Village Board Notes: Mayor unveils next step for energy park
Greenport Mayor David Nyce continued his push to construct an eco-friendly energy park at Clark’s Beach during a Village Board work session Monday evening, requesting the village board’s approval to apply for the project’s first preliminary planning grant from the Regional Economic Development Council.
The grant would fund a study to measure the feasibility of building the proposed solar and wind-generating system on 8.7-acres of village-owned property on the Long Island Sound.
The plan calls for combining wind turbines and solar arrays, generating two to four megawatts of electrical power, which the mayor says could make the village energy independent and stabilize residents’ electric bills.
Mr. Nyce first presented plans of the eco-friendly energy park in March and has since been rallying public support for the idea.
Grant applications are due by August 17.
Board considers alcohol consumption on public property
Board members are set to vote on a regulation that formally would allow the consumption of alcohol on public property during special events. The resolution is an amendment to the Mass Public Assembly Permit that would authorize private organizations to serve alcohol at Mitchell Park.
The intent is to allow guests of the marina to use the park as a reception area, the mayor said. The amendment would still prohibit the sale of alcohol and would restrict the events to an enclosed area, he said.
All of the events are subject to approval of the village board regardless of its passage.
Public hearing set to regulate rentals
Village board members have set a public hearing on a potential law that would set rental regulations for residential properties.
The proposal aims at eliminating illegal apartments within residential homes, which the board believes encourages the deterioration of the Village’s housing stock – leading to blight, excessive traffic, parking problems, an overburden on municipal services and general public health and safety concerns.
The law would establish minimum quality standards for habitation, including partitioned bedrooms and separate entrances, kitchens, electric meters and cable lines.
Homeowners that wish to lease space in their homes would be required to obtain a rental permit. A five-member board appointed by the mayor and approved by the Board of Trustees will review the application.
Those found in violation could face fines of up to $5,000 or imprisonment.
The hearing is scheduled during the board’s next regular meeting on June 24 at 6 p.m. at the Third Street fire station.
Board members to vote on Sterling Street parking ban
Parking may soon be prohibited on a portion of Sterling Street’s eastern side.
The ban would stretch only about 50 feet on the waterfront side of Sterling Street and would eliminate two to three parking spaces.
Village administrator Dave Abatelli believes cars parked along the waterfront where the road curves have caused unsafe conditions for southbound travelers.
Opponents argue that a parking restriction would make it more difficult for them to access their boats docked in local marinas.
Board members are also set to vote on an amendment to local law during the June 24 meeting.
Stricter requirements for Hollywood filming?
Greenport has become a hot spot for Hollywood filming in recent years, prompting board members to lay the groundwork on new regulations.
The board is looking to require stricter rules to govern filming to help mitigate traffic and parking concerns, while still enticing Hollywood to bring its projects to Greenport. Members agreed to work with the village code committee to establish the regulations.
“If we don’t encourage it in a controlled way, residents might start to get upset,” Mr. Nyce said.
The proposal comes on the heels of the filming of HBO’s hit series ‘Girls’ in the village.
