Riverhead updates housing code to strengthen short-term rental restrictions: Dec. 2 Town Board wrap

The Riverhead Town Board Tuesday adopted changes to the town’s rental housing code to strengthen restrictions on short-term rentals and enhance the town’s enforcement capabilities for violations of the short-term rental restrictions. 

The board held a public hearing on the proposed changes on Nov. 18 and on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt a local law enacting the changes.

Public hearings held

The board held three public hearings Tuesday:

Community Development Block Grant funding

Community Development Administrator Dawn Thomas outlined a proposed modification to the town’s 2024–2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget, shifting money previously earmarked for additional lighting and security cameras at Town Hall to support the Jazz Loft project downtown.

Council Member Ken Rothwell asked whether redirecting funds to the Jazz Loft would affect plans to improve video surveillance at the dumpster corral behind Digger’s, which he described as a longstanding problem area. Thomas said the town receives about $200,000 annually in CDBG funding and could pursue camera projects in future funding rounds.

Riverhead resident Warren McKnight urged the town to consider accessibility issues for people with disabilities and expressed concern about whether arts programs are available and accessible to all at the East End Arts complex on East Main Street. Thomas and Supervisor Tim Hubbard said East End Arts’ downtown buildings are being elevated for flood mitigation and will be made handicapped-accessible as part of that project. The hearing was closed to in-person comment but left open for written comments until Dec. 26.

Fire prevention code update

In a second hearing, Town Attorney Erik Howard explained a proposed amendment to Chapter 231 of the town code, which would incorporate National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards into town law. Howard said NFPA codes are more specific and detailed than existing standards and that adopting them would allow the fire marshal’s office to apply updated safety requirements more quickly, while preserving the most restrictive applicable standard when there is a conflict with other laws. Penalties would range from $250 to $2,500, consistent with existing provisions in Chapter 231. No one from the public spoke, and the hearing was left open for written comments until Dec. 12.  

Four-way stop at Old Stone Road and Timber Drive

A third hearing concerned a proposal to add stop signs on the north- and southbound approaches of Timber Drive at Old Stone Road, converting the intersection into a four-way stop. Howard said the change was recommended by the town’s Traffic Safety Committee. No residents spoke at the hearing, which was also left open for written comments through Dec. 12.  

Other actions

In other business, the Town Board:

• Honored First Baptist Church of Riverhead on its 100th anniversary with a proclamation presented to Senior Pastor Charles Coverdale, calling the congregation “a community pillar where faith and community come together and all are welcome with open hearts and doors.” Hubbard praised the church’s decades of outreach, saying its work has been “phenomenal” and thanking Coverdale for his 44 years of service.  (See separate story.)
• Amended the “no net increase fund” for the Riverhead and Calverton sewer districts to set a new fund rate of $20 per gallon per day for all industrial, commercial and all other non-single family residential uses. The dedicated fund, first established in 1992, is for the purpose of paying  anticipated administrative costs associated with maintaining no net increase in nitrogen loads while utilizing existing treatment capacity, so as not to burden sewer district taxpayers.
• Approved a budget adjustment of $627,750 from the Riverhead Sewer Denitrification Reserve Fund Balance be used for costs associated with the planning and design phase of the sludge volume reduction/bio solids process control improvements capital project, which has a maximum estimated cost of $18.65 million.  
• Accepted the retirement of longtime highway department employee John Apicello, with board members thanking him for years of service and for assisting multiple departments.  
• Extended the time for senior citizens receiving certain property tax exemptions or credits, including enhanced STAR, to remit real property taxes from a June 2 to June 6, 2026..  
• Authorized shotgun deer hunting on specified town properties at EPCAL and at 1751 Sound Avenue in Calverton from Jan. 4 to Jan. 31, 2026, from sunrise to sunset.  
• Approved submission of the town’s 2026 CDBG grant application to Suffolk County, with Rothwell noting the number of local nonprofit programs that applied and the limited funding available.  
• Accepted a donation from Riverhead Beverage in support of the Police Athletic League soccer program.  
• Authorized the police chief to execute an agreement with Riverhead Community Awareness Program (CAP) and approved an application for a related grant.   
• Approved special event applications for two “Duck Pond Gathering” events in 2026: Rooted Spring Fest on May 16 and “Village Vibe” on Oct. 24.  

Public comments

During the open public comment period, resident Warren McKnight urged local political party committees to recruit more Hispanic and Black residents for town office and party roles, saying he is troubled by what he sees as a lack of diversity and wants “everybody to feel involved.” He referenced past Black officials he admired and asked Supervisor-elect John Halpin, who was in the audience, to carry that message to the Democratic committee.  

Council Member Bob Kern responded that there is diversity on town committees and said he views himself as elected “as an American” to serve all residents, regardless of party, race or ethnicity. Rothwell pointed to the town’s Hispanic Development, Empowerment and Education Committee as one effort to reach Latino residents.