvements needed in the next six ~years.
Priorities are then assig11ed to the projects, and a
budget is adopted to finance the coming year's pro-
jects. This process would enable the TO\vn to
anticipate future expenses and to assure long-term
pro.iect.~:i such as park acquisition and street
improvements.
Federal and State Aids
Public Buildings.
Plan include a new
N e\v public buildings proposed by the
TO\\11 Hall and Police Headquarters.
New York State and the Federal Government pro-
vide many assistance programs relating to specific
communit,y improvements. These include park
site acquisition, school construction, water supply
and treatment facilities, housing for the elderly,
and beautification.
Under the Housing Act of HH9 as amended, the
Federal Government. through the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, assumes three-
fourths of the net cost of rene\ving deteriorating
areas in comrnunities of 50,000 population or smaller.
The other fourth is shared equall:v by the State of
New York and the localit:v. Communities may qualif:y
for aid only if the:\-' have undertaken comprehensive
planning programs and other measures to prevent
future blight such as concentrated code enforcement.
Public Utilities. Residential growth along the south and
north snore is predicated upon the development of a
public watcr supply system. Thc Grcenport \vater s}'stem
should be gradually extended eastward along the main
road to supply' water to East 1\larion and Orient. The areas
along the southerly shore line, between Greenport and
::\lattituck, could be supplied by an extension of the Green-
port System or by a ne\v system developed by the Town or
by the Suffolk Count}' Water Authority.
YOUR ROLE
MAKING THE PLAN WORK
The development Plan summarized here represents three
:years of careful through and study b:y your Planning Board
and its professional consultants. Now it is ready' to be
considered by those it will most directly affect -- the
citizens of Southold. Thc Planning Board urges :you to
stud~/ the Plan and regL:jter your reactions and suggestions.
Public meeting with opportunities for open discussion may
be held. Only after such meetings and a revie\v of citizen
opinion \....'ill the Planning Doard consider acceptance of
the Plan as its official policy.
The preparation and adoption of a Development Plan does
not alone insure the development of the Town in accord-
ance with the Plan's objectives and proposals. An
important part of the planning program is that which
describes \\'a,\'S of implementing its proposals. Some
of the planning tools available to the 1'0\\11 are:
Zoning and Subdivision Reg'ulations
Bear in mind as :you review the Plan that it has no power to
automatically bind present or future generations. It is
essentially' an advisory document, a guide, and one that
\vill have to be adapted to changing times. Acceptanc:e of
the Plan does not necessarily assure its success. The
citizens of Southold must provide the impetus and vigilance
to carr}' the plan into action.
Through 7.oning, a community can regulate the use
of each parcel of land, the density of development.