HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/27/2016 Southold Transportation Commission
Southold Town Hall
June 27, 2016 Meeting
Called to Order: 10:01 AM by Chairman Neb Brashich.
Members Present
Frank Field, Town Engineer Jamie Richter, Planning Rep. Brian Cummings, Greenport Rep.
Derry) Baumer, Jim Baker and Tom Fox.
Approval of May 23, 2016 Meeting Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes was made by Jamie Richter, was seconded by Jim Baker and
was carried.
Commission Vacancies
Nothing to report. Advertisements in local media should be considered.
Traffic Concerns— Route 48 and Depot Lane -Cutchogue
An article in local media addressed the apparent lack of response from SCDPW concerning
requests for "No U-Turn" signage on Route 48 approaching that intersection.
EETC Update
There will be two upcoming events:
An East End Transit Summit will occur at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Riverhead on July 8,
2016 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
A LIRR Network Strategy Conference will occur at Riverhead Town Hall on July 8, 2016 from
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Greenport Escalating Adverse Traffic Impacts Update
Derry) Baumer reported that he was working on the Village's proposals for subsequent
presentation to EEM&SA. The Village also continues to work on ferry traffic issues with the
North Ferry.
Public Requests - Final Determinations
Request for No Parking Signs on Jockey Creek Drive - Southold
As athletic event-related parking congestion on JCD is a traffic safety issue, Southold School
District has been advised to have attendees at athletic events park only in the school parking
lot. A concerned local resident has also been advised that SSD has agreed to place traffic
cones/directional parking signs on the east side of JCD during event days.
Relocation of Pequash/North Cross Stop Sign to Corner of Pequash & Old Pasture - Cutchogue
There has been no response from the Fleets Neck Association concerning the requirement for a
signed petition from local residents for further review of the issue. In the meantime, a
computerized traffic speed monitoring study of that location will be conducted.
Installation of Speed Bumps/Signs on Old Main Road - Orient
A visit by two Commissioners to that roadway found that, as there has been no history of motor
vehicles accidents or any prior complaints of speeding, the existing signage has been found to
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be adequate. Concerned local residents have been informed accordingly and that speed
bumps will not be installed in any case.
Request for a Stop Sign on Little Neck Road - Cutchogue
Local residents have been informed of Chief Flatley's report of the detailed results of a
computerized traffic speed monitoring study conducted for eight hours daily over a five day
period on that roadway. The study found that there was overwhelming compliance with the
posted speed limit and that there is no basis for installation of the requested signage.
Southold Post Office Parking Request
The Post Office has been advised that paint striping of parking spaces for 4 or 5 vehicles on the
south side of Traveler Street in way of the Post Office would be done by the Highway
Department as soon as possible, weather permitting.
Shorecrest at Arshamomaque Parking Request— Route 48 and Bayberry Lane - Southold
Concerned local residents have been advised that the Commission has recommended that
"Seasonal Parking by Permit Only" signage be installed at the affected area of Bayberry Lane
as well as on a short portion of Stonyshore Drive. Further action in that regard will be referred
to the Town Attorney via the Town Board concerning the public hearing required for approval.
Planning Board Requests
Town Comprehensive Plan
Issuance of the Transportation & Infrastructure Chapter has been delayed to July 2016.
RFP's for Traffic Study Intersection of Love Lane & Old Sound Avenue - Mattituck at Route 25,
Jamie Richter reported that three responses have been received and one has been
recommended for proceeding, as the proposed costs appear reasonable. Jamie and Michael
Collins will present their recommendations for approval to the Town Board at its meeting of June
28. The Town's required twenty percent contribution may be made on an "in kind" basis.
Parking Issues— New Suffolk
As that matter will be included in the Transportation & Infrastructure Chapter of the Town
Comprehensive Plan, further discussion will be held in abeyance.
Parking Issues— Grathwohl Road - Cutchogue
"Parking by Permit Only" signage will be held in abeyance.
It was also suggested that the Town Code be reexamined concerning the issue of"proper
signage."
Supervisor& Town Board Requests
None
Current Transportation Issues - Updates
Southold / Greenport Bus Shelters
Approvals for the Town's proposed shelter on Route 25 in way of Southold Town Hall as well as
for four others at various locations town-wide (Project Bus Shelter proposal) are pending with
NYSDOT. Neb will try to have a SCDPW rep view the proposed Town Hall site.
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Orientation / Interpretive Signage Project— Final Status
All of kiosks have been installed and the signs will be installed after the Fourth of July by the
Town's DPW. This long-considered project is now concluded.
Old Business
None
New Business
There will be no Commission meetings in August and October 2016.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for July 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the conference room at Town
Hall.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 AM.
cc: Town Clerk
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas F. Fox
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COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
f ,I 0
STEVEN BELLONE
SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE
SUFFOLK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
JENNIFER CASEY SARAH LANSDALE,AICP
CHAIR DIRECTOR OF PLANNING
EAST END TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT AGENDA
10:00-10:15 Opening Remarks—Chair of the Suffolk County Planning Commission Jennifer Casey
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone
General Assemblyman Fred Thiele
General Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo
State Senator Ken LaValle (invited)
Session One:
10:15-10:20 Brief Introductions -
10:20-10:35 East End Transportation Council:Overview of Past East End Transportation Studies—Chair
of the East End Transportation Council and Southold Planning Director Heather Lanza
10:35-10:50"Recent Transportation Developments on the East End"—East End Projects Coordinator
Suffolk County Department of Economic Development& Planning August Ruckdeschel
Session Two: `Trade Parade and Tourism Traffic Challenges and Solutions"
11:00-11:45 North Fork Session—Moderated by Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski
Panelists:
General Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell
- Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter
Shelter Island Deputy Supervisor Christine Lewis
11:00-11:45 South Fork Session—Moderated by Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming
Panelists:
General Assemblyman Fred Thiele
Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman
East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell
Suffolk County DPW—Deputy Commissioner Darnell Tyson
11:45-12:00 Closing Remarks:Summary and Key Takeaways-New York Metropolitan Transportation
Council Planning Group Director Gerry Bogacz
LIRR Network Strategy Study Briefing for East End Stakeholders—Agenda
Date:July 8th, 201.6
Time: 1:00 PM—3:00 PM
Location: Riverhead Town Hall, 210 Howell Ave,Riverhead, NY 11901
Agenda
Opening Remarks
o Introductions
o Report on Current Transportation Needs
North Fork Service
o Short and Long Term Needs
South Fork Service
o Short and Long Term Needs
o County Road 39:Case Study
Network Strategy Discussion
o Overview
o LIRR Long Range Planning Process
Wrap Up
SOUTHOLD TRANSPORTATION tfct( )
;
COMMISSION
Town Hall
P.O.Box 1179
53095 Main Road
Southold,NY 11971-0959
Phone(631)765-1889
Fax(631)765-1823
July 11, 2016
Dr. David Gamberg
Superintendent
Southold and Greenport UFSDs
420 Oaklawn Avenue
Southold, New York 11971
Dear Dr. Gamberg:
This is a follow-up to the conversations we had several months ago regarding the
problem of parking along Jockey Creek Drive during school athletic events as
well as the May 19th e-mail sent by Police Chief Martin Flatley on the parking
escalation in the area. About a month ago, we tried reaching out to you but got
no response.
The Commission discussed this situation at length during our monthly meeting on
June 23rd given the safety issues regarding unhindered passage by FD trucks
and vehicles, including ambulances.
The Commission has requested that I advise you of our stand on this situation,
namely:
• It is up to the Southold UFSD to rectify this issue;
• UFSD should control the participants as well as visitors given these are
school events; and,
- - - - - - - -------- --- --- --- - - - -
• UFSD staff should direct the attendees to proper parking as well as train
students and their parents to use school parking lots and not a private lot
off campus.
Sincerely,
4-&-. • lb-A%t-ar----'
Neboys a R. Brashich
Chairm
Cc: Supervisor Scott A. Russell
Police Chief Martin Flatley
•
After'Snail's Pace'Traffic Again This Weekend,Town Seeks to'Insist'on Lavender Farm Parking
Alternatives:Supervisor
The season might be almost over for this year but Southold Town is seeking"substantial
cooperation"from Lavender on the Bay moving forward
North Fork, NY
By Lisa Finn (Patch Staff)-July 11, 2016 4:21 pm ET
ShareTweetGoogle PlusRedditEmailComments0
After'Snail's Pace'Traffic Again This Weekend,Town Seeks to'Insist'on Lavender Farm Parking
Alternatives:Supervisor
EAST MARION, NY-It was another weekend of traffic delays in East Marion,according to
residents fed up with gridlock and safety concerns due to what they say is the popularity of a
lavender farm on Main Road.
After a 4th of July weekend that had residents heated up,with traffic woes they believe were
sparked by the flood of guests heading to Lavender by the Bay,Southold Town Supervisor Scott
Russell said attempts were made this weekend to mitigate concerns.
"We assigned more personnel to the area this past weekend.According to the police chief,they
did keep traffic moving but, it was at a snail's pace," Russell said. "The infrastructure isn't there
but they did the best they could."
____=----The-supervisor said-while-the-season-is-almost over-for-the-lavender-crop,-and-that_town-will-do--- --— _ ---.--_
what they can with police personnel until then, real solutions are being sought for next season.
Looking forward, Russell said the town is seeking concrete answers.
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"We have reached out to the attorney representing the owner and will be looking for
substantial cooperation to solve this problem moving forward.We believe that there are
parking on site alternatives that we will need to insist on."
On Sunday of the July 4 weekend,cars were backed up for miles,with traffic heading east on
Main Road in East Marion at an absolute standstill. Many took to social media to express their
frustration and say they believe the popularity of Lavender by the Bay could have sparked the
traffic woes.
"We are reaching out to the owner to discuss it with him," Russell said last week. "There are
two goals.The first is to address the immediate crisis—and it is a crisis—and the second is to
identify a long-term plan so this doesn't keep happening each year."
Russell called a meeting last Tuesday with key staff to develop a plan for this past weekend.
Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley, he said,"outlined some actions he will be taking to
alleviate some of the congestion-there and the town attorney will be contacted the operator to
develop a long-term plan."
Although some have said on social media that a nearby farm could be used for paid parking,
Russell said he was unaware of any proposed use of alternate locations as a solution.
The supervisor also said that he does not believe that"restrictions" are what is keeping the
operator from developing a parking plan. "There are options available regardless of other
restrictions, he said. — — -- — =-- _ -
In recent years,the farm has seen an explosion of popularity, largely due to an influx of Asian
customers who flock to the farm after a 2001 movie, "Lavender",a romance film. Hundreds of
tourists and cars converge upon the business and guests eager to smell the lavender cross Main
Road freely.
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To help address concerns,a traffic control officer has been assigned to the spot by Southold
Town Police during peak hours of business.
Susan and Serge Rozenbaum have said in the past that they try to mitigate the problem by only
advertising locally.Serge Rozenbaum has also maintained he's been unable to expand his farm
due to restrictions that will not allow for increased parking solutions.The couple has also said
for years that the lavender's peak season is short,so the huge crowds are not a year round
concern.
However, recent levels of traffic reached new levels and residents are furious and looking for
answers.
"It was awful,"wrote one resident wrote on social media on the July 4 weekend.
Others said the traffic was the worst they have ever seen on the North Fork,triggering
significant delays and missed ferries in Orient.
A Simple Trick That Could Save You a Fortune on Life Insurance: Patch Advisor
Thinking of buying"final expense"life insurance?Here's a trick to get tens of thousands more
for your beneficiaries.
It took more than 30 minutes to drive from Cutchogue to Orient on July 3,with the traffic at a
complete standstill,for some who were were attempting to attend the Heritage Day festivities
in Orient where Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was a surprise guest,another event
that could have triggered a heavier than usual amount of traffic.
Chanan Rozenbaum,son of Susan and Serge,spoke to Patch about the heavy traffic."I think it's
a result of the bloom coinciding with the holiday weekend and it being a Sunday," he said..
In addition,the farm has had some increased coverage in the news in recent weeks. "As a
result, people want to see the beauty of or bloom.We have one of the only lavender farms in
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the northeast and this is the prettiest time. People want to come and experience it for
themselves. Unfortunately,the bloom coinicded with one of the busiest holiday weeekends of
the year," he said.
When the business first launched, Rozenbaum said, "We never would have imagince the
response to be what it is."
While the town has let the business expand its parking to some extent in recent years,
Rozenbaum said the sheer volume of visitors who head to the farm during bloom periods
continues present a parking challenge nonetheless.
On the plus side, Rozenbaum said he and his parents constantly promote other businesses,
including restaurants and shops,on the North Fork.
As for the holiday weekend traffic, Rozenbaum said the police were onhand to help.
The bloom has been taking place for the past three weekends, Rozenbaum said last week;with
the harvest already begun,the fields will continue to get smaller, meaning the crowds coming
to soak in the beauty will soon decrease.
"It's not a yearly issue," he said."It's four to six weeks of blooming each year and two weekends
of traffic due to holidays."
-------_ - -Russell said,_after_the_1uly.4,weekend trafficissues,_'_'The planningboardzhas_been working_to___.-_.
resolve parking issues with the owners.This is an example, at least in part,of a failure of a
development rights program."
He added, "We purchase development rights under the premise that we have to buy as much as
possible to ensure the preservation farmland to keep it in farming.The problem with that
premise is that we really haven't planned for'success in farming'. Because we bought the
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development rights on most of that property,there are very few parking options."
Flatley said recently there was conversation last year about options such as off-site parking but
there are not many options in that area.
"I went through there yesterday and it was bad, but most of the delay was caused by visitors
trying to find parking. I'm sure the town will be looking at it again after this weekend and talking
to the owners. Unfortunately,the bloom this year is occurring on our busiest weekend," Flatley
said last week.
Others, however,don't mind the traffic woes and say Lavender By the Bay is the highlight of
their visit to the North Fork.
"It's just beautiful," said one woman who was visiting with her family from Norway and made a
special visit out to the farm.
Others have said that one business alone cannot be blamed for traffic on a holiday weekend,
and reminded that the pumpkin season brings gridlock traffic to bucolic North Fork roads.
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