Full Transcript
Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you, Jim. Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you, Reverend. I just wanted to say we're here this evening also to recognize our hardworking police force and a new member as well. And we just hope that you will continue to support us. And we just hope that we will continue all working together for the best of our community. Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, we're going to deviate a little bit from our normal agenda because we have a promotion tonight in the Riverhead Police Department. And you see all the police officers here. They're not here because the Griffin family is here and is going to probably give us trouble later. They're here because we have good resources. We have good reasons here of things to do tonight. So we're going to deviate. And at this point in time, I would like to call up Chief Ed Frost. We have to do the resolution? Yes. Okay. And what I need is I need Clerk Wooten to read the resolution. Okay. Resolution 758. Okay. I don't have the verbiage for it. I was going to do that right after. Okay. [transcription gap] Okay. [transcription gap] Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. [transcription gap] Before we vote, do we have any comments from the public or online regarding this resolution? We have none online. Would anybody like to come forward and make a comment? Seeing nobody, we can read the resolution and take a vote. Okay. Waskey. It was moved and seconded by Ken and by Bob. So roll call vote. Waskey? Absolutely. [transcription gap] from me. Merrifield? Yes. Kern? Definitely. Rothwell? Congratulations, Brian, all the great work. This is a great day for our town, and we appreciate all your guidance and leadership in the future. So thank you and congratulations. An absolute yes. And supervisor? Brian, congratulations. Jen, Emmy, congratulations. This is a big day, a big day in your family, a big day for the police department. We couldn't be happier. We have such a great, terrific office. Police department in town. We have so many good quality candidates to pick from, and you're going to see one of the best tonight right here be promoted up to the rank of lieutenant. So yes. Resolution is adopted. Okay, Brian. Sergeant Clements, would you please come down forward, and town board will go down and join them. Chief Frost is aware of his name.
Thank you. Brian Clements, solemnly swear that you uphold the Constitution of the United States, Constitution of the State of New York, that you will faithfully perform the duties of the rank of police lieutenant for the Rivet Police Department to the best of your ability. So help you God. I do. Congratulations.
! [transcription gap]
Lieutenant, if you would just sign the name right here, it says sign here. [transcription gap] a name. [transcription gap]
Thank you. You're welcome.
We've had some very big days recently in the Riverhead Police Department, and I assure you there's some more to come. So you guys will be back here in a very short time. At this point in time, though, what we want to do is, being as we are all police commissioners of the Riverhead Police Department, we couldn't be prouder of our men and women in our department. And if you happen to read the news a couple weeks ago, there was a tragic house fire on Newton Avenue in Riverhead, and four of our officers were first on the scene and actually rescued and removed people from inside that house who were trapped inside the house during a roaring fire. And I have to tell you, as a police officer, the thing I hated the most in my academy training is when they sent us to Firematic and you had to go into a burning house. I was never more scared in my entire life than going into a burning house. So the fear that comes up upon somebody, I don't know how firemen and firewomen do it. God bless them. And your police officers have training in fire rescue also. They put it to use that night, and there's a family that's alive today because of their heroic efforts. And at this point, in time, we're going to come up front again, and we're going to call up the officers that were there that night.
There were four officers that made that daring rescue. Three of them are here tonight. One was not able to be here. So at this time, if I could have Sergeant, Giuseppe Rossini come up. Please. Sergeant.
He was just here a few short weeks ago getting his badge on as a brand new full-time police officer for the town of Riverhead. So that's awesome. And police officer John Dalen.
Officer, we thank you for your bravery. There's a family here living tonight because of your bravery and your heroic efforts. We know that's what we sign up for the job to do. We hope we never have to do it sometimes, but thank God that you guys were there. You were there right away and saved that family. So hats off to you. Kudos. Godspeed to you guys for the rest of your life. And thank you for your hard work. [transcription gap] Thank you. And thank you to you guys for the rest of your career. We owe you a lot. We thank you much. And we have certificates to be presented to you.
Officer Leonardi. Officer Day. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Check up. He's always trying to get back in the fire. But he's there. He's there. [transcription gap] in the fire marshals office.
We're gonna just stand on the side and get some pictures with you guys. Yeah, Chief, get in there.
Great job. Thank you, gentlemen.
Thank you, guys. You're welcome, Chief.
We'll give them a minute to exit.
And in other police news, on Sunday we swore in two brand new officers for the Rivet Police Department. The young ladies started the academy yesterday in Brentwood, and we'll have them out on the street in about six months. So congratulations to Ryan Waskey and Christina, I'm gonna say the last name wrong, but they're gonna be out there. Oh, gosh. Yeah. Can I have some help on her last name out there? Falasini? Yes. Falasini, I believe it is. Okay. Lovely girl. Yeah. So they started on Monday in the academy. We'll have them out in about six months. And we're not done yet. We're still gonna hire, I think, about five more officers before the end of the year. The next academy class is in December, so we plan on having five more recruits in that academy class. All right. Moving on, we have something that I started up with the board's assistance in something called Riverhead in Action. And we recognize people, businesses, employees of the town, overall good people that do things for our community, generational businesses. We're big into those, because if you can be a business and stay in business for generations at a time, you're doing something right. And we've had a group on here before. We have another one tonight. And I think we're gonna get ready to play a short video here demonstrating why we chose the people we chose tonight. And then the people we chose are Griffine Hardware, by the way. And we will then have them come up after the video. And we'll present them with a proclamation. So if we can play the video.
Hi, this is Tim Hubbard, supervisor of the great town of Riverhead, and you're watching Riverhead in Action, a media campaign designed to highlight the incredible work of the 350 bus employees that comprise Riverhead's 26 departments and sub-departments, town events, projects, job openings, local businesses, and other town happenings. I hope you find this informative and enjoyable, and thank you for watching Riverhead in Action. Recently I had the pleasure of visiting one of Riverhead's oldest single-family owned businesses, Riffing Hardware, located in the heart of downtown Riverhead on West Main Street. We're just promoting the positive of Riverhead, and when you have mom and pops that have survived through all kinds of economies and you're still here today, it just speaks volumes about A, the family that's doing it, because it takes a big commitment. It does. And you've got to stick with it. It's a lot of work. You've got to put it through thick and thin, and you guys have definitely done that. And it's part of the heritage of Riverhead that we're very proud of. It's just a great community feel, and that's why we want to promote this, and we want to make sure that people of Riverhead understand this, because we have a lot of new people in Riverhead that don't know the history of Riffing Hardware. That's true. So to me it's important, generational businesses and stuff that we have in town, and certainly Griffin Hardware fits the piece for that. It goes back. How many years? 1931. 1931 the store opened. Was it on this location always? It was two doors down for two years, and in 1933 they completed this building and moved into it. So they built the building itself and then moved into it? Correct. Okay. And who ran it at that point in time? Timothy Griffin Senior and his brother Burton. And they were raised across the street in that house. They were born there, so they didn't go too far. Okay. Your grandfather? He was the master locksmith. From Exit 50 East he was the guy. Yeah. And from New York Telephone Company, that's exactly what he serviced from Exit 50 all the way to Montauk and Orient. And it was really good business. I remember him for his mutton chops. Oh, he's had the mutton chops. And he grew them out especially for the parade, I remember he had those. Yes, he did. Yeah. And I have a picture of him in the office. But he's always known for his mutton chops. I know. This is one thing that Griffin Hardware has that nobody else around has, just locksmith capabilities. Yes, we have locksmith capabilities. Your dad was a master locksmith. I mean, it wasn't anything he couldn't get into back in the day, I remember that. The true hometown feel though here, Tim, is like the wooden floors, right? Wooden floors. Nail bins. Nail bins. Boots, nail bins. Where do you see that anymore? You don't. You just don't see it. Nails are over here and those are, you know, by the pound or by the piece. And we have the claws so you don't have to reach in and get your hands stabbed and you pull them out and you bag them up and you... I've been pulling nails forward since I was eight years old. Right. And that's what you did as a kid. You came in here to keep your kids from you sleeping. Because of you sleeping in the floors. You were eight years old when you started here? I would say. Yeah. Yeah. And full time, I mean, well, full time, part time while going to school and junior high. Yeah. As many of my cousins. I know you've worked here. Hundreds of people that have worked here over the period that this store has been open. Sure. Absolutely. Now, Kenny, the fourth generation over here. Yeah, yeah. This is Kenny. Keeping it going. Come on over. And Irv. Step up. Irv been here 38 years. 38 years. And Kenny's... Big face of the franchise here. Kenny's the owner's son. He's out of town today. But he'll be joining us on the 20th. Good. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. This is it. All right. Yeah. Thank you guys for being here. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Kenny, enjoy the business. It's an honor to be here. A fourth generation family owned business and a mainstay in downtown Riverhead for over 90 years, Griffin Hardware has employed hundreds of people, even a young Tim Hubbard back in the day. Whether it be a summer job for a young person or a four decades long career. The staff at Griffin Hardware are the face of this beloved local business. Despite the advent of big box stores and online retail, customers still flock to Griffin Hardware for the friendly faces and wide range of products and services. And I hope you will agree that small businesses like this that help our downtown maintain that small downtown feel we all know and love. It is my pleasure to have featured Griffin Hardware as a generational business in Riverhead. Thank you for watching. Riverhead in action. Yay. All right. If we could have the owner of Griffin Hardware, Todd Griffin and his family come up. And Tim Griffin and his family come up. We'll head over to you next. Hello, everyone. I just wanted to clear up a little bit about what's going on in this middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle middle [transcription gap] service that you don't necessarily get in the box stores. You have knowledgeable people in the store that grew up generation after generation and grew up in the hardware store. And I worked there many years ago and for the short time I was there, I learned more stuff that I could do at home and things about fixing screens and fixing windows and all kinds of stuff. It was very helpful for me to be there. But they've stayed in business for so long, except for the trader on the end who went to the building supply. Greg worked in the store too for many years off and on. He was part of the generational staff there. At this time, Griffin Hardware, and I'm going to read this with my glasses on, says, where is it both fitting and proper that the supervisor and the entire town board join with every citizen of the town of Rivet in celebrating a local business and the city of Rivet? The town of Rivet is a town that has been a cornerstone in the heart of Riverhead since 1931, dedicated to providing such services as locksmithing, key fabrication, screen door repairs, glass and plexiglass cutting, and more. Whereas Griffin Hardware Company began when Timothy G. Griffin Sr. and brother Burton Griffin purchased their first hardware store in 1931. Two years later in 1933, the two decided to build a new location two blocks from the original hardware store where the location remains today. At this point in time, it says, now therefore I, Timothy C. Hubbard, supervisor of the town of Riverhead, together with the entire board, hereby thank the Griffin family for their dedication and for remaining in the town of Riverhead for over nine decades and serving our community. I urge all citizens to sustain public awareness of this vital establishment. And this is from the town board and the town supervisor. So congratulations, Todd. You're dipping hard with it. Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you for keeping the generation going. With Kenny coming back in. I know your daughter has worked there. And Timmy and all your family has worked there. So we appreciate the generational business. And we thank you for sticking around in the town of Riverhead. We just want to make all our newcomers that moved into the town aware of some of the things that they may not be aware of. So this is Riverhead in action, and we appreciate you guys for coming down. Thank you very much. Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you so much. [transcription gap] I think we have the next Doug Geed with us tonight. Oh, yeah. It's so important to me, and I know you guys all feel the same way because we had this discussion, just to promote the positivity of this town. There's so much good stuff going on. And we have a whiteboard up in the office, and we have a bunch of businesses and ideas of places to do. We're going to be busy at this for a very long time because we have between farms that have been here for generations, businesses, all kinds of good stuff going on in the town. We're going to be very busy with putting stuff up, and I implore all my board members to do the same thing. And with any ideas you have, we go out and set up and do, do the same thing and present it, and we'll have a little fun with it. So, okay? Great. Love it. All right. Moving on to town business. Mr. Wooten, do we have any announcements and correspondence and reports? Well, we have plenty of correspondence, actually. We have 37 letters in this go-around, all dealing with the agritourism, I guess in anticipation of the public meeting or public hearing that was scheduled that was canceled for the, public forum to be held on September the 18th. So, I think a lot of that came in preamble to that. And then we have one letter just on general topics dealing with CPF money and allocation towards the school district. That was letters to the town board, and all of them can be seen on the website. And they've all been circulated to the board members. Under reports, we received the utility, monthly report for July from the tax receiver, and that was $527,558.78. And the town clerk collection report for the month of July was $11,882.47. And that concludes the letters, correspondence, and reports. Okay. I have a couple of announcements to make. First of all, residents who may have sustained, sustained damage as a result of the weather, the weather events this past Sunday, may self-report damages to their home and or businesses by completing an online form found on our town website provided by New York State. The purpose of this form is solely to collect information that may help state and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop and augment potential requests for available federal assistance programs. You have to meet a certain, a certain financial level before you can qualify for federal, federal aid, and it's done like countywide. So even if you have something that was only a few hundred dollars that was damaged, it might help out in the long run to get us to that threshold so everybody would qualify for federal aid when they, when they declare a natural disaster like that. So it's important to report it. If you have something, go on the town website and write it up and submit it. We would appreciate it. All right. This Friday, August 23rd, is the rain day. We're going to have a rain day. We'll head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head the adopting the comp plan update and issuing a finding statement. And as a result of the Wednesday night special town board meeting, the work session for August 22 has been canceled.
Accordingly, the next town board work session will take place on Thursday, August 29th. Okay, as many are aware now, the public hearings previously scheduled for this evening related to agritourism and resorts have been canceled. Instead, the town board will host a public forum to allow for productive dialogue and questions and answers on all sides of the issues. The forum will take place Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 at 6 p.m. right here in the town board room. Additional details will be available at the town board room. Additional details will be available online in the near future. And last but certainly not least, we have, as I announced previously, we have a Meet the New Police Chief series of meetings going on. And the first one will be Saturday, September 7th at the Riverhead Senior Center on Shade Tree Lane in Aquebog. And that's from 11 to 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 7th. The second meeting we have set up. The third meeting we have set up is Tuesday, September 10th. And that's here at Riverhead Town Hall in the board room. That's from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. And the third meeting we have set up is Saturday, September 14th at the Riley Avenue Elementary School. And that will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 14th. Okay, that's all I have on announcements. Does anybody else have anything? No? Okay. Okay. Bless you. Bless you. Thank you. Thank you. We are now scheduled to have a public hearing. The public hearing, we have one public hearing tonight scheduled for 6-10. It is now 6-32. And I would ask Greg Bergman to come on up and get the public hearing started. And it's regarding a special permit application with the Riverhead Charter School. Thank you, Greg. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening, Supervisor, members of the town board. For the record, Greg Bergman, Senior Planner with the Riverhead Planning Department. So what we have tonight is a public hearing for a special permit application which is seeking approval to construct three temporary trailers at the site of the existing Riverhead Charter School on Sound Avenue. The property is located at 5117 Sound Avenue. Subject property is 3.95 acres in size and is located in the APZ Zoning Use District. And the special permit is required in accordance with Town Code Section 301-36B4. The site plan indicates that the... The three trailers, two of them will be used for classroom space while the third trailer will be used as administrative offices. And I will note at our last work session when we last discussed this application, Councilman Rothwell, I believe you asked if the trailer that had been brought to the site without approvals was removed. I did subsequently go to the site and confirm that it has been removed. So right now there are no trailers behind that building. Thank you for doing that. Thank you. Just a quick prior history of the approvals. The town board... The town board by Resolution 2021-808, dated December 21st, 2021, granted a special permit to approve the conversion of the existing two-story building into a schoolhouse for use by the Riverhead Charter School. Planning board subsequently granted site plan approval for same by Resolution 2022-007 on February 3rd of 2022. As far as this current application, the board has taken an action. Resolution 2024-5202. Dated June 4th, 2024. The board classified it as a type 2 action under SECRA pursuant to section 617.5C8 as it involves construction of a non-residential facility involving less than 4,000 square feet of floor area. At that point, I know we do have representatives from the application here to speak on behalf of the applicants. So I would open it up to them and we'll go from there. Okay. Thank you, Greg.
Thank you. Sir, just state your name and affiliation for the record, please. Sure. Good evening. My name is John Farrell. I'm with the firm of Sawn Ward Braff Coshignano. Our offices are at 1300 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 100, Hop Hog, New York. I'm here tonight on behalf of the Riverhead Charter School. As the board knows, the property is located on the south side of Sound Avenue, about 1,300 feet west of Church Lane. It's presently improved with a 2.0. The new story building that is used for the high school. Currently, there are 154 students and 24 faculty at this facility. And they're kind of outgrowing their space. As the board knows from various meetings with the applicant, the applicant has been seeking other venues for the charter school, a larger space, vacant land to build. They've been working on this in earnest. And for a variety of reasons, they haven't been able to do that. Currently, they're in negotiations to acquire a property that is in a zone that, from what I understand, because I don't know the location, my client informs me that the property would allow schools as of right. It wouldn't require a change of zone or any special permits. So it's an appropriately sited property. Thank you. [transcription gap] building a building of the size that they're looking for is probably going to take 18 to 24 months. It's a substantial building, takes a long time for foundations to cure, so the construction process is generally slower on larger buildings. The incoming students that are coming to the school are long-term. Can you just get the mic closer? Sorry, I'm not used to a microphone. I generally speak pretty loud. That's what Michael Jackson said, but you're doing a good job.
So there are some incoming students to the school. These are incoming freshmen that have been with the charter school almost since it was established. They're looking forward to start, you know, the new year with the students that they've been going to school with their whole life. So to displace them makes it challenging. So we're here tonight requesting a special permit to place the three portable buildings for additional classroom space and offices for faculty and staff. Each unit is 960 square feet. Two will be used for classrooms with up to 24 students each. The third would be used for admin space, which would be about four to six administrative personnel. As an initial matter, I'm not thoroughly convinced that we are required to be here for a special permit. We're required to get, we applied for this special permit under the code section that allows schools in an agricultural protection zone. As Mr. Bergman noted, our facility, our site was approved for this in 2021. Zoning approvals run with the land, not the physical space occupied. So the area that we're in right now is a place where we're going to be able to do a lot of abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges abges [transcription gap] abges [transcription gap] abges abges abges abges [transcription gap] abges [transcription gap] abges abges [transcription gap]
code. Specifically, they're not permitted in a front yard. These structures are not in the front yard. They are not permitted in a side yard unless the accessory building is 60 feet from a side street line or 25 feet from a property line and 10 feet from any other building. The buildings are 40.8 and 40.61 feet from the side yard and they are 10 feet from the existing buildings. The other condition is that they're not allowed in a rear yard unless the building is 20 feet from a property line, 10 feet from any other building, and 60 feet from any side street or rear street line. As I noted, the buildings are 40.8 and 46.1 feet from the side lot line and it's 376.6 feet from the rear lot line. So I would submit that these buildings are permitted as of right under the code as accessory buildings. Nevertheless, we're here to seek the board's approval for the special permit because that is what the planning board has determined that we're required to do. To the extent that we need the special permit, I just want to remind the board that the courts have historically held that schools and churches enjoy special treatment with respect to zoning because they are presumed to have a beneficial impact on the community. Indeed, it has been established that the special permit is not a special permit. It is a special permit that is established as a general rule that the total exclusion of educational institutions from a residential district serve no purpose and serve no end and that it is reasonably related to the morals, health, and welfare and safety of the community. Even private institutions are entitled to this deferential treatment so long as they carry out the educational mission of the state as they have the same beneficial effect upon the general health, safety, and welfare of the community. In this case, the Riverhead Charter School has a charter that was granted by New York State. Their mission is to carry out the requirements of state education law and provide proper education to all the students that come through their doors. In spite of this deferential treatment, this obviously is rebuttable with evidence of a significant impact on traffic congestion, property values, municipal services, and the like. However, the New York State Court of Appeal has noted that zoning officials are to review the effect of the proposed expansion of a school or church on the public health, safety, welfare, or morals concerns grounded in the exercise of police power with primary consideration given to the overall impact on the public welfare. Applications may not be denied based on considerations irrelevant to these concerns.
Subjection 3. a municipality's pursuit of legitimate zoning objectives does not diminish the importance of striking a balance between the important contribution made to society by educational institutions and the inimical consequences of their presence in residential neighborhoods. Essentially, unless there's a significant impact on the community from a proposal, the board is really required to grant it under the case law. In this case, the town, as noted by Mr. Bergman, under SECRA, this has been declared a Type 2 action. Type 2 actions, as a matter of law, are matters that are cases that have been deemed to not have a significant impact on the community. As a result, no SECRA analysis is required. So we're proposing, essentially, less than 4,000 square foot ... Actually, less than 3,000 square foot. 3,000 square foot additional space on this property. That's less than 1.75% of the total lot area of the site. The proposed increase in traffic is going to be minuscule. At most, they're going to have three additional buses. Students are not allowed to drive to the school. As I noted, we have 24 faculty and we have room on site for 52 parking spaces. So there's not going to be any parking issues. And, to date, there haven't been any parking issues, from what I've heard, with this site. And the increase in traffic, it's going to happen either way, because the students are coming. We're not going to turn away students that have been with the charter school since the beginning and tell them they have to go start high school at another place. This is where they've called home. This is where they're going to finish out their education, at least to the high school level. So it's a matter of, are they going to do this in cramped classrooms, or are they going to be able to expand and have additional space to provide the proper learning environment for these students. I could go through the special permit criteria. There's, what is it, about 20 special permit criteria. I'm going to go through. I'm going to go through. Okay. So. So. [transcription gap] So. [transcription gap] So. So. So. So. So. So. So. But most of these have already been determined by the board. You've already determined that this is an appropriate location for an educational institution. You've granted this previously. Is it sufficient? We're going to comply with parking. We comply with all setbacks. We're going to screen the building so that they're not seen from the public rights of way or from public view. I know that the board has concerns about the time frame and the use. My client is amenable to putting a condition regarding a term of years on the approval where it would sunset. As I said, we have at least three years before we're going to approve. We're going to be able to complete a new facility. We have six years left on the lease at this property. If the board wants to put a one or two or three year limit and force us to come back so that we can give you updates on where we stand, my client would certainly be amenable to that. My client would agree to put a covenant restriction on the property regarding the use for the school with regard to student driving. They're not going to allow student driving. They're going to have to pay for the parking. So parking won't become an issue and it won't result in increased traffic. At the end of the day, we're seeking a minor and temporary accommodation until my client can find its new and larger space. In truth, my client hoped to be obtaining permits to construct the building on the adjoining property by now. But as we know, that application was met with a lot of resistance and it was withdrawn. As I'm sure the board knows, finding these properties is not the easiest thing to do. My client has looked high and low. They've in earnest attempted to find spaces as quickly as they can. Unfortunately, some of them haven't worked out, whether it be for zoning reasons or community pressures. But like I said, once my client goes to contract, they're going to start in earnest getting the approvals, getting permits, constructing the building, and hopefully moving there within a three, three and a half year time frame. If the board has any questions, I'm certainly happy to answer them. So the students that are in these trails, are they new students coming into the system or are they already presently in the school and moving from the school? It's going to be a combination of both, right? So we have some students that have left and graduated and we have other students that are coming into the school. But essentially, at 154 students, we're over. So we're going to have to move them to the next school. So we're going to have to move them to the next school. We're going to have to move them to the next school. We're going to have to move them to the next school. We're going to have to move them to the next school. over an appropriate capacity for the building. So perhaps we could add a few students, but it's really just to serve the students that are already in the Riverhead Charter School system. I'm not asking if they're in the system. They're in that school on Sound Avenue. Right. And there was an expectation that they would continue and finish their schooling in that building. Yes. Now, like during that process, are you now telling those same students that next year they're going to spend their time outside in the trailer, or those new students that have come in that have never experienced being inside the main schoolhouse? It would be ninth graders would be put into the new facility, the new structures. So what are the grades in the school? Nine through 12. Okay. So it's new students are going in. They haven't experienced being in the main building yet. And then how about movement between the trailers and the main building? Are they going in for lunch or gym or other activities, or are they confined to that trailer all day? No. They would have to come out for physical education. They would go to the physical education facilities. They would come out for lunch. It's really just a classroom space. Okay. So is there weather? Is there covering, awnings or anything that prevent during the poor weather and rain and so forth? Are they covered going from one building to the other? What's the accessories surrounding these trailers? We don't have- We'll make sure that it's covered and that it's accessible to all the- Yeah, for sure. I think my client is trying to say that we would put an awning of some kind to make sure the kids don't get wet if it's raining or snowing. Okay. And then what's the maximum capacity? So when you originally selected this building, the fire marshal, contrary to what you said earlier, the fire marshal does establish a maximum occupancy for the building. So as you- As you're enrolling, are you looking at that maximum occupancy? Why come forward and say that we want to circumnavigate around the maximum occupancy and add additional trailers? I don't think anybody said anything about circumventing the maximum occupancy at all. That's what you're doing by adding trailers. You're increasing the capacity of the overall school. No. Well, so no, we're adding buildings, which is not increasing the capacity of the existing building. That has nothing to do with the fire marshal. The fire marshal would have a separate inspection of these facilities. It would determine the capacity of them. Well, the fire- Sorry. I'm sorry. Have you already enrolled these students with the expectation that they're going into the trailers? The bottom line is we can fit the students into the school, but it's not a great learning environment. It's crowded. And we have enough space to accommodate them within our approvals, within the public assembly approvals or whatever the fire marshal approved for capacity. It's just not ideal. Okay. What is the capacity that the fire marshal said would be allowed within the school? Because you just said that you're going to be keeping the children no matter what, basically. Right. But you're only allowed to have a certain amount. Right. And you also stated that you could put a covenant on the property or restrictions that students will not be driving. Right. And that they're not allowed to drive to the school. Correct. In the original approval of the charter school, we were told that there were not going to be any students driving, that they're not allowed to drive to the charter school. Right. So is that no longer correct? No, that's absolutely correct. That's actually- So then why are- That's what I said. That's exactly what I said. We would agree to put a condition on it. So I don't know if there was a condition on the original approval about driving, but the fact is students have never driven to the charter school. They've never driven to the charter school, and they're not going to be allowed to drive to this charter school going forward. Okay. And then if you don't mind, Greg, could you come up for one second, please? Thank you. Yes. Greg Bergman. Yes. So sir, you said that this was classified as a type two action. I said that Mr. Bergman said that. Okay. So Mr. Bergman, after the SECRA. It's correct. Okay. So Greg, was that considered a type two action because of the findings of that SECRA for what is there now? No. It's a SECRA ... This application is a type two action solely because it involves construction of non-residential structures totaling less than 4,000 square feet of floor area. So they're proposing- So this doesn't change anything? No. I mean, so this current application is a type two action. The prior action, I don't have it right in front of me, but it was probably unlisted. For SECRA, things are either a type one action, a type two action. If they're not on either of those lists, they're an unlisted action. But this current application, the construction of the three trailers totaling less than 4,000 square feet is in and of itself considered a type two action. Okay. Greg, the councilor indicated that he seems to think no special permit is required by the town board in order to do this. That's really a legal question. So the original special permit application specifically referenced the conversion of the existing school building. I don't want to take a dip into legal forays, but from a zoning perspective, I can't really speak to that. The question, if that ran with the land, then could they, in theory, double or triple the size of the building? I don't. I don't think that's a level of control that needs to be had because of the special permit. It was granted as an administrative site plan approval, and it was limited to their plan to convert the existing building. It didn't contemplate any additions to the property, such as trailers, that would increase the capacity of the school. Now the planning board resolution contemplated and said that they expected an enrollment of 105 students. Today, they said they have... 154 students. And how many students are being added by these trailers? 24 in each, so I think a total anticipated increase of 48, just based on the occupancy. Okay. So that would put us up over 200 when the expected was 105. No, not exactly, because 48 is not the number of students we're increasing it to. We already have 154 students. The building, I believe, ideally would hold... It's already been sold, like, 130. So really, we're looking at 178 students total. Plus 30 administrative and staff? 24 administrative and staff, but the 24 are already there. Okay. So I have a question. So Greg, would that change any of the Seeker analysis as to the impact? So I mean, I'm just going to read... Or any part of the analysis. So back in 2015... I didn't have full head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head [transcription gap] head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head Application submitted to the Town Board seeking approval to convert an existing two-story building to a schoolhouse. The Town Board, by a prior resolution, number 2021-739, dated November 16th of 2021, it was unlisted. The Town Board assumed lead agency and made findings. The anticipated student enrollment at the school is expected to be approximately 105 students. The applicant has submitted a bus stacking plan which identifies the ability to facilitate the on-site queuing for seven buses, which will allow for safe loading and unloading of students at the site. The site is currently served by two curb cuts, which will allow for circular traffic pattern throughout the site. Signage will be provided to indicate traffic circulation patterns to prevent unsafe turning situations. Exterior lighting will be provided to ensure adequate exterior lighting levels during winter months. The existing sanitary system will be upgraded to a new IA system, which will help reduce nitrogen load into groundwater. New asphalt driveway entrances will be provided at the site's existing curb cuts in order to help prevent gravel being tracked into the Sound Avenue right away. So those were the findings out of the resolution. Further on, the Town Board granted the special permit. They found...they made some findings... subject to the conditions... So they found the use will not prevent or substantially... impair the reasonable and orderly use or reasonable and orderly development of other properties in the neighborhood. The hazards or disadvantages to the neighborhood from the location of such use of the property are outweighed by the advantage to be gained either by the neighborhood or the town. The health, safety, welfare, comfort, convenience, and order of the town will not be adversely affected by the authorized use. Such use will be in harmony with and promote the general purposes and intent of Article LVII-57 of the Town Code. The city of Riverhead has been asked to publish a new resolution of the
agree in terms of traffic if they approaching 170 or worst case scenario 200 when this application first came in I made it a point to speak with the prior police chief Hager Miller I know we have issues with traffic at the Calverton location I spoke with the police chief to see if there were any complaints or if he had any issues with traffic at this Sound Avenue location he confirmed to me that he did not so when I look at the totality of the application potentially increasing student enrollment by 48 students based on the space I mean realistically that can be accommodated by one additional bus load so for in terms of environmental impacts it's still this current application to type two okay now just quickly assuming that council is correct that this wouldn't be a special permit insofar as the prior resolution and and approval was limited to the existing building would would this not be an at the very least an amended site plan application um the board would still need to the planning board would still need to approve an administrative site plan approval for the they do have some land banked parking some additional parking in the back and just for the placement of the structure is part of the issue is a building permit so that that step will be required regardless of whether or not it's determined that they need a special permit from the town board I have a question uh uh said 154 students and if I maybe I didn't hear you correctly but I thought part of this was to alleviate some of the crowding with that 154 students and moved 24 out but now you into each one of those trailers but now what's happening is you're adding more students and I'm going to go back okay to the last public hearing where we had so many uh little students come up here and they were very articulate and very great and I think that's what I was thinking about and I think that's what's so important so I'll pass over to you so head head head
number that you're going to agree to and not exceed is the question I mean is it a hundred it's not a hundred and fifty four right so what is the number because I don't want to see you doing a hundred and fifty four in the big building and then putting you know another thirty in each one of the trailers or forty in each one of the trailers that you understand my point I understand your point completely I think the ultimate goal here is to get out of this facility as quickly as possible and get to a larger facility not with so I think I know I think 180 would be the maximum and if that if it came to that we would we would probably have to move administrative staff out of one of those trailers and and convert that to a classroom space but I would note that when mr. Bergman read the resolution he noted seven buses right stacking for seven buses and then moving the bus to the next one and then moving the bus to next so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so the staff somewhere else. No, I said if it got to 180, we would probably move students to the third trailer rather than put more kids in each trailer. Okay, where's the staff going then? We would have to reconfigure space. We would have to put them in hallways, whatever it would be to accommodate. Look, at the end of the day, this application is about the children. In terms of the programmatic uses and the programmatic needs of the school, that's not really a consideration for the board to make on this application. It's up to us to make our own programmatic decisions. We will agree within limitation as to a number of students, but you guys can't dictate how we use the facilities. The courts are very clear on that. The courts are really asking you to look at the impact on the overall community. These trailers are a type 2 action. Which is legislatively determined to not have an impact on the community. I'm going to put faith in our fire marshal and say he absolutely can put a limit on how many people can be on the, it's a public gathering space. Agreed, that's the fire marshal. That's not a consideration for the board in rendering a determination on whether or not to grant the special permit. So what is your maximum occupancy in the building right now? What does the fire marshal dictate as the maximum occupancy in the building? I don't have that number at this moment. And then what will be your maximum occupancy in each one of those trailers? The maximum occupancy would be 24 students. My concern is that each class that has come in from kindergarten up has been larger than the class before it, to the exception now that you've gone to a lottery, correct? Because you have X number of spaces, those spaces fill up, and then you have to go back and forth. Right. [transcription gap] Right. Right. all the way along, and each class that's coming up now, this year's ninth grade class, next year's ninth grade class, they're going to be at max numbers. So my concern is, are three going to be enough, or are you going to be back to us in a year or two years and say, hey, it's still not enough? Because honestly, if you had the property board already and you had a building permit in, you're three years away from a new school. And we know that hasn't happened yet. So three years is, I can't even consider three years, because I know how this works. I understand. So five years from now, what's going to be the situation? And where does it end? So currently. Hang on. And say that that property doesn't come to fruition, and you can't find another location, and now you're stuck in that location again. When does it end? I understand your concern. I do. We are already below the capacity we're allotted by New York State. And we're doing it. Because we're outgrowing our space. And we're actively seeking to develop a newer, larger building that will address these concerns of crowding. Growth is a good thing, but it has limitations. We're trying to strike a balance. We're agreeing to 180 student cap on this building. If it doesn't work. Then you guys can certainly say you've exceeded your, the conditions of your approval, and you can revoke that special permit. Do you have room in the Calverton location to be able to put the ninth grade, keep them there? No. No. Now remember we saw the middle school was in the lower half of the front building, and they were jammed tight there to begin with too. They were at capacity. But I think, look, I don't, I can't tell. This is not the. This is not a perfect solution. It's not an ideal solution. It's certainly my client would much rather be in construction of a new building at this moment and not have to be here asking for relief from this board. But the fact remains that we have these students that we have to educate. And what we're asking for with this application is very minor. If we want to look at long term. It's a different story. We can't. In 2022. I'm sure Riverhead Charter School didn't think they were going to outgrow the space by 2024. You know. Think about that. They opened two years ago. They didn't think they were going to outgrow that space. But when you decide how many students you're going to take. You should have some type of budget. And say, okay. This is how many students. We. We. Are going to be able to educate. And have. Within the structure. And we've. We've limited the number of students. That's why we've gone to a lottery. That's why we're already below what the state allows under our charter. The state allows 1150 or so students. And I think we're at nine and change. So we're trying to keep that in mind as we progress. But again. You know. We're in this situation. We're not accepting. We're only accepting limited enrollment at this point. We're looking for room to grow. But. We're not accepting. We're looking for the problem. Today. Mr. Farrell. I'd just like to address a point you made earlier. Just to correct the record. You said the total exclusion of. Schools serves no purpose. The town of Riverhead is not excluded all schools. I got a total exclusion of schools. I was quoting directly from a case. I'm also pointing out. It's not applicable here. Because we have that excluded schools. Second I'd like to point out the fact that you mentioned about. It's rebuttable by the. By not just traffic. But property value devaluation. And that's an argument. That a lot of members of the community feel very strongly about. That that does devalue their property. How do you address that sir? What I would say is it. It's operating as a school. It's continuing to operate as a school. But you would. Since. Since it. Since the school opened in 2022. I don't think anybody in the room can say their property values have gone down as a result. Well in fact. In the last. I would say. In the last. Two decades on Long Island. I think you're going to find some. It's very difficult to find somebody. No matter where their house is. To say that their property values went down. If I may sir. Actually there are a number of people that have spoken at the prior meetings. That have said. That they have information from realtors. That it does affect their property values detrimentally. Realtors are not real estate appraisers. Realtors are people that sell homes. I'm not going to debate this. I'm just letting you know sir. That that is. That is a rebuttable factor. It is a rebuttable factor. But it has to be a significant impact. Okay. So if you're looking at the significance of an impact. You have to look at what the development is. Right. This is three trailers. Less than 3000 square feet. To house at most 72 students. But our proposal is for 48 students. I thought it was 48. Okay. It is 48. Okay. My. That's if they use the third one and got the staff. If I had to use the third one and rearrange staff or something like that. It would be at most 72. But again. I didn't have full staff. [transcription gap] The lottery is not for high school. It's for entering the school. It's for entering students. Yeah, but the size of that class that's entering dictates down the road at ninth grade when they get up. But that's nine years from now. That's the problem you have. That's nine years from now. That's a completely different conversation we're having in nine years. This conversation should have been had nine years ago when you were going to expand to a high school. And you knew the size of your classes as they were coming up. Where were you going to put them? I think that I don't think that they anticipated as much growth as they've had. Again, they were only here two years ago. And, you know, so they got approval two years ago, and the kids stayed with the schools. They stayed through to the high school. Look, I understand it's not ideal. And now we're faced with this problem. We're addressing it through the lottery now. Now that we've realized it's an issue, we're addressing it through the lottery. But it's still... It still leaves us with this... We need a transition. We need a transition from this situation to a bigger school. And right now, the trailers provide the only relief. The only feasible economic relief. Because, you know, if there is a concern about property values, expanding the size of this building is not conducive. You'd rather have the three trailers that can be removed once the school moves on. Which is another condition we would be happy to agree to. Once the school is out, we're going to take out those trailers. So I have a question. When you first came up, and I'm not... Look, I just like everything to be transparent. I listen really, really well. You said there was 154 students. It's overcrowded. You need to move some of those into trailers. Right? Now, at the end, now you're saying... But we're putting 20... But we're putting 20... There's going to be 24 additional students in each one of the trailers. So you're not... It's contra... And I'm not trying to challenge you, but it is a bit of a contradiction. I don't think it's a contradiction. I think what it is, is if we're going to cap the number at 180, and the concern of the board is that we're going to have 30 students in those trailers when they're really appropriate for 24. I think if we got to that number where we were at 180, we would likely use the third trailer for that number. But initially you said the trailers were to alleviate the 154. Right. Okay. But you're adding 24 to each trailer. So that's where I'm confused. I think the cap at 180 might be too high. Okay. Because then you're going to take... Because you haven't solved the 154 number, and I don't know what the fire marshal... I don't know what the fire marshal is going to give you for occupancy in each trailer. That's all I'm saying. I think I need to know that number so that we can make a good determination on what the cap is. Right. I understand that. I know why these trailers are designed for that purpose. But we'll find out, right? I guess. I'm not looking to give you a hard time, but I recall all the students that came up here and said it's overcrowding. And I was very happy that you're relieving that overcrowding, because it's a very overcrowding situation. But by adding the 24 to each trailer, you haven't solved that problem. Well, we have, because then you'll have 48 students out of the school. That'll be... No, you're adding 48 to the 154. No, we're not adding... That's when you get to the 180. We're not adding 48 to 154. We're talking about two different things. The board asked for a cap on the number. The 180... No, we're not adding... We're not adding 48 to 154. We're talking about two different things. The board asked for a cap on the number. The 180... The 180 is the cap that we gave on the overall number. I understand that. That's not... We're not bringing in 72 new students tomorrow for this building. We're not bringing... We have capacity for 48, and we're not even going to have the 48 in at that point. Right? The 48 are just going to be... 24 of them are going to be to alleviate the existing space, and then the others to alleviate the room inside the building, and then there will be 24 additional seats. Right? So, half of what we're adding is to address what's already in the building. Have you already enrolled these students in September with the expectation that you're going to have these trailers? They've been enrolled since they started school. They've been in the system since they started school. So, have you mapped out a plan when you don't... If you should not receive the trailers, are you going to then... Well... How do you work your enrollment? How do you send certain students to a different facility? How do you tell them you can't accept them? Like, how is... What's... I'm just curious, and I know that's not a direct comment about your request. Well, I think... I would be curious to see how you're going to address that.
I'll turn it over to Michael. So, Dr. Anchor, thank you guys for having us. I haven't really thought about that, because I think with... So, worst-case scenario, with the... 150 or to 154 kids that we have now, we can currently, like, make that work. They would be on top of each other, and we'd have to do all kinds of things in order to kind of make puzzle pieces work. Some of our students will be at Suffolk. Some of them will be staggering in later or whatever. So, like, we could make it work, but... Okay.
Having portable access would be a great deal of relief for us. We understand your concerns. We're, again, we have six years left on this lease. Our goal is to not be at the Sound Avenue location and to be at our new location. So, if you guys want to put a cap, if you want to say, you know what? You guys can only go up to this 180 number that we're talking about. We're totally fine with that. If you want to put a cap on the amount of years that it can be there, if you want to stagger the trailers, if you want to say, you know what? You can get one this year and then come back and then get one the next year. Like, we are open to... All of those things, we're just asking for a little bit of relief and a little bit of help. That's it. Okay.
Okay. At this time, I'd like to open it up to members of the public that would like to comment. Just one more question. So, what Councilman Rothwell alluded to was what would happen if you hit the cap. What would you do with extra students? Now, ultimately, those students would have the option of going to their home district, correct? Correct. Okay.
Okay. I'd like to open it up to the public for comment. Would anybody like to come up and make a comment?
Hi. Linda Nemeth, Calverton. How many students are presently in each of the classes? What's your classroom capacity? We usually generally don't go above 20. So, we can't really do... I'm sorry. Hang on. I don't like to interrupt. I'm sorry. But how about this? If you have a question, state the question, and I think Council will write down the question and then prepare some answers. Okay. No problem. But it can't be a back and forth. No, no, no. I didn't realize that. Thank you. Okay. So, I just wanted to know the capacity of the classrooms. The thing is, if you've had these students coming up all along, you've had a steady capacity within the classrooms, how can that capacity suddenly increase? That's one of the questions. That's all I have right now. Thank you. [transcription gap]
Evening. Barbara Ripple, Calverton. I seem to have remembered hearing that the charter school takes money out of the Riverhead school budget. Is that true? The state gives the charter school money from the Riverhead Central School District budget. Yes. They allocate money at a rate per student from the Riverhead District to the charter school. From the home district. From the home district. And there are students in the charter school that are not Riverhead students. They come... I asked that question before, and maybe it's changed, but it's roughly, I was told about 50% are from Riverhead School District and 50% are from other school districts. So, Riverhead taxpayers pay for these students that come from out of the school district. Yes. Yes. Are you clear about that? No, we don't pay for their transportation, we don't pay for them, their home districts pay for them, just like Riverhead pays for their students. I mean, I'm a student advocate, I taught for 30 some odd years, and the first thing in my mind are what's good for the students. I don't think trailers are at all. But anyway, if these, you know, when I taught at Suffolk, we had a class size, no more kids in the class, because there were that many chairs. So why is there not a limit on, you know, if you know that there's no more chairs in your classroom, how are you taking in more students? Doesn't seem logical to me. Thank you. Good evening, everybody. Good evening. Town board members especially. You just need to speak into the microphone a little bit more. Yeah, my name is Jones and Eskey and I live in Aquebaugh, okay. And I'm here to alert you to what I believe is a problem with the way the notice was placed in the newspaper for the public hearing tonight. And it says, and this is of grave concern to me because it could open the door to possible challenges to our regulation of agricultural preservation land. Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you. [transcription gap] Thank you. [transcription gap] the charter school as to what they are or are not doing with this property. But it says that they're seeking approval to preliminary site plan applications, seeking approval to construct, that word is construct, three temporary trailers, each having a size of whatever, for the purposes of providing additional classroom space, faculty administration space, on a 3.9 acre parcel of land located at 51 17th Sound Avenue, more particularly described as such and such and such, and located within the agricultural protection zoning district. All right? Now if this application is approved for this charter school, what is to stop a developer from coming along and making an application? Not necessarily similar to this, but using the permission that was granted for this to build some 14 story condominium or something like that on agricultural land. It could really provoke a legal challenge to the agricultural protection zone if you allow this to be granted under the specific language that I have just quoted you, which is the application. 07.30. [transcription gap] 07.30. [transcription gap] 07.30. the Riverhead Charter School. So good luck with it, gentlemen. And I trust you'll do the right thing and continue to keep our Riverhead town protected agriculturally. It's been that way for years. My family were farmers here. And I know what it means. So I am urging you to treat this with great caution and be very, very careful about allowing this to happen. Thank you. Good night. Thank you. Good evening. Amanda Grams, Reeves Park. Ms. Waske, you hit on the nail, right, tonight. If they're at 154 now and they know the number's coming up 8, 7, 6, 5, we're not going to 180. 180's almost doubling what they have. We're not stupid. What's next year? If I ask him, he's going to say he doesn't know the number. And we know charter schools are money schools. So they're not going to say no. Oh, we're going to restrict and we're going to have some kind of lottery system. They're in for the money. Come on. They're going to stack as much as they can. So 154 isn't the number. And I'm sure the fire marshal never granted that number. And I'm sure the fire marshal never granted that number. 154's in that building. So you got...let me tell you something. I went to Berner high school. Back in 1978, half of my career was in a trailer, which one of them went on fire. Thank you. Where's the supervision going back and forth between the trailer and the building when you want to skip out? There's a deli next door, right? Don't do it. Don't do it. And then, why are we paying for their mistake? Where were they looking up their numbers? Why weren't they keeping track? Why does Riverhead now have to look at the eyesore and go along with this play because they couldn't manage? Forget it. Let it go. Were you allowed to ask any questions on aggro tonight at all? No. None? I'll see you tomorrow night? Actually, you can at the very end of tonight's meeting when we open comments for any topic. Yes. I got you back then. Thank you. Yep. Good evening, everybody. Claudette Bianco, Bading Hollow. I have a question regarding the structures. They said they need to construct trailers or portable classrooms or whatever you call them. Are they permanent? Do they go on a cement foundation? Do they go on the grass? They have some type of foundation, Claudette, that goes down on them and they place them on the ground. They place them on that. Like the one they had up there that they didn't have permission to have up there, they removed it. They removed fairly easily. The word construct doesn't mean like you're building a house. Right. It's very subjective. They come in prefabbed and they just attach them together and attach them to a footing. It doesn't go on a cement foundation that's permanent on agricultural. I don't know if it's on a stone. I don't know what the foundation is. In an agricultural protected zone, once the soil's gone, it's gone. So... If they have plans to move to a new location, and God bless, I hope you get what you're looking for, is that land now permanently scarred, damaged? When they remove those trailers, they have to remove any foundation materials underneath. Okay. So the soil would be right back to... It could be if... I don't know if it's concrete or stone. I'm not in the construction business, but there is some sort of base or footing that they do go on. So that's a concern that I have. Mm-hmm. Thank you. Who's talking?
Folks, I would ask the conversations in the audience to please stifle a little bit so we can hear what's going on up here. This is information that I'd like the board members to see. My wife talked to you earlier. You should always ask to approach before you walk up. You like that, bro? Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. You want the board to get this? Yes, please. Okay. Okay. Thank you.
Debbie and Peter Conrad from Aquebug. Members of the board, thank you for this opportunity to speak. Some of what I'm saying might be a little bit redundant. Some, maybe the questions have been slightly answered, but I'm going to run through it anyway. I won't take up much time. It is my understanding that the Riverhead Charter School's application for trailers is because they claim to have outgrown their current facilities. Okay. I have a few issues that I would like you to consider while deciding on this special permit. The school administration has stated these trailers are temporary. I don't particularly think six years is temporary. The Charter School Administration hasn't provided residents with any updates regarding the progress in obtaining a new property on which to build their school, except for what we heard tonight. This forces me to believe that they have no viable options and the ability to find a new location. Get permits and builds within six years may be unrealistic. Has the Charter School Administration's claim that enrollment exceeds the school's capacity been verified? Or is this a want, not a need? At the town board work session on May 9th, the Charter School Administration stated that they are not experiencing attrition at the high school level. I have provided you with a chart using the most current data from the New York City School Board. The New York State Education Department. Historical enrollment is on the left and projected enrollment without any attrition is on the right in yellow. Without including any attrition, based on the estimated enrollments of 23-24, the high school would have an increase of 163 students in three short years. That would more than double their current enrollment. The Charter School Administration has stated they expect to need the trailers until their last day. They expect to need the trailers until their lease expires in six years. During which time enrollment would increase by 238 students with no attrition. I fail to see how the addition of two portable classrooms will address these enrollment issues. Parking requirements for the permit application were based on 154 students. Is there adequate space to provide additional parking to meet Town code of one parking space per three student seats. As enrollment increases. A previous proposal had requested removing the front grassy area for parking. Which was considered unacceptable. Who within the town will monitor increased parking requirements. The Charter School has set up the town board to be held responsible if they are forced to limit high school enrollment. Instead of taking responsibility themselves for poor planning. At the work session. Charter School Administration. The focus. Needs. To be the kids. The first responsibility to focus on the kids lies with the school. And in my opinion they have failed in that respect by allowing enrollment to grow too rapidly. Without having facilities. I feel the school is trying to guilt the board into making a decision to bail them out. School administration has also stated they are not welcome at the Sound Avenue location. Again with the guilt and the deflection. Not a single person opposed the opening of the school back in 2022. And no one has asked them to leave. Will allowing these trailers set a precedence for other businesses along Sound Avenue. Who may seek trailers to provide them with additional indoor space when needed to handle fall and winter volume. And will trailers be rustic in materials and appearance as required. During the work session. Some board members questioned the feasibility of a lottery for admission to the high school. Until other facilities are found or built. I think the school administration needs to prepare. Contingency plans for these students. And to do the responsible things for the students. And have a plan if they don't achieve this goal for a new high school in six years. Please consider all the aspects and ramifications of this special permit. And thank you very much. Wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you. If anybody else in house who would like to comment. We have nobody online on Zoom. Okay. Do we want to answer the one lady's question? Yes. Counselor, please come up and answer. So in each classroom, she was asking the maximum number of students in each classroom. It would be 25. That would be the whole facility. That's their ideal number. They've taken measures by moving staff into hallways and things like that. To create more rooms to provide classrooms for kids. But 25 would be the max. In terms of the funding of the charter school. As you guys correctly noted. The student's home district provides the funding. The charter school gets 80% of that money. The school district retains 20%. So the school district still retains 20% of the money. That they can apply towards their. Their. Students without having to educate the ones that are now going to the charter school. So in many circles. There's a little more to it. No. It's a complicated thing. But the school district does retain some of the funding. But the charter school doesn't get the full amount of funding that the school district has provided for each student. So there is that. In terms of planning. I don't. I don't know how to address that. Other than the way that I've addressed it. Throughout the evening. Is. We did plan. To. We did plan for growth. We had a plan to develop the property next door. That plan fell through. We had another property that we identified. That we couldn't develop. Because it's in an industrial zone. And industrial zones don't allow. Schools. We are now in discussions. To talk about. To. To. Acquire another property. I am sorry. I can't give any more. Details. on that property because we are not in contract and you know identifying the property would potentially inhibit my clients leverage in their negotiations so all I can say is I am up here as an officer of the court telling the board that they are in substantial negotiation or and are pretty far down the line on a property where they won't need any relief from the board. You know again you know the I I don't know if I should address the issue about the approval of the charter school giving somebody else permission to develop condos. I think the code is pretty clear as to what's permitted and what's not permitted. Condos are not permitted anywhere in an agricultural protection zone under the current ordinance. Charter schools are only permitted by virtue of a special permit granted by this board. So the grant of this would not grant somebody the right to do something that is not otherwise permitted under the code. The structures will be they will have a foundation and footings that will be removed when we when we leave the premises. I cannot be clear enough that my client wants to has to leave this property. My client wants to leave this property. They want to build a permanent solution for the students they have. They've been trying to do that for many years now. You know again I think they would tell you they would rather be pulling building permits for the property next door then be here you know begging the board for approval for trailers which you know while they don't even believe it's ideal you know it's the best available solution to them at this time. You know six years I mean six years being temporary that that's that's I think that's in the eye of of who's viewing it. I think if this was a long term plan I think and we were looking to stay there long term we would be looking at something in terms of an addition to the building as opposed to these temporary units which we can easily remove and restore the property. When it's done. I I really hope that the you know the board takes all of this into consideration and and votes this application favorably. As I think it would be you know in the best interests of of the students first and foremost. And and again I think the impact is minimal at best. And again we're willing to agree to a term of years. The board wants to grant us a one year approval and we have to come back and tell you where we're at and show you you know what our numbers are. We are open to doing that. We are happy to agree to that condition. So with that if the board has any further questions be happy to address them. Council I have just one. When you mentioned restoration or remediation of the property once the trailers are removed. That's something that's memorialized by contract with the property owner as well. I don't think it's I don't know if it's memorialized in a in the contract. I haven't seen that contract. I was only retained on this matter several weeks ago. But regardless of whether it's memorialized we will take the steps to do it. It may. I have just one. [transcription gap] to develop. The first opportunity they had and the one that they felt was most ideal was the property right next door because it's there. It makes the transition easier. When that fell through, they went and identified another property. Right. I understand all that. I'm just saying that it took until the beginning of 2024 for them to finally come up with a plan. I think because they only opened the school in 2022, they didn't anticipate the growth that they had. And that's the problem. But it's not the problem because now they've addressed it through the lottery system and they don't accept new enrollment in the high school. So if you're attending the high school, you are already in the school at this point. So they don't open up spots for new students. So you have to be in their system before they'll allow you to enroll in the high school. So by doing the lottery system, they've limited the class size at the lower level so that when they do progress to the high school, they have control over the number of students that they have. But they've only done that in recent years. Those third, fourth, fifth, sixth graders are all bigger classes than they've ever had before come through. So this problem is just going to be magnified each coming year of students coming in. That's why I'm worried that three portables aren't going to be enough. I understand that. I think that's why we're here and agreeing to or being willing to be agreeable to a condition on the approval that we come back next year and tell you where we stand. I feel very, very sorry for the students that are a part of this. Because I think that the Charter School is a great school and a great opportunity for a lot of children. And these children were failed. And it was not by this Riverhead Town Board. It was by the Charter School. And nobody is suggesting that it's... And I want to be clear. We're not suggesting... We're not suggesting that it's the Town Board's fault in any way. We've identified the problem. We are trying to solve... We are making efforts to solve the problem. Again, we opened in 2022. We did not expect to be at this point, coming back two years later, asking for additional space. I think it's a temporary solution. It is not a long-term solution. The long-term solution is to find a new space that is more conducive to what they've experienced. In terms of growth and so forth. I think my client might have a point. Really quickly, Joey, I just want to address your comment. I've always been stand-up with the Board. Anytime you guys have asked me to do something, I've been amenable to whatever you've asked. This totally falls on me in terms of poor planning. I didn't anticipate that we would... Usually through natural progression, students might... I don't know. Students migrate back to district. However, when you have districts that are not performing the way that they should be performing, then kids want to stay. And so I didn't anticipate that, and that falls 100% on me. When you guys called me out the last time we were here, and you were like, hey, you have that portable there. What did I do? I made sure that portable was not there. So anytime or any provisions that you put on us moving forward, I'm amenable to 100%. But I own this. This is not on the town board. This is on me. Thank you. Again, I don't know how to state it more clearly than that. Again, I think Mr. Ancrum's point is well taken, that generally with the charter schools, once they finish the elementary or even the middle school level, they tend to go back to their high schools. And that has not happened here as they projected. So again, it was... We accept responsibility. We accept responsibility for that. And we're trying to make it work the best way we can. Thank you. Anybody else from the audience? I have to take exception to what Dr. Ancrum just said about the progression of the children not going back to their poor performing schools. I have to take exception to what she just said about middle school. [transcription gap] to figure but to denigrate the public school system is not the answer thank you anybody online okay Pete Conrad aqua Bob in regards to real estate I have a lot of experience in real estate over my years and what they said about the they have perspective property we all know in real estate especially nowadays how things could go south like that in real estate so you know he said in a short period of time you know we should be progressing with the school and stuff there's no guarantees unless you have a signed contract whether it's going to happen and not so you know within three years as they stated they have no contract you know they don't want to talk about the property that they are purchasing so how do we even know what's going to happen so that three years could be six years so just take that into consideration in this day and this day and age with real estate and the way the market is right now how things just go could go south in a heartbeat thank you thank you okay we're going to close the public hearing tonight and we're going to keep it open for written comment for ten days which will be till August 30th ten days for written comment till August 30th all right moving on we are now down to comments on resolutions we will now take comments on any resolution that is on tonight's packet we have anybody who would like to comment on tonight's resolutions so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so So I wonder about that. But then also, I wonder about paying someone who already has another full-time job $10,000 to do this part-time job when you have someone extremely capable and extremely well-qualified with loads of experience working now full-time for the town. Like, I would have liked to see her get that money and do the work because she does, like, stellar work. So I just wanted to say I was, you know, confused that you'd be pulling somebody else in to do it when you have someone in-house who could do it. And also, you know, $75 an hour? Like, why didn't that get on Indeed? Thank you. That's coming out of the supervisor's budget out of my office. And we have a good – what's that? Supervisor, it's a professional service agreement. Yeah. So it's not a formal position with the town. Getting to that. No, it doesn't have to be. For professional services. I was just disappointed that it wasn't the person who I thought would be. I don't know what person you're referring to. I don't know what person you're referring to either. This is a new position altogether. All right. Well, this is a person with background that we wanted specifically for what we're doing, so. Does he have that experience? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else? How many matters? Nope. Just under resolutions. Just under resolutions. After we're done with the resolutions, then on any matter. Nobody online? Okay. Let's go on. Jim, would you please read off the resolutions? Yes. We'll start with Resolution 725. Resolution to amend and correct Resolution 2024-296, Sewer Capital Project Number 2006. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 726. Authorization to publish and post public hearing to amend Town Code Chapter 221 to establish Community Preservation Fund, Water Quality Improvement, and Pollution Prevention Committee. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 727. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 251 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, Noise, Public Nuisances, and Property Maintenance, Section 7 thereof entitled, Variances. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 728. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 301 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, Zoning and Land Development Section 247. Adopted. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 729. Adopts a local law to amend Chapter 217, Section 67 of the Riverhead Town Code entitled, Front Yard Parking Restrictions, Certain Areas. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 730. Appoints Chairman of the Town of Riverhead Emerging Technology Committee. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 732. Appoints a call in Cook to the Senior Citizen Department. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 733. Appoints a call in Cook to the Senior Citizen Department. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Cook's making me hungry. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 734. Appoints call in Park Attendants to the Recreation Department. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 735. Appoints call in Recreation Aids to the Senior Citizen Department. So moved. Second. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 736. Authorizes License Agreement with Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the use of Riverhead Town Hall Basement for EMT Course Instruction 2024-2025. So moved. Seconded. Vote, please. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Just a quick public announcement. Public service announcement. Our fire departments and our ambulances are always looking for new volunteers. If you're interested in the ambulance with this EMT class coming up, it's a great opportunity to get in and get certified as an EMT and ride on the ambulance as an EMT. I did it many years ago. It was very rewarding. And I hope that you'll continue to do that. So moved. Second. Resolution 735. Appointment. Resolution 735. Authorized License Agreement with Riverhead Town Hall. So moved. Second. Waskey. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Yes. Waskey. Waskey. Brian Waski, and I just want everybody to know that she has gone through the process. She took the Suffolk County police test and she scored a 95 on that test. She passed her agility test, physical evaluation, she has done everything that she has needed to do on her own merit, and I could not be more proud of her. So, thank you. Thank you. So you're abstaining? Yes. You don't have to. I'm abstaining. You don't have to, you know, okay. Merrifield. Yes, absolutely, good luck. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Well, Councilwoman Waski, I will be voting yes on this. Thank you. Yes, congratulations, and these two fine officers, thank you. Hubbard. To me. Okay. Vote. I just, I want to apologize, because the, when I announced Gina Falsita's name earlier, I pronounced it wrong, but it's Gina Falsita and Ryan Waski are the two that we hired, and we couldn't be more proud. They were excellent candidates, interviewed excellent, and good luck to them in the academy. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 738. Thank you. Ratifies amendment. Resolution number 2024-695, promoting Andrew Smith
to Chief Fire Marshal. I just have to say, he is an amazing addition to the Fire Marshal Department and to the citizens of Riverhead. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. I echo what Bob said, yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Absolutely, it's been a pleasure working, not only in town hall with him, but also on the fire scene. He is a man of great knowledge, and I'm thrilled that he's our leader in the Fire Marshal's Department, which is also going to be expanding to some new Fire Marshals coming in. So Andrew, you're doing a great job. I vote yes. And Hubbard. Yes, absolutely. We're as excited about Andrew moving up to Fire Marshal as we were with Ed Frost moving to Police Chief. We've got some terrific employees that are running these departments, and we're very happy with their performance. And productivity. That's great. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 739. Accept the retirement of Police Captain. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Thank you for your service, sir. Kern. Yes. And thank you for your service. Rothwell. Yes. Thank you, Captain Smith. And Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 740. Oh, that's me. Authorizes purchase of dump truck for highway department. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. It's so thick. It's going to be a really big truck. Yeah. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 741. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for well and pump testing, evaluation, reporting, and information management for Riverhead Water District. So moved. Second. Vote please. OK. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 742. Authorizes the town clerk to publish and post notice to bidders for one 2024 Mack model MD6-42 dump truck for Riverhead Water District. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. I want to drive that. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 743. Ratifies purchase of work trucks for highway departments. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. OK. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 744. Ratifies designation of alcohol service vendor to service alcohol at the Polish Hall Festival. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. If I vote no, do I get a refund on my beer that I've already drank and quite enjoyed? Vote yes. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 745. 745. [transcription gap] Rescinds Resolution 2024-368, Townscape Blues by the River, Chapter 255, Special Event Application. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 746. Approves fireworks application for Baiting Hollow Club, September 1, 2024. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 747. Authorize a supervisor to execute an agreement with Riverhead Youth Sports, Inc. for the Referee Umpire Services for the Town of Riverhead Police Athletic League Football Program for 2024 calendar year. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 748. Ratifies authorization for the supervisor to sign a professional service agreement with Mark McLaughlin. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 749. Ratifies authorization for the supervisor to enter into an agreement with employee Smith. So moved. Second. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 750. Excuse me. Excuse me. People talking back here. Yeah, there's a lot of talking going on. Resolution to change Town of Riverhead participation to New York State Health Insurance Program. So moved. Seconded. Vote please. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Resolution is adopted. Resolution 751. Authorizes the removal of all litter, garbage, refuse, rubbish upon the premises known as 271 Hubbard Avenue, Riverhead, New York, Suffolk County Tax Map 0600-112.00-01.00-228.000. Pursuant to the Riverhead Town code chapter 251. So moved. Seconded. américatowork. américatowork. américatowork. américatowork. [transcription gap] acceptance of donations so moved seconded vote please waski yes thank you very much miss lang merrifield yes thank you kern yes rothwell yes thank you hubbard thank you mrs lang yes resolution is adopted uh resolution 753 hayes bill so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 754 authorized town clerk to publish in post public notice to consider a local law to amend chapter 263 of the riverhead town code entitled rental dwelling units so moved seconded vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 755 ratifies the appointment of a part-time office assistant so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 756 authorizes town clerk to publish a post public notice to consider an amendment to chapter 289 entitled vehicles traffic and parking regulations so moved second vote please waski yes merrifield yes kern yes rothwell yes hubbard yes resolution is adopted resolution 755 so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so moved so job by our fire marshals and code enforcement and job well done and PD deputy town attorney Saru yeah and and yes in Victoria Saru our deputy town attorney a lot was learned during that search warrant and we're on their heels and there's more to come so thank you very much great job the neighborhood thanks you yep the resolution is adopted resolution 759 approves the submission of a grant to the New York State OPR HP so moved seconded vote please wasky yes Merrifield yes Kern yes Rockwell is that chief going for the money yes yeah that's for the purchase of a drone for the police department absolutely yes my resolution is adopted and that concludes the hearing okay now we will open the room for open comments from the public sorry dawn open public's from open comments from the public on any matter good evening again Linda Nemeth Calverton I read a letter from a gentleman who head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head I SUPPOSE HAS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL FOR A SOLAR FACILITY AT THE YOUNGS AVENUE LANDFILL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S COMPLETE OR ANYTHING. I JUST READ THE LETTER THAT HE SENT TO THE TOWN BOARD. THAT LETTER THEN, WITH THAT LETTER, HE REQUESTED ALSO TO HAVE BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE ANSWERS AT THIS POINT. MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN THEY DID THE CAP FOR THE LANDFILL WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO EVER TAP INTO THAT CAP. THEY HAVE VENTS FOR THE GAS RELEASE, THE METHANE GAS. I DON'T KNOW HOW SOLAR IS PUT UP THERE OR WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUNCTURE IT OR THERE'S SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR THAT. ALSO IF A BATTERY STORAGE CENTER IS CONSIDERED THERE, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES COMING ALL AROUND THAT WHOLE AREA THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. IF THERE WERE TO BE A FIRE OF ANY SORT, THERE'S ALSO THE TOWN, I BELIEVE, COLLECTS WOOD WASTE AND CHOPS IT UP FOR COMPOST AND THAT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE FACILITY IN ADDITION. I WORRY ABOUT THE FIRE HAZARD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE OR WHAT IS IN PROGRESS AT THIS POINT. I CAN ANSWER PART OF THAT FOR YOU. THE SOLAR PADDLES STRADDLE THE CAP. OK. I WILL SPEND IT OVER AT NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, NOT ONLY THE FIRE MARSHAL BUT THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS AND RIVERHEAD ARE ON TOP OF THIS IN TERMS OF MITIGATING FIRE. OK. OK. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANYBODY ELSE? COMMENTS ON ANY MATTER? AMANDA GRAHAMS, REEVES PARK. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN? AMANDA GRAHAMS. QUICK QUESTION. WITH THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE AG TOURISM AND THE SPOTS THAT ARE ON SOUND AVENUE, WILL THEY BE GRANTED OR ALLOWED TO BUILD STEPS DOWN TO THE BEACH? I DO BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN. THERE IS PREEXISTING CODE THAT PROTECTS THE BLUFFS AND ACCESS. BUT THE AGRI-TOURISM CODE ACTUALLY TIGHTENS THAT UP SO THAT 90% OF THE BLUFFS HAVE TO BE PROTECTED AND UNTOUCHED. SO IT'S ACTUALLY THE AGRI-TOURISM CODE. IT'S MORE STRINGENT THAN THE CURRENT EXISTING CODE REGARDING THE BLUFFS AND ACCESS. SO YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME THAT 10% IS GOING TO BE THE STEPS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO GO DOWN TO THE BEACH? MAXIMUM OF 10%. JUST LIKE IF SAME DISTANCE, IF YOU HAD FIVE HOUSES, YOU COULD HAVE LARGER. I'M NOT DEBATING THAT. I'M DEBATING POPULATION. BECAUSE IF IT'S 100, 200 ROOM BOUTIQUE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, HOTEL, THAT'S 400 PEOPLE GOING DOWN TO THE BEACH. THAT'S WHY WE TIGHTENED THE CODE. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THAT'S WHY WE TIGHTENED THE CODE UP SO IT WOULDN'T BE IT'S NOW PROTECTED BY 90% OF IT. SO AS OPPOSED TO PRIOR WITHOUT THIS, THE PREEXISTING CODE ALLOWS LARGER ACCESS TO THE BLUFFS. I'LL JUST SAY ONE FINAL POINT ON THAT AS WELL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR LOGIC. IF THEY WERE HOMES THAT WERE BUILT THERE IN A CLUSTER, SEVERAL OF THOSE HOMES AS OF RIGHT WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE WALKWAY TO THE BEACH. SO HOTEL WOULD ONLY BE THERE. THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE ONE ACCESS AS OPPOSED TO SEVERAL HOMES INTERFERING WITH THE BLUFF. JUST SO IT'S I'LL PIGGYBACK THAT. SO GO TO CROW'S NEST AND REES PARK. YOU GOT ABOUT 12 HOMES. MAYBE THREE OF THEM HAVE STEPS THAT COULD AFFORD IT OR THEY WERE WASHED AWAY OR WHATEVER. MAYBE THEY HAVE THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE. YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OVERPOPULATION ON THE BEACH WHERE AS YOU I'M SURE ARE AWARE OF WE HAVE FISHERMEN, DEBRIS, GARBAGE AND NOT TO MENTION SOME SILLY PEOPLE THAT THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THEIR HOUSE. THEIR CATCH. PUTTING OUT BEAUTIFUL LIFEGUARDS AND OTHER AID PEOPLE IN JEOPARDY. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR LOGIC WITH 90. BECAUSE YOU COULD STILL GO 200 PEOPLE COULD STILL WALK UP AND DOWN STEPS. SO WHO'S GOING TO CLEAN IT. 90% OF THE AREA IS PROTECTED. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A HEAD COUNT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN OR NOT GO DOWN. THE AREA IS 90% OF THE AREA. THE AREA IS THE MOST PROTECTED. [transcription gap] AND IT MUST BE PROTECTED IN THIS PARTICUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU I think it's a big mistake, really big mistake, really big. I think you ought to think long and hard about it for that much of a use going on and for what we're already doing at other beaches along the way. Now you're adding all that onto it. It's way overload. And then what about driving on the beach over there? Is that what they're going to have too? No. They just said the bluffs are protected and there's no drive access to it. Their high bluffs cannot drive down from it. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. Cindy Clifford. There is rarely a board meeting where one or more of the self-appointed civic stewards of Riverhead aren't in attendance offering. You could look on us or them like a research department funded by the granting of their time or your massive volunteer five-star consulting firm. They come to the podium in the interest of being partners in the governance of Riverhead. They can zero in to add insight and perspective on the more complicated or significant proposals so you can focus on the day-to-day business. All they ask is respect. But instead, they're all too often patronized. Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] Right. [transcription gap] the board at times appears to be working around rather than with them or us. This comp plan is a perfect example. I can't begin to measure the time any of these people have invested in combing through the pages, analyzing data, studying specifics in order to spotlight the discrepancies, the contradictions, the errors or suggestions in bringing them to you. You've had hundreds and thousands of dollars of free consulting services from a team of experienced and highly qualified advisors. They should not still be waiting to see what has been altered or added or axed from the comp plan. And now with no red line version ever shared and with zero notification or publicity, a special meeting is posted on the website just a couple of days in advance. Did nobody think this would be seem kind of sneaky? Totally counter to the transparency the board has promised, but you could correct this bad optic, assuming it was an oversight, that it was not your intention. I would encourage you to cancel tomorrow's vote to approve and make the red line version available and set a final public hearing date farther out so the community has been sufficiently informed and in support of our mutual goals for Riverhead's future. Thank you. The only thing that's not transparent is the statement that you made. I'm sorry. [transcription gap] I didn't get what you just said. [transcription gap] I'm not debating back and forth with you. But then you're debating with me. You had your moment. I'm making a point. Excuse me. I'm talking. Okay. Go ahead. I listened to you. Right. You listened to me. We had this. Our timeline was as transparent as it could be. And if you're saying, you're coming up here and you're saying, oh, we snuck this under the cover of darkness, you're doing a disservice to everybody in the town of Rivendell because that is not correct. This went up on the website on Thursday. We understand that. At Wednesday's meeting. And it had been talked about at meetings prior to it. Let me just say one thing that will make sense to you. There was a great uproar about this agritourism. In response to the uproar, the public hearing for agritourism was canceled. Agritourism, right? You're welcome. Yes, I did that. That's right. That was excellent. But then the next day, all of a sudden, I mean, you have to see the optics on this. No, you are looking at the optics through rose-colored glass. I don't think I'm alone. I'm telling you that this is a concern of people that it seemed like you went, oh, we won't do the public hearing. It seems like that to the people that want it to seem like that to them. There was nothing nefarious done here whatsoever. And I'm saying perhaps it was not thought out then, Tim. I'm not trying to attack you. It was thought out and it was stated how this was going to happen. You don't see the optics on this? No, I'm sorry I don't. That could be problematic. I'm sorry I don't because I know the truth behind it. So I don't see the optics. Right. No. But then it's. I don't. It's a mistake and it was misinterpreted. Right. I'm not here to fight with you. I really want you to understand that all these people, not me, I don't put, I go through things, but not to the level that any of these other people do. They spend hours and days and weeks looking at this information. As we all did up here, it's our job. We had to do that. And all the, they asked for a red line version that never appeared. We understand what was involved in going through all that. We understand that. But this has been the timeline all along. There's nothing new or nothing just popped up to shock and surprise anybody. Absolutely not. And why wasn't it made more public? I'm sorry? And why wasn't it made more public? It was made public at every meeting that we had. We said this was going to happen. Tomorrow's meeting, the first notice of it was last Thursday. I'm just saying that. Of when the exact date was. It could have been Friday. Exactly. The exact date. It could have been Monday. It was coming in the timeline during the month of August. This is what I'm talking about, though, how sometimes, you know, I mean, this feels to me really. If you were on top of your game, Cindy, you would have known that this meeting was coming. You would have known the exact date. I wouldn't have known the date. I knew the meeting was eventually coming. I didn't know the exact date. Okay. That's what I'm talking about. Because people like to have their input and not be dismissed and not be ignored and not be argued with. I'm not here to argue with you. This comp plan had more input than any comp plan in prior has had to my knowledge. And my knowledge only goes back to the 2003 comp plan. And the red line issue. There was plenty of public opposition. The red line edition. Still was never handed to any of these people to see if any of the suggestions they make made the final. There's no way to compare it. It's 194 pages. They're not going to go through page for page and go, well, let me see. What did it say before and what is it now? It would have been a courtesy for the work they put in and the effort they put in and the input that they gave to you for nothing. Like I said, like free consulting. Well, the input they gave wasn't for naught. And if you say that, you're doing a disservice. And I'm sorry you feel like you have to argue with me. But thanks for your time. Well, when you're wrong, you're wrong. And you need to. Supervisor, I think Greg can probably help clear this up. I'm sorry. I think Mr. Bergman can probably help clear this up. So, Greg, the final GEIS is posted online about two weeks ago, correct? That's correct. So the board accepted the FGEIS on August 6th. It was posted to the town of Riverhead comprehensive plan update dot com website, which has been the town's website for the duration of this process. The second section in that FGEIS is called changes to the proposed plan, and it contains a red line version. It calls out specific pages from that draft comp plan that we saw. It calls out specific pages, red lines, those changes that were going to be made. The document that is available on the town's website right now for consideration for the board tomorrow issues a finding statement. The attachments in that packet are clean copy of the finding statement and a copy of the proposed final plan. Which will include those red line changes, which again were sort of discussed at a work session in an abbreviated form. After that was adopted and accepted, it was made available to the public. So it's now been available to the public for in excess of 10 days. Now the board, by secret time frames, they have to wait 10 days after the adoption of the FGEIS to issue a finding statement. We are now, I think it'll be at about 15 or 16 days. We have to wait. We have a hard cap at 30 days. And I spoke with Councillor Howard about this. That would have basically put us, if we were to kind of stick to that guideline of 30 days, the adoption would have had to happen at the board's September, I believe it's the September 4th meeting, which I believe would have been the 29th day. Based on discussions with the board, we didn't feel it was appropriate to have that at a 2 p.m. meeting. I think that would probably have met with a little more. Correct. Because of what? Because of transparency. Yes, correct. That's why we did that. At a meeting. But again, the bottom line is that document that contained all those red line changes has been available on the Comprehensive Plan Update website since at least August 7th. Correct. Thank you for the transparency. And Cindy, I would just like you to know that I actually did go today and I had a conversation with Matt Charters asking for the explanation. I was at the James Hort Civic on Saturday. And there was concerns from what you said. And I wanted to make sure that there was full transparency. And from everything that I learned from Matt Charters today, there is full transparency. So you have my word on that. Okay. Any other comments from the public on any matter at all? Okay. We have two online. Let's take one online.
Ma'am, we have one coming from Zoom right now. So it will just be a minute or two. Or five.
Hi. Good evening. Kathy McGraw from Northville. Can you hear me? We can hear you. Hi, Kathy. Hi. I'd like to first thank you for that piece on the Griffin hardware. As a kid, I used to visit Alice and Tim Griffin at their cottage. And Griffin hardware is a treasure in Riverhead. And that was really nice to see. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. I'd also like to start off with another thanks for canceling the public hearing on the resort zoning and scheduling a forum on September 18th. I know my voice and that of others over the past couple of months asking you to hit pause on this zoning change so as to look at alternatives. Okay. I'll head over to you, Kathy. Thank you so much. I'll head over to you, Kathy. [transcription gap] I'll head over to you, Kathy. I'll head over to you, Kathy. [transcription gap] you polled all the board members as to whether they wanted to take a pause and they all answered no so I'm really heartened to see that once a full-scale campaign was launched to challenge the zoning change you heeded the call to take a further look thank you well I think now I just told Kathy for piping in and piping up on it because that's what they need to do and we do listen to what they say and that's this is a perfect example of that so now I'm just hoping there sentiment from those will continue to guide you all on this issue you've lately been slammed with input from two different sources first the folks who live here the people you work for you And second, from Wiseman Real Estate, the developer, who doesn't live here, but wants to make lots of money, charging $1,200 a night for a room at the luxury resort they hope to build. In the last couple of weeks, Wiseman has launched a full court press. We actually know of two efforts, but there may be others that we're unaware of. First is the information they submitted to this town board. It's in the record today, 670 signatures. These signatures were collected in three days in Riverhead, but all we know is that Wiseman sent out what they described young people. Who knows how old they were, if they were paid, what they knew about the zoning change, and what they may have said to the people. The one thing we do know is the petition they handed people to sign nowhere contained the words resort or hotel. All it is the signatories urge approval of the proposed agritourism zoning, not agritourism resort zoning, just agritourism zoning. It then goes on. It goes on to say that agritourism will do the following. Protect farmland, substantial taxes for Riverhead schools, preserve the Sound Avenue, provide great jobs to local residents, create only low-impact development. If I had no idea what was proposed agritourism resort zoning proposal, reading this petition, I would have said, well, I don't know. If I had no idea what was proposed agritourism resort zoning proposal, reading this petition, I would have signed it too. We all love and appreciate agritourism on the North Fork. What we don't like are luxury resorts and spas masquerading as agritourism. This petition says absolutely nothing about resorts and spas. It should be disregarded. And if you look closely at this petition, there are all kinds of doubts that are raised. Most of these signatures are illegible and they're repetitive. And it just raises all kinds of questions. Then the second move by Weisman that we're aware of is the Willow Ponds meeting. Ostensibly, this meeting was to inform the residents of Weisman's offer to share their sewage treatment plant instead of building a new one for their resort on their land. Ostensibly, this meeting was to inform the residents of Weisman's offer to share their sewage treatment plant instead of building a new one for their resort on their land. But they started saying this arrangement might provide a big fat payment to the HOA with ongoing payments going forward. In effect, what they were telling the folks at Willow Ponds was, you'll have your HOA fees reduced if you allow us to build this resort. Not very subtle. Especially since when Asked by some of the folks there some specifics, Mr. Blasman said he didn't know the capacity of Willow Ponds treatment plant and had no idea how much wastewater his resort and spa would generate. You just can't tell me this developer doesn't have this information at his fingertips. This is not his first rodeo. He was there to wave money in front of the people at that meeting so they wouldn't fight the zoning change, plain and simple. In stark contrast, from the day agritourism resorts first surfaced at the second and final public hearing for the comp plan update in December of last year, residents at that meeting have been said then and have been telling me, they've been telling you since that they don't want these resorts. Just recently though, under the leadership of the James Port Civic Association, there's been such an outpouring of opposition, you canceled tonight's public hearing and we appreciate that. And today you listed or in advance of this meeting, you listed about 30 lit letters on the agenda that you, and you've probably gotten a lot more. And I, I would say that even the tiny Hamlet of Northville submitted a petition signed by 40 residents, no resorts. And you've seen countless comments on social media and you're not aware of an online petition with nearly 1800 signatures. And those people who signed that petition had before them in writing concrete information about the zoning change, that the James Port Civic provided. You can see it for yourselves online. As for the Weisman petition, nobody knows what those folks who signed were told, aside from what's written on the petitions and we can all see those petitions don't mention resorts. In closing, I urge you not to break the PR campaign of the developer, who has been, hard. And as you know, spending lots of money on consultants to help this town with this new zoning code. Instead, I ask you to listen to your constituents, the people who elected you. Tax the very best of what this town has to offer. Riverhead already enjoys an incredible influx of visitors who come for the beautiful sound at the corridor. And also, to enjoy real agritourism attractions that this town already has. You're probably going to adopt the new comp plan tomorrow. But before you do, please remove agritourism resorts from that document. The people of Riverhead don't want them. So just put aside this crazy idea, put it to the test, and strike it from the plan. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much for listening to me. Thank you, Cathy. Yes, ma'am. Good evening, council and council members and town supervisor. I'm Joan Sear. I live in Jamesport. I'm representing the Greater Jamesport Civic Association today. And I would like to deliver to the town board for the record petition so far that we have issued related to the the proposed agritourism resort zoning. We collected a total of 1,800 signatures as of 4 p.m. today. In this packet, you will see 765 from residents in the town of Riverhead. And I realize those are the ones you most care about because they vote for you. 298 from North Fork residents and residents of the North Shore area, such as Miller Place, Rocky Point, who would be affected if resorts go in. Another 287 from other areas of Long Island. And 211 from New York City and surrounding areas. People who either come out here on vacation or, you know, for the day, day trippers, as we like to call them. Or who own vacation homes. I have removed the remaining 200 plus signatures from people from out of state, although I suspect some of those Floridians may also own homes here. This is a pretty large number. Would Mr. Wooten like to come and take this for the record? Sure. Oh, you expect me to deliver it? Thanks, Tony. Okay. Thanks for making that clear. I think that that's just one sliver of evidence that the residents are speaking up. And previously, members of the town board and the town supervisor have said that the people must want this because you're not hearing from them. Well, you're hearing from them. They don't want this. They want hotels and resorts on Sound Avenue. We believe this issue impacts people beyond just our town. It directly affects the North Fork and North Shore residents. And it will affect all of Long Islanders who come to enjoy our beautiful area and experience Long Island's family farm heritage. This is the last remaining rural farming community on Long Island. My grandparents were farmers. My grandmother was born on a farm in Jamaica, Queens. It's gone. My father was born on a farm in Melville. Gone. Don't do the same to this area. You think that agritourism resorts are the best way to preserve this land, and it's not. Let's put smarter people together and come up with a solution. A developer should not be your partner in coming up with this solution.
There are so many holes in that proposed solution. I've read it. I've studied it. I've picked it apart. I've talked to experts. For example, Councilman Rothwell. And you said there's only 10% access to the beach. Now, is that calculated on 10% of a linear foot across the top of the property line or 10% of the total square area of the bluff surface? It's 10% going the full distance. So you're saying just linear. So they might disturb 10% across the top. And then they might disturb 10% across the entire area. But they could have a zigzaggy stairway with landings that disturbs much more. Because the code does not specify 10% of the total surface area of the bluff. That's one example of a hole in it. Another example is it does not prohibit kayak storage racks, kayak storage buildings, snack shacks on the beach. It should. Those types of things, if you're going to really push this through, and I feel like you are, those things should be prohibited from being on the beach. I'm not saying that's the only way. I'm saying that's the only way. And I appreciate the way that you did from being on the beach. So there's a lot of holes in it. And you really need to take time. And I appreciate Ms. McGraw's comments that it's good that you paused it. But let's get on to that forum. So the question is, can you tell me what is the format going to be for that? The format is going to be that we as a board are collectively going to be there. We're going to open up the microphone for people to come up and state their feelings. Prior to that, I'm going to, and I haven't talked to Mr. Rothwell about this. But I'm going to. Since he's basically the lead guy in this, I'm going to have him go over the law along with our planning department and our town attorney's office, explain the law thoroughly first, and then open it up for questions. Are you going to do, is the developer going to be allowed to do a presentation? I did not ask the developer to come. Okay. This is for me to hear from the residents and for the residents to learn exactly what the code says. So. Because there's a lot of confusion with the code. Right. There's a lot of, and again, there's a lot of holes in the code. It really needs a closer look before it moves forward. Are other people other than the town going to be giving presentations? Not that I'm aware of, no. Okay. Would you kindly keep the civic associations in the area informed about the format so that we can guide our members to make sure when they show up, they come with smart questions. They don't waste your time. We can certainly do that. That would be helpful. Then just a note about the comprehensive plan. Mr. Bergman was showing me where to find the red line version, and it was really quite well hidden on the website. Previous red line versions have been identified as such. This one was attached to another document that didn't identify it at all. So I'm really disappointed in how that was presented, and I am one of the people who have read every single page of the comprehensive plan update multiple times and every single plan of the comprehensive plan update. Thank you. And I'm not the only one who has read every single plan of the draft generic environmental statement. So it's very disappointing that that was hidden. And you know what? It does look sleazy on your part. Things were not done right. I'm sorry. Well, we will agree to disagree on that, Mrs. Sears. As Sear, C-E-A-R. Sear. Thank you. The civic association, the Greater Jamesport Civic Association fails to understand how the town board has elected officials whose job it is to represent the best interests of right-wing citizens. Thank you. I have no clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear clear The community's vision does not include resorts and hotels along Sound Avenue or along the Long Island Sound shoreline. Further, we feel that the comprehensive plan update fails to incorporate or address the concerns and input presented by our civic association and others, as well as individual residents. Those include the agritourism resort zoning, the short-term rentals. Previously, the town board said that was coming out of the plan. It's still in there, and there's conflicting messages. The town should consider short-term rentals. Short-term rentals contribute to the housing shortage in the town. Again, that comprehensive plan update, in my opinion, is not ready for approval, despite the schedule that you're on. You have to understand that the comprehensive plan is a plan of recommendations. It's not code. It's not law. All the recommendations that the experts, along with the public, gathered and put together in that plan. Then, have to either be codified or, to be adopted, have to go before a public hearing. That's why I'm not really concerned that we're going to adopt it, and it still talks about the agritourism plan. The agritourism plan still has to go to a public hearing, if it ever makes it that far. Goes to a public hearing, and then we have to listen to the public, and then it has to be voted in or voted down. There will be those in the town, and there will be developers who approach you, who will say, well, it's in the comprehensive plan update that you did in 2024. It's recommended as something you should look at, so that shows that you support it. You think we should do this. You think it should be part of the comprehensive plan. No, that's not. You're putting words in people's mouths when you say that. That will happen. That's not correct. That's not correct. Ms. Sears? Oh, you know that's not going to happen. Ms. Sears? I'm not saying it's not going to happen, but I'm saying, in reality, they are recommendations. Every line item in that has to be- If it's a recommendation, that gives- Ma'am, every line item in there has to be codified. That's not going to happen. It's not codified to become law. I understand the process, but if it's a recommendation in there, developers and others will say, well, you recommended it in the comprehensive plan update, so this should move forward. A recommendation is almost tantamount to an endorsement. Ms. Sears, can I address that point for you? Just so there's some clarification on this, that this is not a new topic. Agritourism was addressed in the 2003 comp plan. It was actually ... It's been in there since 2003. I'm not talking about agritourism. No, no, this is- I'm talking about agritourism- No, you will be told- No, no, and resort zoning. Excuse me, ma'am. I'm sorry. I'd just like to finish- Stop yelling and interrupting, please. I'm sorry. I'm mad. Ms. Sears, I appreciate your concern, and I just want to clarify this for the record so the people understand, and I'm quoting now, that it's been in the comprehensive plan, agritourism, since 2003. Over 20 years, it's been a guide on Riverhead's future development. Thank you. In 2003, the comp plan stated they recommend and encouraged, as part of agritourism, resorts, spas, banquet facilities, and picturesque cities throughout Riverhead, and I quote, particularly adjacent to waterfront areas, open space preserves, or popular recreation attractions like beaches, marinas, hiking trails, or equestrian facilities. So all I'm telling you is that this is nothing new. It's nothing snuck in. It's been in the comp plan that existed over 20 years ago. I'm not saying you're sneaking it in. I'm saying- I think you did a moment ago, ma'am. This is an update, and when you update a document, it's the time to make changes. Just because something has been done one way all along doesn't mean you don't look for a better way to do things. I understand that. Now is an opportunity to make Riverhead better. I understand that. I just wanted to clarify the point. Thank you. Thank you. I just wanted to clear up one thing. [transcription gap] including agritourism in and resort zoning proposals and short-term rentals which remain in there even though you had said they were coming out. Thank you. Appreciate the opportunity to speak. We have one more online we'll take. John McCall. John can you hear us? Was that a little snake there? What is that thing? Salamander. I believe. John can you hear us? I can. I'll try and get rid of the. We hear you. We hear you now John. You can hear me? Yes. And we see you now. The whole world. Great. All right. Now the gecko with the Irish shamrock in it is this thing that I use on Zooms so it shows up at different times. I'm certainly not going to repeat what has eloquently already. Been said by Kathy and Joan. I do want to talk a little bit procedurally. I think actually what was very useful was this history that I certainly did not know how explicit it was in the earlier planning document. Though I gather that that whole process was not as intense. And intentional as this one has been. I also, we discovered in a neighborhood meeting that there used to be down where we are at the end of Roanoke a whole set of buildings that got wiped out or removed. So I think it might be interesting to get the historical society, the county historical society. And to get some perspective on the last hundred years of how that land has been treated and its purpose. But I want to say in terms of where we are right now that it would, I guess I would say you have two paths that might be helpful in terms of your relations with a lot of your community. One would be to. As Kathy said, simply remove all of the references to agro tourism from the current document. And I'd argue that in terms of how it got into the document. I mean, I was at the neighborhood meeting up that way and the Riley Avenue one. And it certainly never came up in those meetings. I'm told that there was no discussion in the central advisory committee. I'm not sure if that's true. I'm not sure if that's true. I didn't have head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head of this. The first time, as Kathy said, that it shows up is on this December 13th, 2023 meeting. And the reaction, people writing the notes on the board and speaking, was overwhelmingly negative to it. So it's very unclear to me how it shows up and with whose endorsement, whose sponsorship, it shows up in the comprehensive plan. And I think the forensics of that probably ought to be discussed. So I would say the simplest, the cleanest thing may be, there's two options. One is just to withdraw all of the references to ag tourism and wait until after we have that hearing, or first have the discussion, and then have the hearing that it will potentially lead to. So that'd be one way to proceed. If you insist on going ahead with it tomorrow. But the other is that you might want to overnight and in the morning reconsider tomorrow. If the reason for doing it, this calendar of the 30 days, from one of the things that Mr. Howard said, it sounded like these calendars may have some flexibility. But if you're locked in, I would say, relatively speaking, giving people the extra time to find these documents and think about them and talk about them. And also, that that's, that's a reason to shift over to the September 4 date. But certainly, and if it has to be in the daytime, better in the daytime than to do it with only the six day notice and the not hidden, but hard to find documentation. So I think that's that is one of your options is to is to take all of it out or to postpone. The second is to postpone until the fourth if you can change the fourth. I mean, meetings move, you've moved the meetings around between daytime and evening, and they've not always been alternating. If you could make the fourth and evening meeting, then then that would be the other way of doing it. But I think in any case, there shouldn't be the inclusion of the meeting. of ag tourism language, given its history, it should not be in the comprehensive plan until after you've had at least this forum, where you really get a chance to listen to people and and get as much expertise out there as possible. And as I say, I involve the historical society maybe for the some expertise that none of us have. of history, it should not be in the comprehensive plan until after you've had at least this forum, where you really get a chance to listen to people and and get as much expertise out there as possible. And as I say, I involve the historical society maybe for the some expertise that none of us have. Thank you, john. Thank say quick. Indulge me in a short story of Deborah Conrad aquabuck. My goal of my childhood girlfriend just visited me from Florida. And while she was here we went to the four H camp in Riverhead. She attended that back in the early 70s. And while we were there. One of the administrators told us they were going to the river head. And while we were there, one of the administrators told us they were going to be extending an invitation to you guys to attend their 100th anniversary. I just want to encourage you to go to that, to look at the camp, and to also take a look at what's happening to the part of the camp that they don't have enough money to maintain. And if we as a town can somehow help that camp, it would be great. I mean... I toured the camp about three weeks ago. Yeah, it's sad. And they took me through the entire camp, and it was really quite interesting. It's amazing the alumni that goes back for years, like moms and dads who went there when they were young, their kids are there now. And it's like generational, because it goes, well, it's 100 years. That was the highlight of my girlfriend's visit, that we went to see the 4-H camp that she went to 50-some-odd years ago. So I encourage you, if you are all able to attend it. I have no association with the 4-H camp. Thank you. [transcription gap] I fell in love with it after I visited. Yeah, we did, too. The deputy supervisor and I went up there, and it was incredible. I hadn't been up there in years since I was up there on a call many, many years ago as a police officer. But the property is incredible, and the potential is unreal. Exactly. And it's helped so many kids. Right. I mean, they told me the kids are unplugged the whole time they're there. Oh, yeah. There's no phone. And they love it. They love being unplugged. Anyway, I just wanted to bring it up. Thank you. Great point. I'm glad you brought it up. It just broke us heart. Yeah. East Campus there is in shambles. Yeah. Houses falling down and stuff. It's such a shame. It is. It is. So hopefully we can, part of that 100-year celebration, too, is to alert and make awareness of the camp and the needs that it has and also looking for political monies and stuff from our representatives that can get funding to them for that site. Yeah, and Mr. Chiburz, I would also say that I've had a handful of conversations with Mr. Sandor, the executive director there, and have expressed to him that to the extent that the town is able, we would be willing to help them secure whatever that funding is if they need letters of recommendation assistance. Yeah. We're keeping our fingers crossed on that one. On our radar. COVID really hurt them. That's when things really took a dump. Yes, because they lost their horses. Yeah. Yeah, that really hurt them. And it's in Nassau County. Camp, by the way. Oh, is it? Yeah. Suffolk County's 4-H is in Peconic. That is Nassau County 4-H. It would be such a shame to see the property end up being sold because it can't be supported. Well, yeah, and then think of the number of houses that could be put on that property up there. We don't want that either. You know, it's a beautiful, beautiful piece of property. So thank you for bringing that up. Appreciate it. Thank you. Barbara, did you want to come up? Thank you. Good evening, members of the board, ladies and gentlemen. Barbara Blass, James Wharton. We do have a lot of treasures. Barbara, bring the mic down. We do have a lot of treasures in the town. We've got a lot of people watching from home. Okay. All right, here we go. I realize the agritourism amendment is still a work in progress, and another version may or may not emerge after you have the public forum. But frankly, I hope it dies on the vine, personal opinion. However, should you forge ahead? With an amendment to provide for agritourism resorts, please keep the following in mind. New York State's Seeker Guidance Document for Local Officials, which I emailed you last month, contains the following relevant questions and answers illustrating how such an amendment must be analyzed under Seeker. It starts on page 11. The question, are there differences for Seeker purposes between a zoning change sought by a project space, sponsor and one initiated by the municipality. In this case, you're the municipality and you're initiating this amendment. When a zoning change is initiated by the municipality on its own recommendation or at the request of residents, but no specific development project is planned, the rezoning itself is the whole action and is classified as a direct action of local government. When a zoning change is a direct action and no physical changes or projects are proposed, what should be considered in the Seeker Review? The Seeker Review should consider the relative impacts based upon the proposed changes. In other words, the analysis should compare the relative impacts of land use and development based upon the existing zoning and the proposed zoning. For example, the rezoning of agricultural land to a commercial use or residential use might significantly affect community character, aesthetics, traffic, stormwater runoff. A municipality should consider the most intensive uses allowed under the proposed zoning to judge potential impacts. Keep in mind that the rezoning itself may be more significant from the standpoint of Seeker than the individual permitting of projects. The Zoning Change Program should consider the full impact of existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing [transcription gap] existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing [transcription gap] existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing existing actions for large scale or significant changes. It's my opinion that should you go that route, the current generic environmental impact statement never did analyze the agritourism. In fact, the definition is still not even in the code. But beyond that, I think it's a very critical time for you to be sort of playing with the SECR rules. And I don't mean that, I just mean it's, you should focus on what the guidelines say as to how to handle this kind of rezoning. It's not just legislation as we heard, it's just legislation and we're not triggering any shovels in the ground. And individual applicants are not responsible for the environmental reviews, so it's not the applicant that's going to come along and do any kind of other large scale, significant large scale transportation studies or anything like that. And to the point specifically about the bluff area, I know that they zeroed in or the code zeroes in on a restriction there. But your comp plan currently, the updated version makes a recommendation and I know we've heard, oh, there's existing 219, chapter 219 that regulates all of that and it's all in place. The current updated plan makes a recommendation that the town has to revisit that plan because it is not any, it's not sufficient any longer. The bluff line itself has moved significantly. And while there has been some updates, there's point of inflection, there's new things that you measure from 500 feet from what, those things, the current plan actually makes the recommendation to you as a town board, please revisit that. I'll head over to you next. Thank you so much. I'll head over to you next. [transcription gap] You know, the purpose for agritourism is obviously to generate revenue for the town. We're trying to generate revenue for the town. We know that the zoning right now calls for two-acre residential, but that contemplates a problem in the school system. And rightfully so. Clearly, we really don't have room for more students. But, you know, my wife has been tolerating me for 50 years. And she has been involved in hearing some of the things that I've been saying at town board meetings. And it came to her an idea that we could actually do something without adding to the student headcount. Now, you guys have been talking about give us some ideas. Here's my wife's idea. How about an over 55 community? That would not... That would not allow school-age children on a permanent basis. Imagine that. But would have liberal visitation rights. So that people that have the ability to purchase an upscale condo, townhome, something like that, could form with a developer, let's say 120 units that they could put on that 30 acres. Put a nice area in there for swimming pools and for pickleball. And for all of those things, pay a premium. Because walking to the beach is a lot better than walking to Main Street. Nothing against Main Street. But it's just a different view. And it would also help the farmers with TDRs. If we're talking about 100-acre parcel of land, which is probably would come out to zone out to somewhere around 40 houses, we could triple it. Put 120 units in there. These are people that are well off. Because it's going to be an upscale condo. It's going to be an upscale community. They'll be able to pay the taxes that are required on the tax rolls. They wouldn't add one student to our school system. And they would add well-to-do people in our community. I think it adds revenue. It gives the farmers a tremendous TDR potential. If we're talking about 120 units instead of 40 under the density provisions, I don't know what the FAR ratio is. I know Barbara would know that. But I don't know what that FAR ratio is. But if you're adding 120 units on something that only calls for 40, that's 80 units that these developers are paying TDRs on. It's good people that have the money to do it. It's a wonderful environment for them to go to. And what a responsible way to adding revenue to our headcount and good neighbors to our headcount. Obviously, the best thing we would want to do is to keep it all pristine. But we also understand that there is a price to pay for open space. And the residents here have been paying a price for that for many, many years. This is a way of us deloading the burden of taxation and still maintaining our rural corridor while adding money for the TDRs and not burdening our schools. That's a compliment to Barbara Foley, not Mike Foley. I figured I mentioned it before tomorrow. Thank you very much. Thanks, Mike.
I just have one quick question. Joan Sear from Jamesport. One of my friends said that they called Mr. Wooten. I think they phoned Mr. Wooten this week to ask about submitting comments or input for the public forum and was told that the deadline to submit that was this Friday. And I just want to, I think there is a misunderstanding, but I want to clear it up. It must be because I don't know what you're talking about. So the public forum, September 18th. I guess somebody wanted to submit a question or, and they called your office to ask about doing that. And they were told the deadline to submit materials for the public forum was this Friday. But she didn't obviously speak to me, so. There's no deadline for anything. There's no deadline. Okay, there's no deadline for anything. If people. Well, there's a deadline for town board correspondents. Right. For town board meeting, but not for the forum. Right. And that goes, and that's a rolling deadline for each meeting. If somebody wants to write to the town board. Yeah. Correct. Right. But there's no deadline related to the September 18th. The town board is always 10 a.m. on Friday before a meeting. I don't put anything more in. I think whoever answered the phone in your office maybe didn't understand the person's question. I didn't either, so that's good. Okay. Probably made note he was there at the time and I didn't know the answer. Well, there you go. We always blame. Blame Bob. Yeah. That's it. Thank you. I'll have to remember that. Blame Bob. Blame Bob. There you go. All right. Anybody online? Nobody online? Seeing nobody else here. I have one final food for thought that I just want to say regarding the agritourism. I have not received one letter in support of this from anybody. We've received hundreds and hundreds of letters, emails and texts against it. I do not have one letter. I have one letter in support of it. Have a great night, everybody. You've got 600 and you've got 670 signatures. No, no, no, no. Those aren't letters. Those are signatures. We still have to do a CDA meeting. I have not received one letter. And I truly agree with the comments earlier about those signatures and how it was worded. Didn't match up to what was actually should have been asked. So I don't count those signatures. And many were for out of town. So it's just I'm not, you know, I'm not. It's not a secret. I don't support this endeavor. I think it's I like the idea, like the theory. But the way it is currently, I'm not supportive. Oh, sure. I couldn't get the last word. And now you have to definitely can after me. Talk to you, church and greater Calvert and Civic Association president. Just a small, helpful addition to what Mr. Wooten has already done for the transparency in the agenda by adding the letters. And printing them out inside lots of trees. Yes. Yeah. So while I was trying to count up all those those letters, which I came to a higher number than you do, because I counted the ones where you name the person. There's a lot of me. I'm asking you to put the name there for those. So I'm asking that not only include continue to include them in the very long document that you do, but to hyperlink in the agenda. That way we can just touch on it. We can see it and hyperlink. And the other and each of the results as well. So we don't have to scroll through. We want to see Rezo from tonight. 727. We just touch it on the hyperlink on the agenda. It jumps to the past all the correspondence. I can do. I'm sorry. I could do that. I'd be so helpful. Thank you so much. Any time to get past it. I have no more words. You got the last word. No, you don't. We're going to see. Go ahead. Grace. Grace. It wouldn't be a meeting without Grace speaking. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Come on, Grace. Change your subject. Change your subject. Because Grace won the big race this past weekend. She wants everybody to know it at the drag strip. Grace Swift, Calvertin. I also want to congratulate you, Tim, for going to the hardware store. I think that program is going to be wonderful. Can't wait for wherever you go. I just want to tell you, when I first moved out here, I used to collect the old radio flyer red wagon. There was no other stores then. I knew where I could get parts in Lake Grand Conkama where I came from, Agnew and Taylor, the old hardware store. I remember that. Thank you. I didn't have a full head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head head minute I asked the guy behind the counter for a part for the wagon, right behind down it came he had everything. And still does. And I got busy. I collected and I did more wagons. And it was, you can get anything in there. You can go in with the stupidest thing and they'll figure it out for you. The back of the building is about as big as the front store part. And when I worked there it was difficult to know somebody would come in for a part and I'd have to go to Tim Jr. at the time and say, I don't even know what this part is. And he's, oh yeah, come here, I'll show you. And in the back you go and there it is and it's like amazing. Those days are... They had a box for everything up behind the counter there. And it was amazing. So I think more people should be aware of our old run stores. Yep. Every Saturday. Are you going to give us a clue when the next one is? We are, we're working on it. We have a whole list of where we're going to go and items we're putting together. We've got some video already. It's like, keep it a surprise until we show it. But yeah, we're working on them constantly. Yeah, well I think that's very good. Congratulations. Thank you, Grace. I appreciate it. Okay.
You fell out of your chair. Okay, I'd like to make a motion to... Oh, I forgot. We still have CDA meetings. Yes, we do. That's right. I'd like to make a motion to close the town board meeting and open up the CDA meeting. Second. All in favor? Aye. Okay, town board meeting is closed. We will now open up the CDA meeting. And Ms. Dawn Thomas. Good evening to the community. Good evening, everyone. I'm the director of the community development agency. Another exciting meeting with zero resolutions. So we have open comments on CDA matters only if there are any and that is all. Okay. Do we have anybody who would like to comment on an open matter for the CDA? There's 25 on CDA. And we have nobody online? Oh boy. 10. We have 10 online? He's kidding. You better be kidding. We have nobody online. Okay. So we have a motion to close the meeting. Okay. And we need a motion and a second to do that. So moved. Second. Waski. Yes. Merrifield. Yes. Kern. Yes. Rothwell. Yes. Hubbard. Yes. Okay. Sorry about making you wait and I should have run the CDA. It's quite all right. I would be here anyway. And it's all good. Well, thank you for being here and hanging out. Thank you guys. Yep. Appreciate it. Okay. We are closed and I hope everybody has a great weekend and enjoy some of the great events that we have. Thank you. And I hope you enjoy some of the good stuff that's going on this weekend. There's plenty to do in the town. And be safe and be healthy. Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you all. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Easter.
Thank you.