In finalizing comp plan update, Town Board must pay attention to citizen input, too

After four years of trying to update the Comprehensive Plan for this town, we are finally nearing completion.  

At the June 18 Town meeting, “agritourism resorts” was one aspect of the Comp Plan Update that was discussed.  It appears that luxury resorts on the Sound are being disguised as ‘agritourism’ in an effort to make them more palatable to the public. “Agritourism Resorts” are one means to preserve farmland but they have nothing to do with farming or “agritourism”, and each one will preserve no more than 70 acres of farmland.  For the seven sites identified for these resorts, only 490 acres would be preserved, whereas 1,050 guest rooms would be added.  Consider the traffic and the impacts of such development on Sound Avenue. 

As noted at the Town Board meeting, the Comp Plan Update comment period elicited just 49 letters from a Town of 35,000 residents— 23 of which specifically opposed the resorts. Supervisor Hubbard failed to acknowledge that several letters were from civic associations that represent a multitude of residents.  Furthermore, Supervisor Hubbard only acknowledged 23 comments opposing the resorts, but stated his belief that many people who did not write in or speak at meetings, actually favor the resorts.  The opposition voiced by residents and civic associations who have spoken up, carry as much weight, if not more.

At that meeting, Town Board members agreed preservation of farmland and vistas along Sound Avenue are important.  If resorts are not desired, they welcome other solutions from the public.  However, this invitation is too late: the Comp Plan is about to be finished.  The consultants missed the opportunity to hold meetings where residents, farmers, and town officials could brainstorm and talk about the ways to preserve agricultural land and vistas.   

As has become practice for Riverhead’s Town Board, town officials and developers have decided what is best, without resident input.  Most recently, a Westchester developer wanted to build a big luxury resort on protected bluffs of the Sound.  Town officials privately worked with that developer on TDR modification and zoning code changes to allow this type of resort.  Consequently, the code change in the Comp Plan update now best fits the vision of the developer: this proposed code is frightening.  

Please see the new proposed code here.

Furthermore, there has been no environmental impact study of this pending code change.  

What is happening is not right.  The Town Board must take a serious look at the proposed code changes in the Comp Plan.  The Town should convene public meetings with residents, farmers and the consultants to come up with sound solutions that will accomplish the preservation of land and vistas along the Sound.  At stake, is the Town’s future for the next 10 years. 

Karen Kemp is a resident of Calverton.

Editor’s note: RiverheadLOCAL welcomes guest columns from anyone who wants to submit a viewpoint on any topic. The opinions expressed in guest columns are those of the author and do not reflect the point of view of RiverheadLOCAL’s publishers. Please be sure to include your email address and daytime phone number with your submission. Submit your opinion here.