Southold Trustees to discuss controversial Oki-Do plan
The proposed Shizen Hotel Wellness Center and Spa, also known locally as the Oki-Do, is up for a public hearing Wednesday night at the Southold Town Board of Trustees meeting.
The proposal calls for 114 guest rooms, a 195-seat restaurant and bar and a second private restaurant with up to 99 additional seats, 27 spa suites, a pool, three gazebos, a gift shop and a man-made lake, The Suffolk Times reported in September 2014.
In total, 28 buildings are proposed for the site.
East Marion resident John Kent, who lives near the property, opposes the project because he believes the hotel is “absolutely unsuitable for this area.”
Mr. Kent is expected address the Southold Town Board of Trustees at Wednesday’s public hearing and submit a petition signed by more than 100 people who also oppose the plan.
“We want the public to know whats going on,” he said in an interview Tuesday, adding many people who signed the petition indicated they’re concerned about how the abandon property will be cleaned.
Mr. Kent said he believes the high-density development will be a “disaster for the community” because it will pollute the environment and waterways, as well as cause massive traffic jams.
Wednesday’s public hearing is expected to focus the developer’s wetland and coastal erosion permits. Those are required because the developer is seeking to replace over 1,000 feet of existing bulkheading and install a 505-linear-foot rock revetment, as well as dredge the existing channel between the boat basin and Gardiners Bay and remove over 4,000 cubic yards of sediment.
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in town hall.
With Joe Pinciaro
Photo: A holistic center known as Oki-Do is proposed for this former oyster processing plant in East Marion. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo, file)
