A majority of speakers urged the Riverhead Planning Board to reject legalizing an already-built expansion to the Riverhead Ciderhouse during a public hearing last night, arguing the approval would grant undeserved forgiveness to a business that has previously disregarded the town’s rules.
The Riverhead Ciderhouse is seeking approval of the already done 5,150-square-foot expansion of its existing tasting room and a 1,294-square-foot expansion of its existing 3,186 square-foot outdoor patio area, for a total outdoor patio area of 4,480 square feet. The applicant is also seeking approval to construct 36 additional parking spaces on the site, to provide required parking for the expansions.
Roughly 70 people were in the Riverhead Town Hall boardroom last night during the hearing. Although most of those who testified in front of the board were against the application, others in the crowd — some wearing Riverhead Ciderhouse sweatshirts — applauded in support of comments urging the board to grant the approvals throughout the hearing.
Attorney Fred Johs, representing Riverhead Ciderhouse CEO John King, said the patio expansion was done to allow for social distancing during the pandemic “for the safety of the patrons.” He did not make an excuse for the tasting room expansion, but noted the area that was modified is “less than 5%” of the total building.
Several speakers brought up the history of the Riverhead Ciderhouse, a controversial business that first obtained approval from the Planning Board in March 2015, of improving its property without the approval of the Planning Board. The Planning Board approved the legalization of “as-built” changes to the site in 2017 — a similar situation to the requests of the business’s current application — including a reconfigured “grab and go” snack bar and the addition of two pizza ovens inside; the addition of a 3,186-square-foot outdoor patio area, adjacent masonry block wall and 56 parking spaces outside, as well as landscaping changes.
“He continues to ask this board for forgiveness after the fact, rather than obtaining permission prior,” Claudette Bianco of Baiting Hollow said of King. “He has shown repeated disregard for procedures and seems to think rules are optional. It seems he thinks we’re fools, as we have forgiven him time and again. But this time we need to say the cider house does not rule.”
Some speakers said that approving the application could lead to other businesses following suit and applying for improvements after their sites have already been altered.
“If the Planning Board continues to allow applicants to build first and apologize later, the Planning Board are going to lose your effectiveness,” said Andrew Leven of Riverhead. ”You will lose the ability to protect us and who will hollow our land use ordinances out of existence.”
The Riverhead Ciderhouse is located within a 108,178-square-foot, single story building, which was once used as a potato chip factory and then as a warehouse. The 7.2-acres site is within the Agricultural Protection zoning use district, which limits the use of the site to agricultural uses.
In March 2015, the property owner sought site plan approval from the Planning Board for the addition of a hard cider production facility and the accessory use of a tasting room on the site. The proposal sparked controversy among area residents, who worried that the cider house would draw large crowds, cause road hazards and negatively affect residents’ quality of life.
Critics last night said the use of the site has gone beyond what was originally approved by the Planning Board, including the hosting of weddings and other catered events on the site.
Former Council Member George Bartunek of Calverton said the Agricultural Protection zoning, which he approved while on the board, was intended to expand agritourism, but to protect the historic corridor of Sound Avenue from “the type of development that Mr. King and the cider house have actually provided,” referring to catering operations for weddings and events.
Former Council Member Barbara Blass of Jamesport said that monetary violations might not be doing enough to deter businesses from building without approval from town government. She said the illegal expansion should not be approved, but rather “withdrawn.”
Riverhead Planner Matt Charters said during the meeting that the cider house had to pay a $5,000 fine in connection with tickets issued for improving the property without town permits.
Speakers in support of the Riverhead Ciderhouse’s expansion said it is a reputable business and supports the community through charitable events.
“It has long term economic impacts,” said Juan Micieli-Martinez, a Riverhead resident and the president of the Long Island Farm Bureau. “They’re not here to build a five storey building and then leave town. They support New York State craft beverage producers, they serve local wine, local beers, local spirits as well, too. They provide jobs to youth in our community and a fair amount from the Latino community,”
Micieli-Martinez, a craft beverage maker who works out of the cider house, said the business drives in a diverse crowd and hosts events for nonprofits. The former general manager of Martha Clara Vineyards, Micieli-Martinez said private events like weddings are “critical to the survival of the business.”
Barbara Walters of Riverhead, the owner of Barbara’s Sweet Treats, said the cider house is “community based” and is extremely generous when it comes to hosting nonprofit events.
“If it wasn’t for the Riverhead Cider House I wouldn’t have the business that I have,” Walters said. “They offered me a table at the front door so I can sell my cookies and my business has blown up. And all they ask in return is that I make a donation. And I have kept all my donations in Riverhead.”
Johs similarly raised the business’s sponsorship of charitable events, submitting a list of them to the Planning Board.
“They are a good community neighbor. They do the right thing,” Johs said.
“I was very impressed when I saw Mr. King’s list of the people that he helps, I was quite impressed by it. That’s not what this is about. That’s not what this hearing is about,” Planning Board member George Nunnaro said. “This is about building and expanding without coming to the town first and asking to do it.”
“No question about that,” Johs said. “I’m not taking argument with that.”
The hearing was concluded but the record was left open for written comment for 10 days.
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