Southold hamlet residents have their say on zoning issues

Southold Town will unveil interactive maps online that detail current zoning, one of the ideas discussed at last Thursday’s informational meeting at Town Hall. The maps are expected to be available in about two months, according to planning director Heather Lanza.

Over 20 people attended the meeting  to discuss Southold hamlet’s zoning and land use as part of the Southold Town Comprehensive Plan.

Seeking more public input to develop the next chapter of its 2020 comprehensive plan, Southold Town is hosting seven mobile meetings to discuss land use in each hamlet.

The community meetings are meant to encourage local participation in the town’s comprehensive plan process, as well as to educate the public about the importance of establishing zoning district and land use guidelines prior to the chapter being drafted.

Some of the ideas kicked around Thursday included: looking for new sanitation methods — like decentralized sewering instead of traditional sewering — in order to allow increased development in the downtown area, providing flexibility in zoning codes to help new businesses, creating a variety of housing options throughout each hamlet — especially for seniors, and drafting a transfer of development program, known as TDR, to encourage density in designated areas while preserving open space or other lands.

Ms. Lanza said the goal is to have a draft of the comprehensive plan completed this fall. The town will then host a second round of public meetings to discuss the document, she said.

Ms. Lanza estimates the final plan could be adopted in 2016.

Remaining meetings include:

Cutchogue
Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Cutchogue East Elementary School

Orient
Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m.
Poquatuck Hall

New Suffolk
Saturday, June 28 at 10 a.m.
New Suffolk Elementary School

For more information or to submit ideas and comments, contact Ms. Lanza at (631) 765-1938 or [email protected].