North Forkers Speak On Both Sides Of 'Controversial' Boat Storage Plan

MATTITUCK, NY — The public turned out in force Monday night at Southold Town Hall to voice their opinions on both sides of a controversial proposal pitched by Strong's Marine to build two new boat storage buildings on their Mattituck parcel by the inlet.

On March 13, the Southold Town Planning Board voted to accept the developer's revised draft environmental impact statement as adequate for public review. The public hearing was held to discuss the revised DEIS.

The plan for the Strong's Marine storage buildings, which would be sited at 3430 Mill Road in Mattituck, would include the construction of two boat storage facilities, one at 52,500 square feet and the other at 49,000 square feet, located on 32.6 acres in the Marine II— and R-80, or residential — zoning districts where there are currently 69,245 square feet feet of existing boatyard buildings.

Some Mattituck residents have raised concerns recently about a proposal for the two new boat storage buildings in Mattituck they say could impact the environment and their quality of life.

Jeff Strong, owner of Strong's Marine, has spoken to Patch in past years to clarify the issues and outline the proposal.

At the hearing, residents spoke passionately on both sides of the issue: Environmentalists decried the clearing of forest land and 643 mature trees, as well as wildlife habitats; others raised concerns about traffic and trucks disrupting the area roadways, as well as fears of flooding after the trees were cleared. Those in support of the plan reminded that the project is allowed under the parcel's zoning, with no variance required, and said property owners have rights that need to be upheld. Many lauded the Strong family as good neighbors who would uphold the tenets of the North Fork's bucolic quality of life. In addition, members of the commercial fishing community came out in solidarity, expressing the need for the boat storage as well as the jobs the plans would produce and the benefits to locals and tourists alike.

Some said the short-term land clearing would improve the long-term economic forecast for the property.

James Hinsch of Laurel said the Strong famiily had been well known for more than 40 years. "They are people of integrity. They have a commitment to the North Fork." The plan, he said, "is ambitous, not reckless."

Yacht storage for vessels is part of the town's comprehensive plan for expanded maritime use, he said. He added that the project would mean long-term jobs for young people who are now forced to leave the North Fork and help the business remain a working boat yeard.

"We've seen many businesses on the North Fork sold to out of towners," he said. "This is one of our own, a family-owned business nthat wants to expand capacity to meet a need."

Anne Sherwood Pundyk, an artist who lives less than a mile from the proposed plan, said the DEIS does not adequately convey the "full significance of the visual impact" on the area, as well as the community characters; she said a "gaping hill behind the building where the woodland" will be removed is an issue.

Pundyk said she supports "Save Mattituck Inlet," a group of residents who organized to voice concerns. In the past, Pundyk said it was with a "mix of horror and personal disappointment" that she learned of the proposed project, which is about a quarter-mile from her home.

"The size of the project is completely out of character for the Mattituck Inlet," she said. "Nearly 500 trees will be destroyed along with their understory habitats for flora and fauna. The 134,000 cubic yards of sand excavated will not only destabilize the adjacent public open space woodland preserve, but promote erosion, affect runoff, and potentially impact groundwater and local well water."

She worries about trucks on residential streets used by pedestrians, bicyclists and school buses, she said.

Terry Boyle Romanelli said supported the expansion of the business and said it would prove a boon to the economy. "Change is inevitable and we need to manage change but we need to respect and support the businesses that have gotten us here, that offer recreational opportunities and tourists and help the community to thrive."

Anthony Martignetti, who is renovating the Old Mill Inn nearby, said he supports the project and said if a hotel was built, which it could, be, as of right, it would mean even more traffic woes. He said his structural engineers have told him not to be concerned about vibrations, something others raised fears about.

Angela Devito of Riverhead said the impacts on Riverhead would be considerable and haven't been adequately explored. To that end, she said, there are 17 traffic lights the trucks would need to traverse with massive loads, including a traffic circle near Peconic Bay Medical Center. Riverhead will face considerable issues, she said. "We were sort of an afterthought," she said.

Jerry Adler said, of the town's desire to honor and preserve the area's maritime history, "This is the wrong way to go about it."

He said Strong has a well-known history of good work in the community. "There are ways to enable him to preserve his legacy without digging up an entire hillside in the process," he said.

Others discussed the beauty of the Mill Road Preserve and the animals that will be lost, including endangered species, calling the project a symbol of "greed and disregard for wildlife."

Commerical fisherman Phil Karlin said he and others in his industry rely on Strong's Marine to serve and store their vessels; without the businesses they'd have to travel up to 30 miles. He said he loves wildlife but said there are many other areas with natural habitats on the North Fork and in Riverhead, "acres and acres of woodland."

He urged the planning board to "support" a famly that's been a support for his industry and a good neighbor.

John Sinning, also a commercial fisherman, agreed — as did others who said the project will help fishermen and captains and extend the season, and jobs, beyond the summer months. Boat owners also said many marines are "bought out" by the wealthy and Strong's Marina gives the opportunity for working mariners to keep their vessels.

Local landscaper Dave Cichanowicz said he believes in preservation; he remembers the North Fork's rich history. But he advocated for the Strong family. With the pandemic, he said, "We got invaded by a lot of people that enjoy our beautiful area. Sure, there will be hiccups and problems but if anyone should be leading the charge, it should be them."

Cichanowicz, a member of the Southold Town tree committee, said the Strongs have assured new trees would be planted across town. "Everybody says 'not in my backyard or next door,'" he said. "The solution is to buy the property and keep it the way you want." The Strong property, he said, is zoned for the project; he said he fully supports the effort.

Stephen Boscola of Save Mattituck Inlet said his home is literally "encased" by Strong's property; he implored the planning board to review the project carefully. He expressed serious concenrs about the project, which he said will "upend our lives all day, five days a week," and questioned the number of jobs to be provided. He worried about what would happen if less jobs evolved, or none at all; he also questioned what would happen if the project was abandoned in an uncertain economy. He was also very concerned about vibrations and their impact to his home. He asked the board to reject the proposal.

Beth Liebowitz, a resident of Mattituck who lives on the inlet, said her concerns center of the demoliton of woods and hillside. "These are 90-year-old trees that won't be replaced by new trees," she said. She also had questions about zoning designations, which she said were "inconsistent" in the DEIS, especially the boundaries between the M2 and R80 designations.

Jeff Pundyk said Mattituck residents are "being asked to invest our quality of life, our safety on roads, our resilience, our property values and our future." He expressed concerns about traffic, road safety, fire safety and degradation of community character and also worried about what would happen if the plans were never finished. He also said there was no assurance jobs created would go to North Forkers.

Mark Haubner of the North Fork Environmental Council said there was no benefit to the community, who would lose a 50-foot bluff and almost 650 trees. The loss of a contiguous habitat has much more negative impacts than most realize, he said; he also compared the size of the storage buildings as "almost as large as Costco." He said in the face of climate change, the demnds for stringent stormwater controls are critical and worried about the impacts of a "barren hill."

Others who are working to save EPCAL in Riverhead implored the planning board to consider impacts on Riverhead's roads and traffic circle.

Mary McDonnell, who lives a quarter mile from the Mill Road Preserve, walks the area daily and spoke about the "special and unspoiled nature of this part of Southold. To listen to the birdsong on a spring morning is to be in awe." The town spent thousands in 2002 to preserve the parcel, she reminded.

She said the boat storage plan would destroy nesting areas and habitats and present "sheer chaos" during construction; she urged all to go take a walk at the preserve. "If you experience it yourselves, it will help inform your decision," she said.

Others said the truck would not destroy the roads. "The economy is built on business and free enterprise," one Cutchogue man said. "People have rights on private property."

Bob Van Bourgondien of Bourgondien Nursery said his family moved to the area 50 years ago. "I'm a big believer in property rights, "he said. "Most people have an aversion to change," he said, but said while some are worried about truck traffic, "in a short period of time it will be a memory, history."

Another resident who lives near the property said he used to store his boat at Strong's but no longer does due to the loud music emanating from events. He said owner Jeff Strong reached out to him and said he would take steps to mitigate noise by aiming the speakers back to the property, but that solution only lasted a few weeks and now the problem exists again.

"If that's an indication to concerns raised by the DEIS we're all in line for some great disappointment," he said. He also said removing six acres of old, hardwood trees, more than 600, would be counter to the town's mission to preserving the environment.

Farmer Doug Cooper said the Strong family has a right to do what they want with their property; the parcel is zoned for the expansion, he said.

Another resident offered a different view, saying she does not own a yacht. She owns a 21-foot boat and her children have grown up on the water, thanks to Strong's, who got her boat out early this year so her son, who is going away all summer, can enjoy it. The community, she said, should show the Strong family "some respect."

Toqui Terchun of the Greater Calverton Civic Association asked if there was an alternative way to help the Strong family "without this very controversial project."

Denise Geis of Mattituck added: "Once this project starts, it can never be reversed. You're destroying something that can never be fixed."

Steve Mudd of Mudd Vineyards spoke in support of the project; Randy Wade of Greenport said the development is "exactly the opposite" of what residents want.

In 2020, Strong spoke with Patch clarify some misinformation he said the "Save the Mattituck Inlet" group had shared.

First, he said, the proposed building height is 45 feet, not 55 feet, as the group stated; the structures are designed to be built into the elevated sand area, allowing for minimal view impact.

As for those raising environmental concerns, Strong pointed to advancements taken to protect natural resources.

Strong said the project will allow for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Floating Upwell System, or FLUPSY, a shellfish nursery growing system, at the marina that will help to keep the waterways clean.

"We worked with the CCE marine program to transform a portion of our marina into a shellfish nursery that enabled approximately 15 million clams to be grown at our marina over the last three growing seasons —June to October 2018, 2019 and 2020 — through the Long Island Shellfish Restoration Project in partnership with CCE Marine," Strong said. "Each of the eight FLUSPYs we hosted enable up to 600 gallons of water a minute to be passed through the millions of juvenile clams housed in these systems, leading to improved water quality. The Mattituck Inlet has proven to be the best location for growth rate in Southold Town. The FLUPSY site at Strong’s Yacht Center is integral to shellfish restoration on Long Island and will continue in partnership with CCE for many years to come to support the health of the Mattituck Inlet."

In addition, Strong said, the project will allow for commercial fishing vessels on the Inlet to continue to dock, service, and store with the business and remain viable.

Plans for the project call for water runoff to be significantly improved over what exists today and septic systems to be improved over what is currently in place, he said. To that end, Strong said, Suffolk County Water Authority water will be brought in, eliminating the need for well water for potable uses.

The project also means that the Strong family, with longtime roots in the community, will remain firmly focused on growing the business. "This project and investment will allow this marina to remain a marina for many years to come and not develop the Marine II-zoned property for housing," he said.

Also, Strong added, it's important to note that the parcel on which the expansion will take place is zoned MII, one of the few sites in Southold Town specifically designated in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for such marine uses.

In addition, Strong’s Marine provides a pump out boat that services seven days a week in season to be proactive in pumping out boats that visit the inlet, he added.

Strong assured that his vision for the future of Mattituck was similar to that of residents who want to protect the area they love.

"We are neighbors," he said. "It’s not like 'us against them.' We want the same things that they want."

The Strong family has been in Mattituck since 1965, he said; they own two homes on the property where the buildings are proposed to be built. "It's not like we're somebody that's not local and not affected. From a personal and professional perspective, we want and need clean water just as much as everyone else does. We have three grandkids who are boating and swimming on that inlet — we get it. We are not going to do anything to jeopardize our grandkids."

Asked about tree removal, Strong said: "Do we love taking down trees? Of course not. But it is MII-zoned property...and we'll take steps to minimize the impacts.

For information on the project from Strong's,click here. To read more about Save Mattituck Inlet's stance, click here.

The planning board adjourned the matter until June 5 to discuss issues raised.