Orient man gets approval for two-lot subdivision on Orchard Street
After seven years in the planning process, Patrick Guadagno of Orient received approval from the town Planning Board Monday afternoon for a two-lot subdivision of his 10-acre Orchard Street property.
Mr. Guadagno initially proposed a four-lot subdivision, but later agreed to reduce it to two lots. One will be 1.5 acres and the other will be 8.5 acres with a six-acre open space area.
At a final public hearing on the project Monday afternoon, Glynnis Berry, an architect who lives next door, voiced concerns on constructing the house in the center of the farm field, a move she said echoed failed planning decisions in Southampton Town, where farm fields are now dotted with mansions.
“Traditionally, Orient was developed on streets,” she said. “Now we’re starting to do flag lots and building in the interior. It’s as if, instead of admiring a mountain from your house on the street, you build a house on the face of a mountain.”
Other residents were concerned about what types of uses would be allowed on the open space. Planner Mark Terry said that agriculture is allowed on the property, with the exception of livestock farms, and there’s a small building area for an agricultural building outlined in the plans.
Planning Director Heather Lanza said at a work session Monday that, since the proposed driveway for the lot is only 15 feet wide, Mr. Guadagno would not be able to have a commercial agricultural operation, such as a winery, on the property.
Read more Planning Board news in Thursday’s issue of The Suffolk Times.
