HomeMy WebLinkAboutPB-08/04/2014 MAILING ADDRESS:
PLANNING
ALD Southold,OARD MEMBERS � $o(/ryOl P.O. ox 1179
NY 11971
Chair
OFFICE LOCATION:
WILLIAM J.CREMERS Town Hall Annex
PIERCE RAFFERTY G @ 54375 State Route 25
JAMES H.RICH III �� �� (cor.Main Rd. &Youngs Ave.)
MARTIN H.SIDOR �y^ y Southold, NY
Telephone:631 765-1938
www.southoldtowuny.gov
PLANNING BOARD OFFICE
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD
PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES
Monday, August 4, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Present were: Donald J. Wilcenski, Chairman
James H. Rich III, Vice-Chairman
William J. Cremers, Member
Pierce Rafferty, Member
Martin H. Sidor, Member
Heather Lanza, Planning Director
Mark Terry, Principal Planner
Brian Cummings, Planner
Alyxandra Sabatino, Planner
Carol Kalin, Secretary
SETTING OF THE NEXT PLANNING BOARD MEETING
Chairman Wilcenski: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this
evening's regularly-scheduled Southold Town Planning Board Meeting of August 4,
2014. The first order of business is to set September 8, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at the
Southold Town Hall, Main Road, Southold as the time and place for the next regular
Planning Board Meeting.
James Rich: So moved.
William Cremers: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made any discussion? All in favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries.
Southold Town Planning Board—August 4,2014
SET HEARINGS
Chairman Wilcenski: Rising Sun Woodworking - This proposed amended Site Plan is
to convert a wholesale book seller warehouse to a custom woodworking shop and
construct a ±500 sq. ft. addition to connect two existing buildings totaling 13,064 sq. ft.
for office, cabinet shop and custom woodworking on 2.1 acres in the LB Zoning District.
The property is located at 4460 Depot Lane, ±1,075' s/e/o Depot Lane & CR 48,
Cutchogue. SCTM#1000-96-5-8
Pierce Rafferty: Mr. Chairman, I would like to offer the following resolution:
WHEREAS, on July 22, 2014, applicant, Michael Drobet, submitted an amended
application for Site Plan review; and
WHEREAS, this proposed amended Site Plan is to convert a wholesale book seller
warehouse to a custom woodworking shop and construct a ±500 sq. ft. addition to
connect two existing buildings totaling 13,064 sq. ft. for office, cabinet shop and custom
woodworking on 2.1 acres in the LB Zoning District, Cutchogue; be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the Southold Town Planning Board sets Monday, September 8,
2014 at 6:01 p.m. for a public hearing regarding the Site Plan entitled "Rising Sun
Woodworking", dated July 10, 2014, prepared by Michael Drobet.
William Cremers: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carried.
SITE PLAN DETERMINATIONS
Chairman Wilcenski: Crescent Beach Condominiums Storage Facility - This Site
Plan is for the demolition of an existing barn and the proposed construction of a 2,797
sq. ft. one-story storage facility on 0.41 acres in the RR Zoning District. The property is
located at 1985 Maple Lane, ±2,000' s/e/o NYS Rt. 25 & Maple Lane, Greenport.
SCTM#1000-35-8-3.2
James Rich: Mr. Chairman, I offer the following:
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2013, the agent for the applicant, Gary Courtier, submitted
an application for Site Plan review; and
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
WHEREAS, this Site Plan is for the demolition of an existing barn and the proposed re-
construction of a 2,797 sq. ft. one-story storage facility on 0.41 acres in the RR Zoning
District, Greenport; and
WHEREAS, at a Work Session held on December 4, 2013, the Planning Board
reviewed the application and determined it incomplete, requiring further information and
revisions to the Site Plan; and
WHEREAS, on February 19, 2014, Gary Courtier submitted materials and information
to the Planning Department for review; and
WHEREAS, upon review of the materials submitted on February 19, 2014, the Planning
Board formally accepted the application for review; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2014, the Planning Board, pursuant to Southold Town
Code §280-131 C., distributed the application to the required agencies for their
comments; and
WHEREAS, the Southold Town Planning Board, pursuant to State Environmental
Quality Review (SEAR) 6 NYCRR, Part 617.5, has determined that the proposed action
is a Type II Action as it falls within the following description for 6 NYCRR, Part 617.5 (c)
(7) "construction or expansion of a primary or accessory/appurtenant, non-residential
structure or facility involving less than 4,000 square feet of gross floor area and not
involving a change in zoning or a Use Variance and consistent with local land use
controls, but not radio communication or microwave transmission facilities", therefore,
not subject to SEQRA review; and
WHEREAS, on March 8, 2014, the Greenport Fire District determined there was
adequate fire protection for the site and recommended that all drives and entry ways
meet Southold Town Code §280-109c specifications; and
WHEREAS, on March 24, 2014, the Southold Town Engineer reviewed the above-
referenced application and required additional information and revisions to the Site
Plan; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2014, the Southold Town Architectural Review Committee
reviewed the application and approved it as submitted; and
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2014, the Southold Town Fire Inspector reviewed and
determined that there was adequate fire protection and emergency access for the site;
and
WHEREAS, on April 7, 2014, a public hearing was held and subsequently closed; and
WHEREAS, on April 21, 2014, the Town of Southold LWRP Coordinator reviewed the
above-referenced project and determined the proposed project to be exempt with
Southold Town LWRP policies pursuant to §268-3; and
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4,2014
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2014, the Southold Town Engineer reviewed revisions to the
above-referenced application and required additional information and revisions to the
Site Plan; and
WHEREAS, on June 19, 2014, Gary Courtier submitted revised drainage information to
the Planning Department for review; and
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2014, the Southold Town Engineer reviewed revisions to the
above-referenced application and required additional information and revisions to the
Site Plan; and
WHEREAS, on July 21, 2014, Gary Courtier submitted revised drainage information to
the Planning Department for review; and
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2014, the Southold Town Engineer reviewed the above-
referenced application and determined that the proposed drainage meets the minimum
requirements of Chapter 236 for Storm Water Management; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2014, the Southold Town Chief Building Inspector reviewed
and certified the demolition of an existing barn and the proposed re-construction of a
2,797 sq. ft. one-story storage facility on 0.41 acres in the RR Zoning District,
Greenport; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2014, the Southold Town Planning Board determined that all
applicable requirements of the Site Plan Regulations, Article XXIV, §280— Site Plan
Approval of the Town of Southold, have been met; be it therefore
RESOLVED, that the Southold Town Planning Board has determined that this proposed
action is exempt from the policies of the Town of Southold Local Waterfront
Revitalization Program.
William Cremers: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made and seconded. Any discussion?All in favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries.
James Rich: Mr. Chairman, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Southold Town Planning Board grants Approval to the Site Plan
entitled "New Storage Building for Greenport Crescent Beach Association", prepared by
Brandon K. Hamchuk, R.A., dated June 11, 2013, Sheet A-1, last revised July 8, 2014,
and authorizes the Chairman to endorse the Site Plan including the following five (5)
plans:
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
1. A-1 — Site Plan
2. A-2 —Construction Details
3. A-3 — Photometric Plan
4. A-4 — Building Section Details
5. A-5 — Building Elevations
Martin Sidor: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made and seconded. Any discussion?All in favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries.
Tabled:
Showalter Farms. LLC - This proposed Site Plan is to construct Phase One of a riding
academy, and includes one 24' x 30' (720 sq. ft.) 3-stall barn, two 24' x 10' (240 sq. ft.)
2-stall barns, an outdoor riding/training area approximately 140' x 270' and eight (8)
parking stalls on 24.2 acres in the A-C Zoning District. The property is located at 18625
Main Road, :1,190' w/o Elijah's Lane, Mattituck. SCTM#1000-108-4-1.4
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Chairman Wilcenski: 6:01 a.m. -Treasure Island Cove, LLC & Domeluca. LLC - This
proposed Lot Line Modification transfers 1.38 acres from SCTM#1000-23-1-2.3 to
SCTM#1000-23-1-2.5 and transfers 0.85 acres from SCTM#1000-23-1-2.4 to
SCTM#1000-23-1-2.6. Lot 2.3 will decrease in size from 1.38 acres to 0.00 acres, Lot
2.5 will increase from 0.88 acres to 2.26 acres, Lot 2.4 will decrease from 0.85 acres to
0.00 acres and Lot 2.6 will increase from 1.20 acres to 2.05 acres located in the R-80
Zoning District. The property is located at 14909 NYS Route 25, on the north side of
NYS Route 25, East Marion.
Chairman Wilcenski: At this time, if anyone would like to address the Planning Board
on Treasure Island Cove please step to one of the podiums. Please state your name,
write your name for the record and direct all your comments to the Board. Anyone?
Seeing and hearing none -
James Rich: I make a motion to close the hearing.
William Cremers: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor?
Ayes.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries.
Chairman Wilcenski: 6:02 a.m. -The Estate of Joyce Skwara - This proposal is for a
Standard Subdivision of a 1.77 acre parcel where in 1989 the Zoning Board of Appeals
granted an Area Variance to allow for this parcel to be subdivided into two lots where
Lot 1 equals 0.92 acres and Lot 2 equals 0.85 acres, located in the R-80 Zoning
District. The property is located at 3720 Wells Road, on the north side of Wells Road,
approximately 3,592 feet south of the Main Road, in Peconic. SCTM#1000-86-1-14
Chairman Wilcenski: At this time, if anyone in the audience would like to address the
Planning Board on the public hearing for the Estate of Joyce Skwara, please step to
one of the podiums, state and write your name for the record. Anyone? Seeing no one,
hearing no one -
James Rich: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to close the hearing.
William Cremers: Second.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made and second. Discussion? All in favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries.
Chairman Wilcenski: 6:03 a.m. - Showalter Farms. LLC - This proposed Site Plan is to
construct Phase One of a riding academy, and includes one 24' x 30' (720 sq. ft.) 3-stall
barn, two 24' x 10' (240 sq. ft.) 2-stall barns, an outdoor riding/training area
approximately 140' x 270' and eight (8) parking stalls on 24.2 acres in the A-C Zoning
District. The property is located at 18625 Main Road, ±1,190'w/o Elijah's Lane,
Mattituck. SCTM#1000-108-4-1.4
Chairman Wilcenski: At this time, I would like to ask the applicant, or the applicant's
agent, if you would,like to address the board at this time? And then everyone who like
to speak to the Planning Board, please direct your comments to the Planning Board
and at the end, if the agent chooses to respond, you'd be more than glad to respond,
but that's up to you. Mr. Nemschick -
Raymond Nemschick: Thank you. My name's Ray Nemschick, Nemschick Silverman
Architects and we're representing Showalter Farms. Showalter Farms, LLC owns the
property at 18625 Main Road, Mattituck. Joanne and Chris Showalter are startup
farmers, and the owners of Showalter Farms, LLC. They live in Southold, and have
three school age children. They have been active members in the Southold community
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Southold Town Planning Board-August 4, 2014
since 1997. Their vision is to build a scenic, family friendly, equestrian facility at
Showalter Farms. As a commercial high point operation, the activities on the farm are
expected to include the growing of agricultural products, the keeping, breeding, raising,
and training of horses and ponies. And the provision of riding. This vision is consistent
with Southold Town Code, Chapter 280, Article 11, the Farmland Bill of Rights, which
specifies horse boarding operations as protected farm practices. Lastly, the entire
24.18 acre Showalter Farm Property is located in the County adopted, State certified,
Agricultural District#1. We thank the Board in advance for their review of Showalter
Farms, LLC.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you.
Raymond Nemschick: Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Anyone from the audience would like to address the Board? Yes,
please. You can step to either podium, and write your name, and state your name for
the record please.
Anne Gilvarry: Do you need the address written as well?
Chairman Wilcenski: Yes.
Anne Gilvarry: Good evening. My name is Anne Gilvarry and my husband and I own
property on Gabriella Court. Our home and property is adjacent to the Showalter Farm
and up for discussion for tonight. When we purchased our home, we, one of the selling
points was that the land behind us was farmland and that the development rights had
been sold. And so, in buying it we knew what we were buying, and we were interested
and excited about the idea - I grew up across from a farm in Laurel - and we were
excited about the idea that our neighbors to the west behind us would always be a farm.
Over the years we had even sort of farm neighbors from field corn to like an empty
farm, to goats and sheep, and, but none of them had any sort of significant negative
impact on our health, our safety, or our quality of life. So it was this Spring when we
heard and saw fencing going in, that I said to my husband, it looks like we're going to
have some new sort of farm neighbors, and looking by the fencing, it's looks to be
horses. And so we were interested to see, well, how would this be to have a horse farm
next to us. Our feelings about this changed though somewhat, and led us to be
concerned when we received the certified mail, because it showed us that, rather than
what we thought would be a horse farm, really, the intention was more for a commercial
equestrian facility, a riding academy. And this leads us to have concerns about health,
safety and quality of life for us, and for our neighbors. Our concerns about health have
to do with manure and mud and possibilities for that not always being the healthiest
environment, if we're talking about more than just the small, private ownership of
horses, but more the, as they said, the commercial equestrian facility. So that is a
concern we have.
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Southold Town Planning Board-August 4, 2014
In terms of quality of life, our concern stems from what we fear or imagine could be
possible, special events that would occur, that do occur at commercial equestrian
facilities. And while, you know, that might not be the original intention, it would be a
possibility. And of course, we realize that any sort of special events would need Town
approval. However, just the existence of them, we feel, will impact our quality of life. If
you've ever been to our neighborhood - I would love for you to see our neighborhood
before the issue is discussed and voted upon. You will see, it's a very quiet
neighborhood. You will see, it's a very dark neighborhood at night, you can see every
star. And our fear is that, what giving a special exemption would allow to be there, now
or in the future, allowed to be built there, would affect that quality of life.
Lastly, our concern about safety, for me particularly, involves a road. I'm not sure if you
have the map in front of you, but, next to, I believe it's Lot 13, there is a road called
Noah's Lane, or Noah's Path, exactly there. Technically, it's a road, but I can tell you,
for all intents and purposes, it's a dead end that is used little to none of the time. My
fear is, when we open the door with a special exemption, this could become a second
entrance to a commercial equestrian facility. And to have that traffic on our quiet street
would be devastating to us and the many, many children in the densely populated area,
by children, who ride their bikes, their scooters, their skateboards, walk their dogs, and
trick-or-treat all the time. And so, that would be devastating to have this little, quiet
neighborhood all of a sudden, trucks, trailers, traffic, perhaps extra parking on our very
quiet road. What concerns me, is the use of the term Phase 1. As an English teacher,
so that tells me, there's a Phase 2 and maybe a Phase 10. And so my concern is
opening the door, by allowing the special exemption would change the intention of the
development rights being sold, and completely change what we thought we lived next
to. So, those are our concerns about opening the door to really, sort of negating the
intention of the Town in buying those development rights. So those are our concerns.
Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Right, Mr. Nemshick, you can sit down, and we'll wait
until everybody else, and then at the end, if you want to just make some notes, if you
wish to answer some of the questions. Anybody else would like to address the Board?
Please step to one of the two - yes sir.
Derek McLean: Hi, my name is Derek McLean. I'm Lot 17, which is one of the first
ones in there, on 515 Gabriella Court. My biggest concerns are, this is very vague.
They're not telling, nobody's telling us anything. This, all the paper we got, there's no
Phase 2 in it. They're still in Phase 1, that bothers me, because it seems like they're
trying to sneak in. So far, they've been bad neighbors. They've been bringing tractor
trailers full of sand in for five good months, before 7:00 in the morning, waking my
young children out of bed. No Building Permit- I heard that you guys shut- I heard the
Building Department shut them down for building the buildings without Building Permits.
They've been banging posts into the ground for probably about a month. No one knows
what's going on, vibrating our houses. Could they at least notify us, say hey, we're
going to be making a lot of noise. This is what we're going to do. They've been crappy
neighbors to start, from Day One. What's going to stop him in the future from doing - it
seems like he does whatever he wants, and then when you guys fine him, he can come
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
up and talk to the Town, (inaudible) for two hours, I took a day off from work to deal with
this which is real aggravating. First of all, they're not going to fine him because he
brought everything up to what the Town expects. I think that's ridiculous. You should
fine him; he should have to pay the fine, and then re-apply. You shouldn't say, hey,
alright, you brought everything up to Code now, now we're not going to make you pay.
Southold Town says all the time in the paper, we need money; we need money for
trucks and mowers and everything else. This man should be paying for them if he's not
going to abide by it.
But I think the biggest thing is, I have young children. So far, he's made my kids' life
very difficult by going in before 7:00 in the morning, using back blading sand in the
arena for 12 to 14 hours a day because somebody they hired does not know how to
back blade sand and all you hear is beep, beep, beep, beep, beep for 12 hours a day.
It's very annoying, even with my windows closed at that time, you can still hear it. My
concern is, he's going to ruin it for us. I knew that I was very lucky; I was fortunate in
Southold Town to get affordable housing. I was the first one there, I still live there, and
I'm very grateful to Southold Town for providing it. But I look like my, my way of living is
going to change because of the uncertainty.
I came to Town and asked, is he going to put up lighting? Is there going to be any
lighting going on here, like, so is it going to be like having Macy's parking lot in my back
yard, what did Southold Town tell me? We don't know. How can you not know what
he's doing? Now they tell me he wants to put a Morton building up. Ok, I understand, I
can't tell the man what he did - he bought the property; he has every right to do what he
wants, I understand that. But if you're going to put an access to my property and that
building and a road, now maybe you're going to have dirt, maybe horse flies, maybe
some stock piled manure next to my property. Where does it end here? I don't want to
have to move. I like my neighborhood. I like my neighbors That's why we're all here.
We want you to - if he's going to build it, if you're going to allow him to build it, I want
him to have restrictions to be a good neighbor. He hasn't been with us since Day One.
Since he started it seems like he's sneaking in the back door, and I don't want that.
If he's going to have manure there, I want it removed once a week. I know most horse
farms, they spread it. They spread it, they let it dry out, fine. But if he's going to have
unlimited amount of horses and horse barns there, the odor is going to be horrendous.
I don't want to be driving through my neighborhood and think I'm in Aquebogue going to
work and smelling that duck crap because I'm sure you all smell it too. I don't want that.
I don't want to have to move. I don't want it hurting my house value. I'm not against
having a new neighbor. I just want him to be respectful with what is there. If he's going
to put up a building, I want it landscaped. I want it landscaped and maintained so it
looks nice. I don't want to look at the back of a Morton building like I moved into
Nassau County and I moved behind a strip mall. I don't want to see that. I know we're
not here for Phase 2, but you know, some of the stuffs tough like Thursday to me at
11:15 - do I have to take another day off from work to see to it? I think it's very unfair to
all of us. I have a job. I have a family to support. You know, now I have to take more
time off. I'm frustrated and I'm very annoyed.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
The traffic increase, I'm assuming you reviewed it because on the plans which you
have, eight parking spaces? Come on. You're going to have eight employees and
those spaces are full. Where are the riders of the riding academy going to park? Are
they going to open Theresa Drive which is off of Paul's? It has many different names.
Because our road, Gabriella Court, is also called Jerimiah's Way in some maps. Are
they going to start parking along our road? And they're going to go to horse shows and
they're going to take the horses out of that riding academy and go to hone shows up
west at 4:00 in the morning and make all kinds of racket? Because I know years ago,
when I was into the horses, you had a horse show, crack of dawn you're going in there
early in the morning, get your stuff, get ready, get out. The only way in and out of I see,
is through Theresa. It should only make sense then to cut that way through to 25, why
are they going to spend all that money? You know, if they're coming in off 25 and
through Theresa then they're going through our neighborhood. Any way you look at it,
Theresa is going to be open. I know it's going to be open whether he's applied for it or
not now, that's a major concern for me. I have two young children, I don't want them
getting hurt.
I mean, the other thing is, phases. How many phases are there? Why can't he come
to the Planning Board saying we're doing 1 through 3 and that's it, you guys can look all
at once, and instead of playing the game? The thing is this, a game is being played
because he's just going to wear us out, so I won't come to the next meeting because I
have to work. Then 2, when I can't make that one either, I mean how many times do I
have to take off because he impacted my lifestyle because I have to take days off from
work to come argue with him, or get my point of view heard? And I don't think that's
fair. If he wants to do this, we've got nights-we can be here. It can meet our
schedules. We live here. He can go back to his work or house in Southold, and who
cares about us? I don't want you dumping in my neighborhood, or anybody's
neighborhood. If you want the respect, I'll sit down, I'll say hey, this is what I'm going to
do and sign a paper for you, saying this is what we're expecting to do, and let's work it
out. But the way he's doing it is very shady and I'm annoyed. I hope you see my point
and I mean, I'm not trying to be, obviously, I've never done this before, but I don't want
my quality of life being changed. I know we have to let a little bit of change, but I mean,
I just, I'm being worried, I'm annoyed and worried about the dust, the manure, the
lighting. There's a lot of concerns that none of this paperwork that I read Friday- and
I've been in the Building Department and upstairs in the Planning Department with this
nice young lady here; nobody can answer my questions. So, I don't think that's very
fair. I believe I should have my questions answered and that's why I'm here. I was told
a representative was going to be here tonight to answer all of our questions. And so I
think there's really nobody here to answer our questions, so we took time out of our
lives to come here and they don't want to be bothered to answer our questions. I think
that's outrageous, and I think the Board should have to address this.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you for your comments. We will give the agent an
opportunity to answer some of the questions at the end if he so choses. On another
note, I can - I don't want to speak for everybody, but I'll speak for myself- as long as I'm
on the Planning Board and Planning Chairman, there will be no access to that road into
your development.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Derek McLean: O.K., but now my question is, where are they going to park? I mean,
you have the paperwork, eight spaces?
Chairman Wilcenski: Well, this is again — (interrupted) you said it is -
Derek McLean: If you look at it, it's so vague right now. I'm sorry; it's so vague. He
knows that he needs more parking spaces (inaudible). Now, I don't like that.
Chairman Wilcenski: Now, once again, you brought it up, and you're right, saying that
this is Phase 1. That's what's before us, and that's what we are, just you know, what we
are site planning right now, is Phase 1.
Derek McLean: I know, I'm just, if I can't make 2, 1 don't want (inaudible). I have a
family to provide for.
Carol Kalin: Could you please stand closer to the microphone?
Derek McLean: This guy doesn't care. He's got plenty of money. Why can't he do 1,
2, and 3 all in one shot? Why did he break them apart? And the other thing is, he's
trying to wear us all down. I mean you all know he's been stopped - nobody's been
there for a long time working. Why? Because you guys shut him down. If you didn't
shut him down, if he didn't get caught, I'm sure that place would be ready to go right
now because he started new construction on the building. He's not a good, I'm my
opinion, he's not a good neighbor. Wouldn't you want a good neighbor living next to
you. You want at least meet the person and say what I'm doing? Instead of maybe
(inaudible) and somebody's banging for the next month they're banging 4,000 stakes
and vibrating your whole house? That's not very neighborly. At least say what's going
on. You know, bringing tractor loads of dirt in. You want somebody waking your family
before 7:00 in the morning? He doesn't care. That's my concern, he just doesn't care
about us. And I think that's wrong, I think the Board, I think you guys should be aware
of that. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you very much for your comments. Your comments and
everyone else's will be taken into consideration through this site plan process. Anybody
else like to address? You can - go ahead. Yes, you're up.
Lucille Sullivan: Hi, my name is Lucille Sullivan. I'm here with my fiance' Brian Glenn.
I own and operate Novelist Dressage and Sport Horses, and Brian owns G.W. Meade
Farm in Southold. I think that, my perspective, my concerns, can you hear me?
Chairman Wilcenski: Yes.
Lucille Sullivan: - are probably a little bit different than many of the neighbors. Like the
Showalters, Brian and I have been in front of this Board and we have an approved site
plan to build a riding academy and our neighbors had probably a lot of similar concerns
to what these neighbors have. O.K. And they objected us. I think that where things go
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
different is that what Brian and I had to do, we did. We chose to do, but what the Board
also required of us was to put a complete plan in front of the two of you - all of you, the
two of us put a complete plan in front of you. I can completely sympathize with the
Showalter's vision because I share their vision. I love horses and I think they bring a lot
of quality to life. I think if 1 were not a horse owner, a horse farm owner, I would feel
blessed to look out my window and seeing horses grazing in a paddock. With that
being said, I've read through the files that the Showalters presented, and I understand -
and I could be wrong with my understanding -that the reason for Phase 1 was that they
are boarding their horses at another facility and that they wanted to bring them home
and save the expense.
Again, being a horse person, I have a different perspective than many of the other
neighbors. And what I have in front of me, is in May 2014, issue of Today's Equestrian.
It happens to be the trainer's issue. And in that - and I'd like to read this to the Board
and everybody else - it says: Hunters Creek East Riding Club, Trainers, Sal Gondolfo,
Jr. and Danielle Gondolfo. We are excited to announce our re-location to a new 26
acre equestrian facility in Mattituck, New York. Our new facility will feature two state-of-
the- art, outdoor rings, an indoor arena, a hunter derby field, a bridle path around the
property, a round pen, large grass paddocks, and newly finished stalls. We would like
to thank Christopher and Joanne Showalter for making this new venture possible for us,
and look forward to a successful future at our new facility. We would also like to thank
all of our clients for their continued support. We offer lessons for children and adults,
from beginner to advanced, including AA show preparation. New boarders and students
are now being accepted. We also have quality horses and ponies for sale and lease
and are now accepting consignments. So, it's pretty clear to me that, Phase 1 is far
more than the intention to just move our horses home and save money on board. So,
my question is, how many horses do the Showalter's personally own? I own two, and I
had one clients horse, at the time we bought our farm and we had permission to bring
those three horses home.
Again, I travel in the same circles as the Showalters. I've heard that when building was
shut down, they were really upset, because there were twelve horses that were
supposed to move onto the property that week. It's not likely that they own twelve of
their own horses. So, I'd like to know, how many horses do they own personally?
Because I would think Phase 1 would mean they're going to bring those number of
horses home to save money, okay. The site plan makes provisions for three stalls in
one barn, two stalls in the other two; that's a total of seven stalls. That doesn't, that
doesn't cover it, if they were upset about twelve. And again, the horse world is really
small. And their trainer, Sal, from what I understand, has far more than twelve at their
current facility. So, where are all those other horses going to, you know, in excess of
the seven stalls? There's two other barns that have already been renovated. Are they
going to be keeping and raising horses in those barns, as well as the three they've
proposed on here? So, how many horses does Phase 1 include? How many horses
does Phase 2 include? Are there phases beyond that? What is the reason that the
Planning Board is being so sympathetic to them, to let them do this in phases? What if
- this is their plan, we know what it is.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Our Site Plan is three pages long. We have a Storm Water Prevention Plan that's
clearly going to have less disturbance than this facility. We bought an existing facility
and cleaned it up, and are now going to put our indoor up, and our additional barns.
This, as the neighbors have already testified, was the corn field, and previously, and
possibly a vineyard, but they never planted the vines. So it's been fallow for years. I
know that, because I looked at this property. Alright? So, everything they do is
disturbing the land. Their riding ring is 37,800 square feet, and that's one. Their
advertising says they'll be an indoor, a hunter derby, and another riding ring. So why is
the whole plan not being put out on paper here? Why is their Storm Water Prevention
Plan not covering all of this construction that's going to go on?
Where is there Manure Disposal Plan? We had to have one. Again, I don't sympathize
with a lot of his neighbors' concerns. I had to answer them myself. But I did answer
them. Our manure leaves every other day. And it's contained, it never hits the ground.
And this Board wanted to know we were going to do that. So, how are they going to get
rid of their manure? Where are their bathroom facilities? Again, if they're just bringing
their own horses home, they don't really need bathroom facilities. But clearly, if in May
of 2014, they were advertising at this, to this extent, they're not just bringing their
horses home. Where are all of these people going to use the facilities? And that brings
me to the questions of, where's the Health Department approval? Because again, our
Site Plan couldn't get approved until the Zoning Board, the Planning Board, the Health
Department, were all on the same page. I have a three page Site Plan. Every single
thing we have and have planned is on that Site Plan. I looked at that Site Plan. I don't
see a lot. So, how come we're even considering expediting this?
O.K. The other thing is - who's going to live in the house? Because we had to be
owner occupants. My children go to school with their children, in Southold - not
Mattituck. O.K. From what I understand - again, small horse world - not even their
trainer is living in the house; their farm hands are. So is that work force housing? What
are they using the residence for? Because the Zoning Board - and I will be at the
meeting of the Zoning Board - but the Zoning Board says that you can have an
accessory apartment if the owner occupant is living in the main part of the house, and
there are square footage requirements. I drove by there the other day. There were cars
parked on the front lawn, bicycles all over the front steps. So, what's that tell you? I
don't want to seem, whatever. Tells me, there's farm hands living in the house. No
owner occupant watching over things which was required of Brian and I before our Site
Plan was approved. So, how many horses? Where are the bathroom facilities? Did
they get their Department of Health approval yet? Why are we even entertaining
phases? Why is it not the whole plan? How many phases will there be, if you're
entertaining it, and I don't really understand why. We bore the financial burden of
carrying the place for two years before we got all our approvals done. He's a retired
fireman and I teach riding lessons. So, if we were able to work up the means, they
certainly can -to go through the process, and get it all done, so that their farm is as
approved and upright as ours. Let's be on a level playing ground, playing field, here.
O.K.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Do they have to bring their driveway, curb cut, up to Town Code because it's not right
now? And I heard you say at the meeting that there was a six foot drop in elevation.
I've $20,000.00 in precast on my farm. Where's theirs? Because again, my Drainage
Plan is a whole page in my Site Plan. I don't see any Drainage Plan.
They're clearly disturbing more than an acre of property here. Where's their slip - did
they file their Notice of Intent with the DEC? So, I know you can't really-this is like -
the questions bounce back and forth but as a resident of the Town of Southold, I'd like
an answer to some of these questions, alright? And I agree, when there's already
employees that work at some other farm, not the one that's started, eight parking stalls
isn't going to be enough. This is a 26 acre farm. 1 have 10 and I have twelve parking
stalls in my facility. They're going to have way more horses than us. They're going to
need 20. What's eight? What's that? They have two trainers on staff already. They
have their own personal car and they have farm hands already living there. That takes
up all the eight parking spots. So, I don't understand the favor. And I'd like to say, I
have faith in the system. As we drudged through it and got discouraged, I kept saying, I
have faith in the system. This is the reason we bought in Southold, not in Riverhead, or
not somewhere else. But now all of a sudden, this is like, woo, going right through. But
it's not fair, and it's not right. My Site Plan answered every question these residents
would have. Their Site Plan does not. What's their plan? Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Yes, sir. You're up.
Doug Pearsall : My name is Doug Pearsall.
Carol Kalin: Could you please push the microphone up? Sorry....
Doug Pearsall: Everyone received these certified letters in the mail and read through
them, and Mrs. Gilvarry was the first to make mention of the fact that there was phases.
And upon her mentioning that, we started doing a little investigating. And looking at the
zoning for that property, which is zoned A-C and R-40, you'd need a special provision to
allow a riding academy. Looking into riding academies, because I actually have a friend
who does own one in Connecticut, and looking at other facilities, we and through the
grapevine as far as rumor has it, that they're looking to put up a building. So, I started
looking into it to see what size building potentially would go there. And based on the
acreage there, for something that size you're allowed to put up a building that's 3% of
the size, which equates to a 30,000 square foot building which is 300 feet long and a
100 feet wide. It can potentially be up to 22 feet tall. The building, I guess, so much is
not as much of an issue to the residents as where it potentially it is going to be located.
1 mean, everybody understands, and likes the idea of the rural environment and horse
farms. But based on what I see, and correct me if I'm wrong, the top 8% of the
property, north end of it, the development rights have all been sold. So, I assume this
30,000 foot monstrosity could not be built there which is where it would be best suited,
all the way up by the tracks, not near any of the homes. Reading into the zoning a little
bit more, it also allows for— sorry, I forgot to bring my glasses —oh, what's it called -
you're allowed to add a dormer to the building which is 40% of the foot print of the
building. So, now you're adding another 120,000 feet of basically covered area, at the
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
south end of the property. It seems extreme to have such a large building and there's
no way, no matter how big a shrub you plant around it, that it's not going to be - stick
out like a sore thumb. I mean, I'm sure everyone has seen that giant riding facility that
they have down at the end of 31 by Sunrise Highway? I don't what the exact size of
that building is, but it's on par with what we would be looking at here. The A-C zoning -
oh boy, I really messed up by not bringing my glasses, sorry - basically mentions that
you know, it's agricultural conservation. And going from, what would be, what we would
like, as a big, grassy field with horses running around on it is one thing. Putting a big,
giant building on it, that's taking away from the whole open spaces and rural
environment of the Town, seems to be absolutely contradictory. As people have
abundantly mentioned - the phases. I mean, every place that I've ever dealt with,
whenever you submit something for approval to the Town, you need to give them a
complete interpretation of what your vision is, not tease you with what appears to be
something that is not offensive to most, I guess would be the way to say it. And, that's
it.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you for your comments. Yes?
Jennifer McNamara: Hi, good evening, my name's Jennifer McNamara. I live at 1095
Gabriella Court. I'm not really quite sure what I want to say. I believe my neighbors
have covered a large majority of the issues or the concerns, I should say, that they
have with building this equestrian center. So, what made me jump out of my seat, Mr.
Wiseman (Wilcenski), I'm can't, I'm sorry, I don't have my glasses on either. But, you
made a comment in regards to Noah's Path or Theresa Drive or whatever it's being
known to as to Southold Town - you said you were not going to open it up?
Chairman Wilcenski: I said, as long as I'm on this Board, I'm would not allow that to
happen.
Jennifer McNamara: O.K. So, - and this would be my one - my husband and I both own
a house there, since it was built. I have children, I have my own animals that I love
dearly, and I also have neighbors that have children, that I love dearly. And if you were
to ride back there you would see - I wish I had a tape measure that I could've brought it
to you -the amount of space on that road, cannot tolerate tractor trailers of the capacity
for horses, and I love horses, and my daughter is as excited as can be with the potential
for having horses in her backyard. Amazing...
Carol Kalin: I'm sorry, can you please talk into the microphone?
Jennifer McNamara: Sorry, I don't have a problem with the buildings going up as long
as everything is followed to Code, like I had to do when I built a deck on the back of my
house. I had to go through hoops for that. Not that I expect them to do the same, but I
do think it's fair that you tell us exactly what is the plan? Phases are not acceptable.
You know, phases and phases and phases and phases, at what point is it done? And
at what guarantee can the Town give us that that road is not going to be opened up,
because by far, I can stand the dust, I can stand the manure smell, and (inaudible) can
keep the manure off the ground, because it, it's not possible, for the amount of horses
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
that they want. It's just not possible, and I get it. I think it's a wonderful idea, it's great
for the - I personally - I know my neighbors are probably not going to be happy with me,
I think it's a fantastic idea. Great opportunity. But at what extent? How far are they
going to go? I probably wouldn't be here if a plan had been sent to my home to say this
is our intention; this is what we're planning to.do. That hasn't been given to us. It was a
very secretive -when I got the notice, my husband and I were both, like, what, what
could potentially be going on that we have to go to the post office, because we weren't
home to get this letter? It was just a little too secretive. The fencing, the noise, I get it.
But I do need to know, what guarantee this Board going to give us that that street will
stay closed? Can you give us a guarantee?
Chairman Wilcenski: This public hearing is part - I - as long as -
Jennifer McNamara: If you can't guarantee it, then you shouldn't say it.
Chairman Wilcenski: O.K.
Jennifer McNamara: Because that is the ultimate concern that I have.
Chairman Wilcenski: Well, I'll do my best, as the Chairman of this Board, to never
allow that to happen.
Jennifer McNamara: Alright. I'm going to hold you to it. Thank you.
Donald Wilcenski: Thank you. Yes?
Lisa Testinv: Hi, my name is Lisa Testiny. I live at 1275 Gabriella Court, Lot 12 on a
dead end road. My husband and I purchased the house. We've lived there almost 17
years. We worked very hard to get the house. It's our first house. We enjoy it. We
enjoyed the landscaping and behind our house. And one of the perks for us choosing
this particular lot, was that it was on a dead end road and allows for the children to ride
their bicycles, and quiet - a quiet area - until recently. Behind us we've got vibrating
going on, a lot of pounding - all Spring, until only recently has it stopped - our house
literally vibrating, to the point, we thought there was an earthquake. Had we received
prior notice, we wouldn't have become frantic. My son wouldn't have freaked out. And
again, last year we had sheep, which was very nice. I could sit out of my bedroom, and
I could look at all the sheep. They were beautiful. I loved seeing them. I liked hearing
them. It was great. I did not care for the rats that came and invaded my property,
climbing into my dryer vent, into my basement where it cost me over a $1000 dollars to
have an exterminator come to rid me of them. I cannot afford to spend that kind of
money every year to have someone come and maintain rats. That's a lot. My dogs are
small, they were afraid to go outside because the rats were there under my deck.
On another note, I had extensions put onto my house - dormers, a deck. I went through
- excuse my language, hell - having to have an architect draw up a whole plan for a
deck. Just for a deck and then having to have it reapproved because it wasn't done
right, and I had to have the - it all cost money- and a business, yes, he might have
money and maybe that's why everything is flying right through, but, he doesn't seem to
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
have the same restrictions or regulations as the rest of us. And I feel that, if he's going
to be part of Southold Town, then be part of Southold Town in whole, not just in
residential. Don't try to sneak in a business where there should not be one in a
residential neighborhood. And that's my concern.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir, you can step on this side.
Fred Peroni: My name is Fred Peroni. I live at 2370 Gabriella Court. This situation was
brought to my attention only yesterday. So, I don't have all the pieces to the puzzle. I
didn't receive a registered letter. I'm very familiar with Health Department, Building
Departments in Brookhaven, East Hampton, Southold, Southampton, Army Corps of
Engineers, etc. I've been doing it for 30 years and just a couple of things come to mind.
Based on the information I heard tonight, even if half of the information is accurate that
my neighbors, you know, brought to your attention, a couple of things come to mind.
The application is way incomplete. It should be kicked back immediately, with the
Drainage Plan, with the Health Department approval. I think everybody on the block
should've gotten a registered letter, not just the people adjacent at that end of the
proposed Site Plan. And that's it. Again, I don't have all of the pieces, but what I do
know, that was brought to my attention yesterday, and what I've heard this evening, I
think it's actually a disgrace that they got this far in the process. Again, applied for
many, many, many Health Department approvals, DEC approval, Letter of Non-
jurisdiction, Army Corps of Engineers, been to many town environmental meetings,
been to the Trustees, sat in Marty Shay's office a hundred times, I'm just surprised that
it got this far in the process. This is so incomplete, it's disgusting. That's my opinion.
Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Anyone else would like —yes? You can step, please
- write your name, state your name - yes.
Annette Collins Ferrara: My name is Annette Collins Ferrara. I live at 665 Gabriella
Court. I, too, was very surprised when I received the certified mail of that a riding
academy was going where agricultural conservation land was situated. The land has
been destroyed already and will never be farmable in the future. After the 4 to 5 days
of VibroMax machines pounding the earth and making it feel like there were
earthquakes going on - and later, I had an expense of an oil burner pump blowing on
me, because of all the pounding. And God knows what's gone on with my foundation.
One of my questions was, was there an Environmental Impact Statement for this? I
believe that this is a light industrial use. It's considered a light industrial use, as well as
in other zones, but for some reason, your riding academy is something that can go in an
A-C Zone. It seems to me that, the purpose of the A-C District is to control and prevent
the loss of open land within the Town containing large and contiguous areas of prime
agricultural soil which are the basis of a significant portion of the Town's economy,
including aquifer recharge. In addition to these areas, will also provide open, rural
environment, for year-round, resort, and second house economy. So, basically putting
an enterprise such as this, which is really a light industrial type business, is not honoring
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
this legitimate interest in farming, that the conservation properties were supposed to
help.
Also, I don't know what the plans are for the manure, but, when they don't catch the
manure, it gets washed into the recharge basin, which is contiguous to the front end of
the property. And what will the effect of this manure be to the shallow aquifer used by
the North Fork? Has there been Department of Environmental Control in the State of
New York approval for this type of use? And, there were other points that were brought
up by the lady who also owns a stable, and you know, we want to know, how many
other people will be able to board, house horses there. What will be the hours of
operation? There's supposedly an outdoor ring that's been built already, right across
from my property, and I understand that the indoor arena is going to be right in my
backyard! Won't that be nice! I will have no view at all - nothing. And, just as a little
side bar, I have allergic asthma, so I am also allergic to horses, and turned down many
other properties before I bought here because there was Mr. Ed looking over the fence,
you know. And now, I'm going to have maybe twelve, twenty horses looking over the
fence or in the vicinity and will probably keep your fire department very busy taking me
to the hospital for my allergies.
There's a few other questions I have. Oh, and by the way, if this is an excepted use or
a Special Exception, why is a Special Exception needed? Is that needed so we can
iron out all these little problems, or is it needed because they really shouldn't be there?
And I don't know how many of you people were home from work when the brown dust
cloud came over the fence when they were spreading some kind of poison or whatever
all over the place one afternoon and from the hours of 1 to 4 without any warning. I
mean, I know that in other areas, you have to warn before you do things like that. And,
last but not least, hasn't Showalter tried to open at Ackerly Pond Road before? And
maybe that was too close to Town Hall and might have created a black eye for these
people. And so you figured, well, let's stick it in Mattituck, and maybe people won't
notice. I'd like to know- I can grow corn on my property, does that mean I can apply for
a corn flake factory?
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Anybody else would like to address the Board? Yes.
Brian Glenn: Brian Glenn, owner of G.W. Meade Farm. How are you doing Board?
You're familiar with me. I don't say much. Lucille pretty much said everything for us. In
regards to the neighbors, you guys all have legitimate questions, problems -
Chairman Wilcenski: Can you please speak into the microphone? Thank you.
Brian Glenn: O.K. I understand that and Lucille and I went through a lot of issues with
our neighbors and, rightfully so, you guys moved out here to have open spaces and all
that, and we agreed that's why we bought in Southold. I could've bought in Riverhead. I
could've taken my Site Plan for my house, drew on a piece of paper or a pencil, and
taken it down to the Town of Riverhead and they would've said, hey -that looks great,
do what you want. But, we have investigated and found plans just like that. We didn't
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
want to do that. We didn't want that for our children. We didn't want that for our horses.
We didn't want that, quite frankly, for ourselves.
You guys brought up a lot of points and Lucille made a lot of points to the Board. We
are a bonafied farm in a bonafied Ag. District. In the Work Session, something was
mentioned about they can move the process forward rapidly because it's in an ag.
market, or an Ag. District. How come we weren't pushed through? Eighteen months,
with no less than twelve revisions on our Site Plan. No less! No less than five visits
from the Board. You guys, I'm sure had better things to do at the time. No less, no less
than, I would say, twenty visits from the local Police Department. We notified our
neighbors. We sat down with our neighbors prior to doing a single thing on the barn, on
the farm - prior to pounding a single fence post, rolling out a single ring, anything.
Eighteen months in front of the Board. And I want to know why it's being pushed
through so fast. And who is the lead agency on this plan? Is it the Zoning Board? Is it
the Planning Board? Who's the lead agency? We had to have a lead agency, right?
0.K.
So with regards to manure, we had to have a Manure Plan. I built a manure loading
dock. Put stop worts order on me. I built all of that on my own to get the manure off of
our property. We documented that we dump our manure every three days. We
document it with the Town. I get a receipt every month. Manure hits the ground, it's not
a happy thing, to get a 16 year old boy or an 18 girl to pick up manure.
Heather Lanza: Mr. Glenn, I'm sorry to interrupt you, can you please speak into the
mike and address the Board?
Brian Glenn: It's not-we have to pick up our manure. We pick it up. That was part of
our plan. We told you we would. We would. So, that concern is understandable. That's
what we do. I just want to know who the lead agency is on this? Why is there a
mention of having to expedite this because it's in an Ag. District? And, well, I just- I
look forward to having the Board be - scrutinize their plan, as much as you scrutinized
ours because I think what's fair is fair. And I'm a man of limited means. Like she said,
I'm a retired New York City fireman. Eighteen months, and you about put me out of
business. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Anyone else would like to address the Board? Mr.
Nemschick, would you like to address the Board? If you'd like?
Raymond Nemschick: First, we'd like to say, this is our first time in front of the Board,
or in front of any Board in Southold.
Chairman Wilcenski: Would you please speak up and speak into the microphone?
Raymond Nemschick: Sure. First, the manure seems to be a hot topic. We do have a
Manure Plan that's been approved through Land Preservation. It will be moved once a
week via trailer that the Showalters own. Dark Sky has also been one of the issues.
We will comply with all Dark Sky Initiatives that the Town has set forth. Route 25 is the
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Southold Town Planning Board-August 4, 2014
main access and the only access for this farm right now. Noah's Path comes in -
(interference from the audience).
Chairman Wilcenski: Please respect the speaker. Please, thank you.
Raymond Nemschick: Noah's Path - I heard it being called other names - comes into
the development rights as sold land. I don't see that as a viable access to this property.
Advertisements that have been issued at the behest of my client- I'm saying they were
without their knowledge. They were put out by a lessee, and the Showalters didn't have
an understanding that that was out there. The right to design at their pace, or to file at
their pace, for what they have the means to put up right now and for what they've put in
front of the Board right now, are three barns. And that's what we came here today to
talk about. I have nothing further to say.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Does anyone from the Board have anything to add?
Yes, you may.
Lindsay Barker: I'm Lindsay. I live on the -
Chairman Wilcenski: I'm sorry. Sorry, we need a first and last name.
Lindsay Barker: Lindsay Barker. I live on the Main Road on the property to the west of
the Showalter's Farm. We were not notified of this meeting tonight. I found out last
night online. And if you said the only access right now is going to be the Main Road,
that's right next to my driveway. That's a lot of traffic and a lot of trailers coming in and
out. So, why wasn't the folks on the Main Road notified? We were notified for
Thursday's hearing, but not tonight.
Chairman Wilcenski: I'm not sure. I think all the contiguous owners should be notified.
Lindsay Barker: And I'm right next door.
Chairman Wilcenski: O.K. Heather's checking on that right now.
Lindsay Barker: O.K. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: O.K. We will look into it. If there was a problem with the proper
notification of neighbors, we will check into that, and if need be, we might be back here
again.
Lindsay Barker: Like I said, we were notified for Thursday coming up, but not tonight.
If I didn't seen it on-line last night, we would never have known.
Chairman Wilcenski: O.K. Thank you for that information. Does anybody have anything
to add? Yes, sir. You have to speak at the microphone, and state your name. It's
being recorded. Again, just so everyone is aware of-this is a small process of the
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
whole application. It is being recorded. Everything that has been said here tonight will
be taken off the recorder and taken and put into the file, and analyzed by the staff and
the Board, and decisions will be made through that process.
Derek McLean: Again, I'm Derek McLean, 515 Gallo Court, Lot 17, I've been on the
paperwork on Lot 17. If they're going to build this building down the road, that storm
water is going to run right in our backyard. So, you're going to flood me out, because
that property is a little bit higher than mine. The other things is, none of our questions
were answered tonight. Again, it's -we're going to do Dark Skies. We're going to do
this. That's nothing. I want to see it in writing. I want to see if this man has to abide by
this, and I want to see if the Board signs off in it. I don't want them going - oh sorry,
made a mistake. Now I look out my backyard and it's lit up like a stadium. I don't want
that. There's nothing that's filed that shows Dark Sky. I sat down with Heather Lanza
the other day for a good hour the other day (inaudible) crazy and she said there's
nothing really lighting there. There shows a couple pictures; doesn't say what they're
for. Why is this? This whole thing to me is a joke. It's not compete. I couldn't build my
addition either back in the day until it was complete. Gary Fish came in and failed me a
couple times before he said you have the right paperwork. But this guy's getting away
with it. Nothing's being answered. It's -we wasted all this time coming down here, and
yours of course, because nothing's being answered for us. We're making our
complaint, voicing our complaint, and nothing's being addressed. I wanted answers. I
was guaranteed or told that they would probably be able to answer our questions. Is he
too busy to sit down with us and explain what's going on? Because, is he better than
us? That's what I feel. I took time out of my busy schedule and my family to rush home
from work, shower and come here. But the gentleman who's doing this, might be
ruining our lifestyle, can he bother to come here? That's outrageous. I mean, come on!
Chairman Wilcenski: The only thing I can add or suggest is, again, it's more time, but
they will be before us in Work Sessions, and those are open meetings.
Derek McLean: But that's during the day, right?
Chairman Wilcenski: 4:00 p.m.
Derek McLean: Yeah, so now I've got to take more time. No. If he wants to pay my
salary to come here, I'll come home by 1:00. But I don't think that's fair to the public.
We have jobs. I don't have the unlimited resources that gentleman has to keep coming
off work to come here. (inaudible) this day and age. I don't have a work contract. If
keep taking off work, they'll fire me, so what am I going to do - sell my house, let this
guy push me out? I need stuff that I can actually come to. It isn't fair. If I took time off
to be here, he should have to be here. I came to Town Board on Friday. I took time off
from work. I met with her for a couple hours. I asked every question that could probably
be answered and nothing's really been answered. The other question I asked was
about loud speakers - are they going to have loud speakers saying Paco, you have a
phone call on Line One. Am I going to hear this screaming and yelling all day?
Whatever it could be, John Jones, whatever. I don't want to hear that, but that hasn't
been addressed. That's not in the file either. How are they going to - am I going to hear
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Southold Town Planning Board-August 4, 2014
phones ringing on an outside loud speaker, that the phone's ringing, so they know to
run into the arena or to go to the office? Nothing's being answered. And I think that's
outrageous and until these things are answered, I think this should be rejected.
Chairman Wilcenski: Well, these questions will be asked of them by us through this
process.
Derek McLean: But I felt they should've had to give the answer now.
Chairman Wilcenski: They don't have the right to answer. O.K. They can speak if they
so choose. I can't force them to speak.
Derek McLean: But are they, are we going to find out about this? Are we going to be
forced to take more time off to come to the Town Board to find out what their answers
are. Are they going to notify us in person with more certified letters to tell us what their
intentions are?
Chairman Wilcenski: That's not the process. The process is that their application is
before us -we're taking all of your information, all of your questions, all of your
concerns, and we're going to refer them out to the necessary agencies, and then make
decisions based on our findings. Excuse me, you can't talk without being in front of the
microphone. If you need to speak, please -would you like to speak? Yes, state your
name again, please, because -
Lisa Testinv: Lisa Testiny, I'm just going to ask the question that's here, was, what's
going on on Thursday at 11:00 or 11:15 in the morning?
Heather Lanza: It's the ZBA Hearing for the Special Exception use. I believe it's
scheduled for 11:00, so it can't happen before then, but it could be a little later than
then depending how long the previous hearings go on, before the other prior hearings.
Lisa Tenstiny: What is that? Special Exception, what does that mean?
Heather Lanza: I can answer that. So, it's a second level of approval they need for this
use. So, a riding academy also needs the Zoning Board of Appeals to examine - a lot
of the issues that were brought up today also get looked at by the ZBA, and they
actually have broad -
Lisa Testinv: What is the ZBA?
Heather Lanza: Oh, I'm sorry, the Zoning Board of Appeals. O.K. It's another Board,
and they happen to be the one in the Code, the Town Code, that has to approve this.
It's a second level of approval. So, there's the Planning Board with the Site Plan, the
Zoning Board of Appeals with the Special Exception use. It's actually very important.
Lisa Testinv: So, there's not a vote? If no one shows up, it's, things are not just going
to get pushed to go along and just go and get accepted through? If we don't show up
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
because we have work, or places to be at 11:00 o'clock, is it going to be voted, say o.k.,
it's just going to go through?
Heather Lanza: Well, I wouldn't say that. The ZBA takes even if one person shows up
and has these concerns, it's not a vote, so even if one person shows up with these
concerns is enough. Also, you can send in letters to them, but I would contact their
office to find out when and how to do that. They're on the website, Zoning Board of
Appeals, with the phone number.
Lisa Testinv: I'm good then. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Again, does anybody else wish to address the
Board? Sure.
Doug Pearsall: Doug Pearsall. Where is the meeting on Thursday?
Heather Lanza: Here.
Chairman Wilcenski: Right in this meeting hall.
Doug Pearsall: O.K. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Does anybody else have anything else they would
like to add on the public hearing for Showalter Farms? Yes?
Margaret Motto: My name is Margaret Motto. I don't live in this community, but
listening to this process and as a Town resident, I think something comes up to me,
and, what is the big picture? Are there going to be events? I don't know anything about
the horse industry, but do riding academies have meets and events? Is that noise, or is
that part of, does that impact these peoples' lives who live there. And then I get
concerned - I think about, how the agricultural nature of vineyards has changed into
venues, events -that things have morphed. So, I'd just would like the Board to consider
what the impact of such a large facility would do to that spot on the Main Road in terms
of traffic and events. And what will it really be, because it sounds like that's not quite
clear. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you. Again, I might just add also, I know many of you have
said that you have problems getting to meetings during the day, but the Zoning Board of
Appeals does have the arm to put conditions on the Site Plan. So, if some of your
concerns that you had here tonight are brought to them, it's another avenue for you to
be heard. So, just as a head's up. But, if no one else has any other questions or
anything else to add —o.k., there's always one.
Al Testinv: Al Testiny. I got a question. You just said that the, the Zoning Board is
going to make their own decision. But if we're bringing these things to you -
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Chairman Wilcenski: No, we're making a decision on the Site Plan, but the Zoning
Board is ruling on the Special Exception for the riding.
Al Testinv: But, if we're bringing our concerns to the Planning Board, why wouldn't you
pass them on to the Zoning Board?
Chairman Wilcenski: They will ask us for referrals.
Al Testinv: O.K.
Chairman Wilcenski: That's common practice, that Zoning Board asks the Planning
Board for referrals on any applications that come before them.
Al Testinv: And then you end up writing all this information down for them to go over?
Chairman Wilcenski: Yes.
Al Testinv: O.K. Thank you.
Chairman Wilcenski: Thank you all very much for your patience. If nobody has
anything else? Yes, there is a Zoning Board meeting coming up. The Board -we've
decided that we're going to leave this meeting -we're going to close the public hearing,
but we'll leave the, I'm sorry, the hearing open for written comments. So, if anybody
who couldn't make it tonight has concerns, they can send it to the Planning Department
in writing until the 18tH, which is two weeks from tonight. O.K.? And with that, I would
need a motion to leave the hearing open for public comment.
James Rich: Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to leave the hearing open for two weeks
for written or e-mail comments.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made by Jim, seconded by Bill. Any discussion? All in
favor?
Ayes.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries. Thank you all very much and all of your
comments will be taken into consideration, and thank you for your courtesy. We need a
motion for the approval of the Board minutes for the regular meeting on July 7th, and the
special meeting of July 28tH
William Cremers: So moved.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made by Bill, seconded by Martin. Any discussion? All in
favor?
Ayes.
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Southold Town Planning Board—August 4, 2014
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion carries. We need a motion for adjournment.
Martin Sidor: So moved.
Chairman Wilcenski: Motion made by Martin. Seconded by Jim. All in favor?
Ayes.
Donald Wilcenski: Motion carries. Have a good evening.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned
at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori McKiernan, Zranscribing Secretary
Donald J. ilcens i, airman RECEIVED
SEP 1 1 2011
Southold Town dark
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