New Hope For Sports East, Possible Location Found: Supervisor

SOUTHOLD, NY — It may be a happy ending for scores of North Fork residents who want to see their dream of Sports East become a reality.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Wednesday that he recently signed a contract for property the board thinks would be an excellent site for the location of Sports East.

Russell said he's met with developer Paul Pawlowski, "who thinks the property would be a good location, too," he said.

Because the acquisition has not taken place, Russell said he cannot discuss the location or purchase price.

"However, it is centrally located which would be convenient to all of the residents of Southold Town. It is also large enough to accommodate the facility Mr. Pawlowski envisioned. The property itself provides a good opportunity for the town whether a recreational facility is constructed or not; however, the town board is committed to working with Mr. Pawlowski to make his dream of a family-based recreational and athletic facility a reality," Russell said.

When asked about the possibility of a new site, Pawlowski said, "potentially, yes." The supervisor reached out to him, he said. "He mentioned the site, which was great, and we said we would definitely have interest in that site as well," Pawlowski said.

After months of deliberation, in September, the Southold Town zoning board of appeals rendered a decision on Sports East, upholding a notice of disapproval and putting the brakes on the plan.

ZBA Chair Leslie Weisman said the notice of disapproval, which said the sports facility was not a permitted use on the parcel's zoning, was upheld.

The ZBA's decision came after the town building inspector issued a notice of disapproval in April, 2017; a public hearing was held, with scores of residents coming out in support of the much-needed recreational facility and others questioning its location on Main Road in Mattituck and raising concerns over traffic, density and quality of life.

The notice stated that the proposed use, as applied for, was not a permitted use in the R-80, or residential zoning district; the property is located at 9300 New York State Route 25 in Mattituck.

"Today was a really bad day for our community," Pawlowski said, at the time. "The Sports East team has no choice but to move on. We have been left powerless. We have spent two years and a lot of money on this and can't not continue. It is now up to the town officials to get this done for our community as it is needed and that is all that is important."

"Thank you everyone that supported this project and most importantly, to my partners," he said.

Russell spoke out in September about the Sports East proposal — and said if the zoning board of appeals failed to rule in favor of the project moving forward, he'd consider a land swap or other alternatives to keep the plan for a recreational facility, one which he says has his "unequivocal support," in Southold Town.

Resident Mindy Ryan, upon hearing the news, said, "I'm crushed by this decision."

The problem that had existed involved whether the facility would be allowed on residential zoning. At the former proposed site, a membership club would be allowed, while a recreational facility would not.

"Zoning is not a popularity contest," Russell said.

Russell said from the outset, his position has not changed. Partner Joe Slovak, he said, came to him two years ago to discuss the plan, before an application was pending, and Russell said he told him "difficult" to site that type of facility on residential zoning. "They think differently and that's their right," he said.

But should the zoning prove insurmountable, Russell had said he and the town would work to find another location for the proposed facility.

A crowd turned out in August, 2017 to speak out on an application for the proposed Sports East facility — with many residents imploring zoning board of appeals to green light the plan, and saying it's critically needed.

Others expressed concerns that the intended use was not appropriate for Main Road in Mattituck.

Most recently, the application was back before the town with a new addition to the plan — a proposed second, outdoor swimming pool was pitched.

The Southold Town zoning board of appeals held a public hearing after applicants for the Sports East proposal, which has been before the town for months, asked for a request for interpretation after the town building inspector issued the notice of disapproval in April.

Weisman, said at the public hearing that the sole purpose of the hearing was to determine if the notice of disapproval should be overturned or upheld.

In September, Russell said he supported Pawlowski's plan to build Sports East "100 percent;" Southold, he said desperately needs the facility.

When he first became supervisor, Russell said he looked at the prospect of a community pool, something that proved too expensive. A public private partnership, he said, might not be a solution.
But, Russell said, "if that site doesn't work, I will make it my top priority to work with Paul to find another location quickly" so he can commence building as soon as possible.

Russell also said Pawlowski has spent money on a process "that hasn't been fair" to him. "He shouldn't have been able to get so far down the original" path of the application "without issues being addressed in the very beginning. These are issues that need to be addressed early in the process, not late." Expenditures thus far need to be factored into the equation, Russell said.

"There's no one in town government that opposes this. They all support the facility," Russell said.

And, he added, the same has been true with the public supporting the idea of the facility — with the focus of opposition centering on the location.

Every decision of the ZBA "has to be thorough, because you don't want unintended consequences," Russell said.

Russell has said he has "a deep commitment" to working with the Sports East partners "to make it happen. If not there, than somewhere. Southold needs it desperately. I have kids, I know how much their lives would be enriched by having this type of facility," he said. "But zoning is designed to remove subjectivity from the process. That's the whole reason for it."

The supervisor said he could speak for the town and a "commitment" on his part to work quickly, should the ZBA not rule to move forward, to find another location.

"The issue has always been the location. Not the developer. Not the proposal," Russell said. "It's a zoning issue."

(Patch photo by Lisa Finn of Paul Pawlowski at a prior meeting on Sports East).