Southold’s new comprehensive plan moving forward
Southold planners have finalized the second chapter of the new comprehensive plan, which covers community character, and will have a preliminary draft of the third chapter, on parks and recreation, ready on Monday.
Town special projects coordinator Phillip Beltz, who is preparing the parks and recreation chapter, said residents at three focus group meetings indicated they’d like to see more cultural programming and for the town to provide an indoor gymnasium and pool complex.
“Ninety-eight percent of adults and youth want a recreation complex,” he said.
Mr. Russell asked planners who worked on the second chapter if they would like to see any of the recommendations in the second chapter implemented sooner.
Planner Mark Terry said several grants recently became available through the state Environmental Facilities Corp. for revitalizing waterfront properties.
Planning Board member Don Wilcenski said the town needs to do more to reign in agritourism, and to help ensure that people who visit the vineyards and farmstands participate in the local economy in other ways.
The town convened a special events committee last year comprised of members of the business, agriculture and winery communities to discuss events on properties throughout town. That committee is still working on a draft of potential changes to Southold’s special events laws.
“I don’t think it’s really been as productive as we hoped,” said Town Supervisor Scott Russell. He added that he removed himself from that committee because his brother, a restaurant owner, is a member.
