Public hearings coming up Tuesday on code changes for downtown development, parking requirements and more

Code amendments to implement the design standards of the downtown pattern book — such as limiting building height in the Main Street zoning district to four stories, and establishing off-street parking requirements for future residential development on sites in the downtown Riverhead Parking District — are among the matters set for public hearing before the Riverhead Town Board tomorrow.

The town board is considering codification of the recommendations of the downtown pattern book, which was adopted by the town board Jan. 20, 2021.

If the proposed code amendments are adopted, the pattern book’s recommendations for size, scale and character of future development will become law. Future buildings downtown would be limited to four stories or 50 feet tall (from five stories or 60 feet tall.) Floor-area ratio, which determines the developable area of a property, would be reduced. The fourth story of a new building would have to be set back from the front of the third story, a requirement aimed to reduce building “mass.” Another requirement with the same goal is the use of certain architectural elements — such as bay windows, parapets or distinct roof forms, changes in wall plane, or balconies. View the proposed amendments here and the proposed amended schedule of dimensional regulations here.

Two other public hearings concern proposed code changes related to off-street parking requirements for properties within the downtown Riverhead Parking District. One change would require developers of new residential uses, including hotels, to provide off-street parking for residential units as provided by code or pay $12,500 per parking space into a parking improvement fund for up to one-third of the required number of parking spaces. Developers of new residential construction would still be required to provide two-thirds of the required spaces on their own properties.

Exempted from the two-thirds requirement are proposed developments that already have final site plan approval.

Also exempt are applications for residential development of properties less than 40,000 square feet, filed on or before Jan. 20, 2021, if the applicants participated in one or more presubmission conferences with town officials, and as a result of those conferences had a licensed licensed engineer and architect revise their plans. In those cases, the applicant will be allowed to satisfy the full number of off-street parking spaces required by paying $12,500 per space into the parking improvement fund. (View the proposed amendment here.)

The proposal would also allow the town board or planning board to reduce the number of off-street parking spaces required for a new residential development if the board determines, based on “an official traffic count or similar prepared data by a licensed traffic engineer” that residential parking use within the parking district is less than 70% of available off–street parking facilities within the district.

Another proposed amendment (view here) would establish a separate parking schedule for residential uses, including hotels, in the downtown center zoning districts (DC-1, DC-2, DC-3 and DC-4). The separate schedule would reduce the calculation of the number of off-street parking spaces for studio apartments in multifamily buildings from one to one-half space per studio unit and set a range for other types of apartment units/hotel rooms of from 1 to 1.25 parking spaces per unit. The current parking schedule, which would remain unchanged for other zoning districts, requires 1 space per unit. The amendment is based on the recommendations of the downtown Parking Study, which was adopted by the town board in 2020.

There are several other public hearings scheduled for Tuesday’s meeting.

Relief for homeowners with nonconforming lots

A proposed code amendment would establish a small-lot ordinance that would eliminate the need for the owners of certain pre-existing nonconforming residential lots to obtain a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals in order to get a building permit for some structural additions and alterations that don’t meet setback requirements of the current zoning code.

Under current code, a residential property owner who wants to build on a lot that doesn’t meet minimum size requirements must get approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals before a building permit can be issued — an often lengthy and expensive process. The proposed code revision establishes standards for small-lot approvals for additions and alterations and allows the building department to issue building permits without the ZBA first issuing a variance. Read the proposed code here.

Expert review expense reimbursement

Another proposal up for public hearing Tuesday is a code amendment to allow the town board or planning board, through the planning department, to require applicants pay or reimburse the town for expenses related to studies or services of expert advisors related to the “review, hearing or determination” of pending applications. 

Railroad Avenue restaurant site plan hearing to be continued

The town board on Tuesday will also continue a public hearing on the site plan for a 40-seat sit-down restaurant at 133-139 Railroad Avenue, the former location of the Loose Caboose. The hearing was adjourned at the board’s last regular meeting.

Instructions for commenting virtually during May 3 hearings

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Riverhead Town Hall, 200 Howell Avenue, Riverhead. Comments by the public may be made in person or virtually by Zoom.

To comment via Zoom log in at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89138991464?pwd=c1hOVnJBVnhaT2lvMUVBM3dLcEVzQT09 or
call (929) 205-6099.

Webinar ID: 891 3899 1464 Passcode: 201702

Click here for further information and instructions about virtual participation.

The meeting can also be viewed live and on demand on the town’s website.

Optimum subscribers can watch live on Channel 22.

Editor’s note and correction: This article was amended post-publication to include information about Zoom participation which was subsequently made available on the town website.

This article was also amended to remove information about the proposed revision to the town’s “Smoking” code, which was included in error. The public hearing on the proposed “Smoking” code revision is scheduled for May 18 at 6 p.m.