Village notebook: Oyster farmer’s wetlands permit approved
The Greenport Village Board has unanimously approved a local oyster farmer’s wetlands permit that allows the business to build a new dock for storage equipment.
Widow’s Hole Oyster Company owner Michael Osinski is now allowed to build a 140-foot dock in Greenport Harbor near the bay side of his property on Flint Street, just south of the North Ferry, to store some of his equipment.
Prior to the vote, Trustee Julia Robins expressed concern about the oyster farm’s expansion plan because the business is located in a residential neighborhood. During a recent public hearing on Mr. Osinski’s request, some neighbors said that although they supported the idea of more oyster farmers in Greenport, they took issue with the business expanding closer to their properties.
Deputy Mayor George Hubbard said Mr. Osinski’s intentions of moving his company’s primary operation to the dock in the bay was “clear in the application.”
“The diagram shows that is where everything is going,” he said.
The Village Board then agreed to amend the permit, clarifying that the oyster farm will be “limited to those activities already permitted by the Village of Greenport and that any alteration of the permit via the Army Corp of Engineers the Village Board would be allowed to further review the permit.”
“It means that what you were already permitted to do, you can keep doing,” Mayor David Nyce said to Mr. Osinski after the vote.
PET WASTE LAW PUBLIC HEARING SET
The Village Board is looking into the feasibility of creating new pet waste regulations.
Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said before Monday night’s meeting that the code committee is in the process of drafting the law aimed at reducing nitrogen loading and meeting MS4 water quality standards. The legislation would require pet owners to curb their animals on village-owned properties.
“This is just part of the process that we would eventually have to do anyway, so we’re dealing with it ahead of time,” Ms. Phillips said.
The Village Board has scheduled a Jan. 27 public hearing to discuss the proposed law.
In June 2012, Southold Town adopted its own pet waste law, which included all animals considered as domestic pets, such as dogs, cats, horses, swine, donkeys and goats. Under the town’s law, violators face a fine of up to $250 for each offense.
VILLAGE DEFINES ‘FAMILY’
The Greenport Village Board has approved a zoning code amendment that defines “family.”
The amendment matches the definition of family listed in the village’s recently approved rental law, which states a family is comprised of “one or more persons occupying a dwelling unit as a single nonprofit housekeeping unit. More than five persons, exclusive of domestic servants, not related by blood, marriage or adoption do not constitute a family.”
