HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/2007TO: Participants in the August 18th East Marion Stakeholders Public
Tnput Meeting
FROM: East Marion Stakeholders
DATE: September 26, 2007
Thank you for your participation in our first public workshop in East Marion
on August ].8th at the Firehouse. This memo summarizes the input you
provided regardin9 the issues and possible solutions that were identified by
the stakeholders. We emphasize that this is a summary. A full report of the
data can be found at Town website: http://southoldtown.northfork.n~t.
We will be reporting on community feedback when we have our next meeting
with the 5outhold Planning Board, on October 29th.
Summary of Values and Wishes for East Marion's Future Developed by
Community Members at August 18th Meeting
What We Value Most About East Marion
· Physical beauty of this place- its shoreline, its remaining open spaces,
its night skies.
· Peaceful, friendly, quiet, rural character of our small community.
· Community where families can remain for generations.
Our Wishes for East Marion's Future
· Preserve rural quality of life.
· 5ave the open spaces that are left.
· No commercial development, no high-density development.
· Maintain public and health services.
· Build informed and active citizenry who work with 5outhold Town to
ensure our vision.
· Develop a plan for managing deer population
Summary of East Marion Tssues Tdentified by Stakeholders
Traffic and Road Safety: Main Rood is hazardous due to the number and
speed of cars, roadside congestion near the Post Office and Angel's Store,
and accidents caused by deer.
Agriculture and Land Preservation: Farming is threatened in East Marion
due to residential development of vacant land as well as the proliferation of
deer. In addition, more public boy beach access is needed.
Town Relations/Code Enforcement: East Marion needs greater support
from the Town in the following areas: completing Old Schoolhouse Park,
monitoring LIPA tree trimming, trash pick-up in public areas, providing youth
recreational activities, enforcing existing codes regarding noise, signage, and
substandard housing.
Historic Preservation and Gateway: Traditionally, East Marion has not done
a good job of documenting, preserving, honoring or shoring its history.
Summary of Possible Solutions Identified by Stakeholders
Reduce and enforce speed limits and utilize traffic calming devices and
signage to emphasize the need for drivers to slow down when passing
through East Marion.
Address safety hazards and traffic congestion near Post Office and Angel's
5tore by creating off-street parking and moving bus stop.
Explore multiple means of reducing the impact of ever-increasing Orient
ferry traffic and restricting any further expansion of ferry services.
Town should sponsor controlled hunt to reduce deer population.
Preserve East Marion's agricultural heritage by saving vacant land parcels
for farming use.
Improve existing public beach access points by repairing road ends and
clearing phragmites.
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Work with Town to ensure existing codes are enforced, LIPA tree trimming
is monitored, and needed recreational equipment and programming are
provided for East Marion.
Create a local committee to begin collecting and documenting East Marion
history.
Investigate the establishment of an historic district along Main Road.
Provide boundary focal points for East Marion with well designed gateway
signs at the entrance and exit of the hamlet.
Summary of Feedback from Community Members Who Participated in
Public Tnput Meeting on August 18, 2007 at East Marion Firehouse,
9:30-12:00.
Strengths of the Proposals from the Stakeholders
· Support more consistent and frequent enforcement of traffic laws.
· Applaud strict enforcement of noise regulations after ttpm at night
· Support recommendations for working with Southold Town and
community groups, like Peconic Land Trust, to preserve farmland.
· Appreciate stakeholders' position opposing further commercial
development in the hamlet.
· Support better signage, identification of sites for off-road parking,
and relocating the bus stop to reduce traffic congestion near Post
Office and Angel's Store.
· Support repair of Bay Avenue and Gillette Drive and removal of
phragmites to increase beach access.
· Appreciate that stakeholder process clearly identified East Marion
issues and provides East Marion residents with access and input into
Town Hall policies.
Other Opportunities Community Members See for Addressing These
Problems
East Marion needs more public meetings, a website, more
opportunities for input on community issues, and regular
communication between stakeholders and residents.
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· It is important for residents to stay involved in the political process,
through participation in the East Marion Community Association,
neighborhood groups, and ad hoc advisory groups on specific issues,
such as traffic, deer overpopulation, land preservation, in order to
have influence in government decisions that impact East Marion.
· Stakeholders should prioritize their efforts.
· Strengthen code enforcement in East Marion.
· Acquire Kortsolakis property for preservation and recreational use.
· Increase East Marion voter turnout and encourage part-time
residents to re-register and vote in Southold Town.
· LIPA must bury power lines and use certified arborist for tree
pruning.
· Utilize deer birth control rather than a hunt as a means of reducing
deer population.
· Buy waterfront for community access.
How Could the Stakeholders' Proposals Be Mode Better?
· Increase public involvement
· Make sidewalks and road shoulders more pedestrian and bike-friendly.
· Eliminate road widening as an option for dealing with traffic problems.
· Install traffic calming devices at entrance and exit to East Marion
with slow-down sign.
· Institute organized communication between stakeholders and
residents.
· Bring together key players, such as Police Commissioner,
representative of bus company, Cross Sound Ferry, Town Supervisor
to help solve East Marion problems.
· Identify laws that are on the books and not being consistently
enforced, such as traffic and housing codes.
· Support role of the East Marion Community Association.
· Change zoning to allow for lower density.
Please watch the newspaper and your mailbox for notification of future
Stakeholder Public Input Workshops. Please plan to attend and continue the
conversation.
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Full report of the East Morion Stakeholders Meeting on 8/18/2007
Values and Wishes for East Marion's Future developed from Community
Members' Input on 8/18/2007
Values
1. Families to remain here.
2. Waterfront, access to shoreline for all people.
$. Physical beauty
4. Peaceful, friendly, quiet.
5. Maintain status quo.
6. Keep services and health services.
7. Not commercial.
8. Community to have information.
9. Small community, good sense of community, rural, nature [night sky]
lO.Open space and people are our biggest resources.
il. Worried about traffic safety.
12. Architectural mix of homes.
iS. Shoreline rights for all.
14. Share information with each other.
15. Marion bake Preservation and Cleanup.
Wishes
1. Keep East Marion rural.
2. People want input.
3. Quality of life
4. Preserve historic places, open spaces.
5. Code enforcement of illegal housing.
6. How we can work with Southold Town to ensure our vision for East Marion.
7. Save what is left.
8. Over population of deer, need a plan for control.
9. No high density
lO. Preserve open space.
il. Single homes vs. high density.
l?. Share all spaces with all species.
iS. bimit commercial development.
14. Maintain Marion bake.
15. Public input on changes for community.
Sticker comment: refers to #12 above, can't do this/Deer overpopu/ation is
destroying our habitat.
Tssues for Community Discussion--Presented by the East
~Aarion Stakeholder at the Public Tnput Meeting 8/18
Traffic and Road Safety
1. Problem: Traffic moves too quickly along Rt. 25 and is a hazard
to pedestrians and motorists when exiting their cars.
Possible Solutions:
· Reduce speed limit from 55 to 45 on causeway and from 40
to 30 throughout East Marion.
· Direct Police Department to enforce speed limits vigorously.
· Request assistance from Highway Department to
recommend traffic calming devices, such as breakaway
bollards or landscaped mini-medians, which would be
appropriate to East Marion.
· install residential neighborhood signs to emphasize the
need for slowing down.
2. Problem: Traffic congestion on both sides of Rt. 2§ creates a
hazardous condition for pedestrians, drivers, and vehicles.
Possible Solutions:
· Make U-turns illegal between Cedar Drive and Bay
Avenue.
· Forbid shoulder parking on south side of Rt. 2§ between
Angel's Store and the Post Office.
· identify areas for off-street parking near the Post
Office and Angel's Store.
3. Problem: The ever-increasing Orient Ferry traffic creates
hazards for local residents entering and exiting Rt. 2§.
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Possible Solutions: · Require Cross Sound Ferry Company to stagger ferry
traffic.
· Enforce speed limits and issue fines to deter speeding by
late ferry travelers.
· Encourage punic transportation to and from the ferry.
· Restrict ability of Cross Sound Ferry Company to expand
the capacity of its boats or frequency of schedule.
4. Problem: The current bus stop location immediately west of
Angel's Store creates a hazard to pedestrians, drivers and
vehicles and occupies needed parking spots for store customers.
Possible Solutions: · Relocate bus stop to the area east of the Fire House.
· Create a bus shelter that is in character with the
architecture of the hamlet.
5. Problem: Deer population causes automobile accidents on a
regular basis.
Possible 5olution: Town to sponsor controlled hunt.
Agriculture and Land Preservation:
:t. Problem: Farmland in East Marion is shrinking due to residential
development of vacant land.
Possible Solutions:
· Tdentify parcels for agricultural use and set aside for
preservation, for example, the Kortsolakis property.
Request that Town and/or groups like Peconic Land Trust
approach property owners to save parcels for farming use.
· Tdentify open space suitable for neighbor-friendly farming,
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such as land on Rocky Point Road.
Arrange for mediation between homeowners associations
and other property owners and farmers in order to move
land parcels into neighbor-friendly use such as perennial
crops, like strawberries, asparagus, flowers, or organic
farming.
2. Problem: Proliferation of deer is making farming marginally
viable.
Possible Solution: Town to sponsor controlled hunt.
3. Problem: There is limited bay beach access for the public in
East Morion.
Possible Solution: Improve existin9 beach access points, for
example, clear phragmites from ~Sillette Drive beach and repair
road end access on Bay Avenue.
Town Relations/Code Enforcement
1. Problem: The Town did not complete Old Schoolhouse Pork
as promised.
Possible Solution: Request the Town to complete the original plan
to include restrooms, fountains, etc.
2. Problem: The Main Rd. used to be graced by large stately
trees. LIPA aggressively over pruned them, several years ago
killing many trees and causing damage to others.
Possible Solution: Request that Town and its Tree Committee
monitor LIPA to ovoid further destruction of trees and require
LIPA to plant more trees.
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3. Problem: Trash pickup in public areas is inadequate.
Possible Solution: Require Town to provide trash containers at
road ends, public beach access points, the Post Office, and the
causeway and collect and empty them on a more frequent basis
May to October.
4. Problem: There is a lack of local recreation activities for East
Marion children.
Possible Solution: Encourage the Town Recreation bepartment to
schedule activities at Old Schoolhouse for local children.
5. Problem: Existing codes regarding noise at night and temporary
signs are not being adequately enforced.
Possible Solution: Require Town to enforce existing codes.
6. Problem: There are several properties in East Marion where
housing conditions are substandard.
Possible Solution: The Town must actively monitor these
situations and enforce housing regulations for the health and
safety of residents.
Historic Preservation and Gateway
1. Problem: There is no central repository of East Marion history
in the area.
Possible Solution: Create a local committee of East Marion
residents to collect historic photographs, documents, oral
histories from long time residents to make our hamlet's history
more accessible to our residents and the greater community.
Possible projects: pamphlet detailing East Marion history, exhibit
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for Oysterponds Museum, roadside historic markers documenting
local history.
2. Problem: Some newer homes and businesses on Main Road do
not reflect the historic character of the community.
Possible 5olution: [nvestigate the establishment of historic
district alon9 Main Road.
Problem: East Marion lacks a boundary focal point.
Possible Solution: Create well designed gateway signs at entrance
and exit of East Morion.
Feedback from Community Members Who Participated in Public Tnput
Meeting on August 18, 2007 at the East Marion Firehouse
Strengths of the Proposals from the Stakeholders as identified by
Community Members (Numbers were randomly assigned to the response
sheets prepared by each of the 8 table discussion groups)
Group One
1. Better enforcement of traffic laws.
2. General report issue analysis is comprehensive and thoughtful.
$. Continue to work with all groups to preserve farmland.
4. Strict enforcement of noise regulations after 11PM at night.
Group Two
1. Police enforcement of speed limit.
2. Stakeholders access to Town Hall and Supervisor (POWER).
$. band preservation (not commercial development).
§. More consideration for bikers, by staying off bike paths.
6. band preservation: No Oki-Do Spa on Shipyard bane to avoid traffic for
restaurant of $00 customers.
7. No commercial development, only one family homes on 2 acre lots.
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8. Sticker Comment: 2 Acre zoning prohibits middle c/ass from moving into
East/dar/on, Go for conservation developments, not estate planning,
Group Three
1. Code enforcement.
2. Traffic enforcement.
$. Public support and involvement.
Group Four
1. Look at existin9 laws and codes.
2. Addressin9 issues of concerns regarding: traffic speeds and deer
population.
Group Five
I. Good issues identified.
2. Need more detailed investigation of pros and cons.
3. Sticker Comment: No Town CenteH.
Group Six
t. The proposals are very 9ood, enforcement is questionable.
Z. Some proposals can be accomplished by addin9 signs - movin9 bus stops.
$. Addin9 some sign for prohibited parkin9 and additional parkin9 behind
Fire house.
4. The main strength is that there is overwhelmin9 agreement that speed
limit is too high and enforcement in not adequate.
5. Recognize that Route 25 was designated as a Scenic Byway, so we should
not waste time with talk of widenin9 the road.
6. Sticker Comment: Agree. Nip discussion of road widening in the bud.
Group Seven
1. Recognizin9 the need for o unified voice to address the town 9overnment.
2. Clear identification and enumeration of problems.
$. Speed limit enforcement [and change].
4. Identification of off-road parkin9.
5. All 9ood points about ferry.
6. Move bus stop. No bus shelter.
7. Deer? No consensus.
8. Bay Avenue and Gillette Drive beach - OK
9. Farmland solutions - 9reat.
10. Sticker Comment: ~eality Check: There are more deer in North America
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today, than there were i~ the 18th century leadi~g to plant exti~ctibn.
Group Eiqht
1. Code enforcement.
2. Law enforcement.
3. Solutions for traffic.
4. Beach access.
5. Agricultural and land preservation.
6. Identified issues.
7. Sticker Comment: Must be preserved [Beach access]
Other Opportunities Community Members identified for addressing the
problems (Capital letters were randomly assigned to the response sheets
prepared by each of the 8 table discussion groups.)
Group A
~. East Marion Association.
Z. Stakeholders' representation of same Town Government.
$. Town meetings with standing room only due to proliferation of East
Marion residents!
4. Elections - use your right to vote!
5. Purchase Kortsolakis property.
6. Sticker Comment: Vote in East Mar/on even if you spend most of your time
in NY~. It counts more.
Group B
1. Cut back weeds and foliage to allow for pedestrian passage on sidewalks.
2. Sticker Comments:
o. Keep the bi~ picture despite our differences.
b. Live with wildlife.
c. Organic farming.
d. Better acoustics at meeting (use microphone?)
e. LZP,4 must bury power lines.
f. Pesticide-free Laws.
g. Nice people, nice meeting, nice leaders, no consensus on any issues, no
actionable decisions.
h. L_TP~ must used certified arborists for tree pruning/
L Elect East Mar/on friendly government leadershl)o.
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j. £u7 waterfront.
k. Save public access to shoreline.
L Great StarH
Group C
1. More Code enforcement officers.
2. Change Town Code to fit East Marion's special needs.
$. More public input (like today).
4. Par $ Golf Course, ant8 Acre parcel behind Post Office with walking
paths. Income would pay for improvements, bow fees for residents of
5outhold -a Win, Win!
Group b
1. Work with Peconic Land Trust.
Group E
1. More meetings for future problems.
2. Deer birth control.
$. Suggestion Box.
4. Sticker Comments: [Deer reference a, bi
a. ~gree - safer for people than hunting.
b. Deer birth control has been tried and does not work.
c. Prioritize your efforts.
d. Enforcement of Southold ?-own Codes.
Group F
1. Acquire Vacant Land - Kortsolakis property.
2. Harness passion and interest of this group by forming the Citizens' East
Marion Association.
Group G
1. Steering Committee on phragmites in Marion Lake and Gillette Beach.
2. Volunteer committee on traffic enforcement.
$. Clear definition and public awareness of the high tide mark for public
access to shoreline.
Group H
1. To be able to vote on these issues.
2. To be aware of political implications.
3. Sticker Comments:
a. There will be no vote/
b. VG (Very Good)
Group I
t. More public meetings.
2. Letters to Stakeholders.
$. Publicize website for comments.
4. More community involvement.
5. Sticker comment- VG (Very Good)
Suggestions from Community Members for Making the Stakeholders'
Proposals Better (Double lower case letters were randomly assigned to
the response sheets prepared by each of the 8 table discussion groups.)
Group aa
1. Be more specific.
2. More meetings.
$. East Morion Community Association.
4. Clarification on responsibilities.
,5. Sticker Comment- Yes/
Group bb
1. Have the Police Commissioner, Building Inspector, Representative from
Bus Company, Cross Island Ferry Representative and Town Supervisor
present (meet and/or work together) to help solve problems - or at least
make them aware.
2. Prioritize the issues.
$. Try accomplishing issues that are legally in place and not enforced.
4. A list of issues that need to be enforced - that are not.
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Group cc
1. Organized communication between stakeholders and residents.
2. Achieve consensus on issues and formally report our positions to the
Town.
3. Handle one issue at a time.
Group dd
1. Protect land.
2. Cameras on Street - State regulations, traffic lights.
$. U-Turn not on issue.
4. Construction
5. Not farming open land.
6. Limit parking.
6. Deer birth control.
7. Garbage cans.
8. Sticker Comment: Have each Stakeho/der head up issue ~n'th study group.
Group ee
1. Do not widen rood (State Route 25).
2. Enforce $0 mph speed limit between (2) traffic calming devices that sit in
the middle of the rood.
$. Sign and calming devices at both ends of East Marion, i.e. "ENTERING
EASTMARION - SLOW DOWN."
4. Create o Landmark District between calming devices and create on
Architectural Review Board.
5. Have bIPA plant trees between calming devices.
6. Install a light in front of Angel's Store and Post Office that is pedestrian
control led.
7. Prioritize solutions based on feasibility and interest.
8. Sticker Comments:
a. Do not p/ant under pokier fines again/
b. No median, no rotary.
c. Don't ~/iden road.
d. Great idea (refers to # 7 above)
e. VG (very ~ood refers to #! above)
Group ff
i. Alternate methods of control for deer population.
2. Beach access: enforce parkin9 restrictions, especially year round boat
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parking at Gillette Drive Beach.
;3. Insistence on Iow and code enforcement.
4. Vote - by post cords to summer residents to give opinions.
~. Sticker Comments:
a. VG (very 9ood refers to #$ above)
b. excellent idea (refers to #4 above)
Group 99
1. Better signoge for bicycle traffic.
2. Single file bike riding.
3. Daily enforcement of traffic laws.
4. For deer control, hire o sharpshooter to professionally reduce and cull
herds of deer.
§. Sticker Comments:
J~VI'th regard to comment about deer in #4 above:
a. No/
b. ~eolity Check: There ore more deer in North America today than in
the 18th century, and th~ ~ leod~h~ to plant ext~hct~bn.
c.?.
d. NO GOOD!
Group hh
t. More people need to get involved.
Z. Sticker Comments:
o, Ruth Ann for 3upervisor.
b. Join the East iHorion Community Association.
Group ii
t. Enforcement of Traffic Lows.
2. Improve Main Rood (Route 25) and make it safer.
;3. Zone for Iow density.
4. Kill phrogmites especially those situated at the Boy Avenue "bridge" on
Lake Morion.
5. Enforce housing lows to prevent illegal housing.
6. Sticker Comment: P/ease investigate the possibility of chonqinq zoninq
£/ike Oki-Do] to suit our "vo/ues and vision ':
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Tndividual Comments Submitted Anonymously by Community Members at
the Conclusion of the Public Meeting
1. What Worked: Great Start!
Bringing people together
Mixing up the group
Facilitator- Excellent!
Great Presentation (Walter, Jenny & Ruth Ann)
Willingness to work together
What did not Work:
Acoustics
Too much to digest
People coming late
Peoples' distrustfulness.
2. Well run meeting but hearing the information was a problem.
3. #1 priority is speeding traffic on Route 25! The speed limit should be
lowered to 35 mph through* East Marion and 35mph on the Causeway
enforced before more children/adults are killed or injured.
*35mph from btinking tight to the Ferry Terminal.
4. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of us all.
5. Create an East Marion Historic District with 30 mph speed limit and
signage alang the Main Road (diagram included).
6. Place a median alang the Historic District.
7. I thaught two and a half hours would be a tang meeting, but it moved atang
well. Thank you! And I appreciated the comfortable seating.
8. In regard to arranging Mediation_between property owners - it is none
of our/your "Business".
Busing to ferry may facilitate increase of Ferry Services.
Limit use of weapons to diminish deer - bow only - carry carcass off of
property.
Leave Angel's parking alone.
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