HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/2007Minutes of the "Greenport West" Stakeholders Group meeting
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Town Hall Annex
4:30 p.m.
and
5:45 p.m. with the Southold Planning Board
Attendee Stakeholders:
Victor Brown
Mariel Dobler
Sylvia Holtzberg
Melanie Norden, Co-Secretary (Attended Planning Board meeting)
Peter Russo
Ural Talgat
Absent:
Don Leslie, Jr., Chairman
Tanya Padmore
Nelia Purnhagen
The group reviewed the minutes of the 9/24/2007 stakeholders' meeting.
Members of the group discussed the meeting held with Melissa Spiro of the Town's Land Preservation
Committee. Stakeholders were impressed with Melissa's breadth of knowledge and her willingness to assist the
group in preservation planning. Among many other items, Melissa discussed working with the group to
preserve the pieces of property that would link the proposed kayak/nature trail from Sound to bay so that those
"linkage" properties could be preserved as soon as possible.
Group members discussed the need for site plans on all new construction, particularly commercial construction,
such as the "Mill Creek Inn." It is important that the PB work with developers to preserve scenic vistas and that
they encourage the "siting" of properties on the water parallel to rather than horizontal to the vista.
The group then discussed that evening's upcoming meeting with the Planning Board. It was expected that the
group's proposed HALO zone would be formally approved. Members stressed the importance of separating the
two safety recommendations on the table regarding traffic on County Road 48. The issue of the blinking light
should be separated from the road expansion and changes recommended further west in front of the Soundview
Restaurant. The group also feels that a crosswalk should be established at the Soundview Restaurant, much the
same as the crosswalk at the Town Beach site (just west of the Soundview in the hamlet of Southold).
Once again, members discussed the necessity to stress with the Planning Board the importance of weekly clean-
up on all roads in the Hamlet, including the removal of illegal signage, cars parked on Town property, garbage
along the side of the road, etc.
The issue of affordable housing was next discussed. It was recommended that Peter Russo, the evening's Acting
Chairperson, inform the Planning Board that Greenport stakeholders recommend the establishment of an
"amnesty" program for "illegal" apartments so that all those in the Hamlet and in the Village can be brought up
to Code. Victor Brown raised the possibility that the Town might consider outright grants to homeowners to
build accessory apartments in return for those apartments remaining affordable for a period of pre-determined
and approved time.
Regarding the problem of code enforcement in the Town of Southold, Peter Russo had the visionary suggestion
of employing senior citizens at, for example, $10.00 per hour part time to held the one sole enforcer currently
employed by the Town.
The group then reviewed its other short term implementation recommendations.
At the meeting following with the Planning Board, Peter Russo and Ural Talgat served as formal spokespersons
for the stakeholders. Peter confirmed that the recommended HALO zone had indeed been adopted and that it be
included on the Town's website. It was also suggested that those maps on the website be more fully delineated
with major road names and other identifying marks.
Peter reviewed the group's short term recommendations, including both the safety recommendations on CR 48 -
-- the three color light at the intersection of Sound Rd and 48 and the safety recommendations for CR 48 in
front of the Soundview Restaurant.
Peter reviewed the group's other short term priority implementation projects throughout the Hamlet and Village
which include the necessity for weekly road clean-up, the acceleration of the purchase of development rights
throughout the hamlet; the group's proposed inter-connecting nature/kayak trail system from the Sound to the
Bay (with access to parking and the Town's purchase of "linkage" parcels); the investigation of the purchase of
development rights at Island's End Golf and Country Club; the facilitation of affordable housing through,
among other methods, an "amnesty" program which would convert current illegal or unapproved apartments
into approved ones (though to qualify these apartments must be owner-occupied); the need to bury all utility
lines in new developments; the protection of scenic vistas and by-ways (which would include mandatory design
standards for all new construction/renovation projects, particularly those on the water); the possibility of
establishing a "scenic corridor" or planned development marine district (particularly in the Port of Egypt area);
etc.
Mark Terry informed the Group that Mayor Nyce felt he did not have the necessary number of volunteers to
establish a separate Village stakeholder group but would instead like to add a few Village merchants as
members of the current Greenport stakeholder group. Mayor Nyce and those potential new members will attend
the group's next meeting on October 22, 2007, at Peconic Landing at 5:30 p.m.
The possibility of the construction of a public pool on the Jernick property or elsewhere was discussed. In
theory, PB members were responsive to the idea.
The PB let stakeholders know that an implementation committee has been established by the Town to
implement the various short and long term projects identified by stakeholders. Jim McMahon, Jamie Richter,
Pete Harris, and others will serve on that committee.
The PB stressed the importance of stakeholders contacting the Town's Transportation Committee to run its
various recommendations by them, particularly the safety recommendations for CR 48.
Gateway signage was discussed and Don Leslie's recommendation that he discuss signage with the
Chairpersons of the other Town stakeholder groups at their next Chairperson's meeting was encouraged. The
concept of "uniform" signage throughout the Town met with enthusiasm as did Don's other recommendation,
that he discuss the Town-wide uniformity of public bus shelter design with that same group.
J. Woodhouse, PB Chairman, complimented stakeholders on their progress thus far.
Respectfully submitted,
Mariel Dobler, Co-Secretary
Melanie Norden, Co-Secretary