Orient Residents Set to Vote to Shape Their Own Future

ORIENT, NY — Orient residents have decided that they're not content to leave long range planning to Southold Town officials alone.

So said a release put out Monday by Robert Hanlon, president of the Orient Association, detailing a new "Orient Plan," which represents "Orient Rising," he said.

"Believing that their small hamlet has unique needs that set it apart from other areas in the town, residents of Orient have been working for over a year to shape their own destiny," the release said.

While Southold Town has been working on drafting its comprehensive plan, and the Orient Association supports those efforts, Orient "has struck out on its own" to craft a complementary set of propositions that will be put to a vote by Orient residents, Hanlon explained.

"These policy statements reflect issues that the Orient community believes are not fully addressed in the town’s current or proposed policies and laws," the release explained.

The votes will take place at Poquatuck Hall on both Saturday, October 15 at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, October 19, at 7 p.m., with refreshments served at 6:30 p.m, when residents will gather to weigh in on nine key propositions; those that receive the broadest support will be presented to town officials and represent the will of the community.

Moving forward, Hanlon said, the aim is for representatives from Orient to work with town officials to find ways to adopt the propositions as policy, and then, to implement laws and regulations to enact those measures.

The Orient Association, a not-for profit organization that works to educate residents on issues, has coordinated efforts so far, with nearly 100 residents of Orient involved.

Beyond the nine propositions, which include the most pressing issues defined, other concerns have been raised, including affordable housing and Plum Island, that will be addressed in a later phase of the Orient Plan, Hanlon said.

Residents who cannot attend will be able to vote on the propositions by ballot or on the group's website at orientassociation.org.

The propositions, a mailer to the public says, are not meant to be specific law or regulation, but are, instead, statements of principles that will lead to law and regulation, if adopted. And they are meant to be considered when discretionary decisions are made by the town board, the planning board, and the zoning board of appeals.

According to the Orient Plan, propositions include:

Building size: Under current zoning rules, a house can cover 20 percent of a parcel, 8000 square
feet on an acre, "but this can result in a 20,000 usable square foot home, or two-and-a-half stories, regardless of the size of nearby homes. Similarly, a 5,000 square foot, two-and-a-half story house can be built on a quarter acre. This measure would limit new house construction or significant expansions so that they are not too much larger than those of their neighbors.

No construction shall be permitted that would result in overall housing size —usable square footage — that is out of scale with the existing housing in the immediate neighborhood; this provision shall be in addition to zoning requirements, including lot coverage, setback, height and other limitations."

Traffic on Main Road: This measure would require that, before any proposed building,
expansion, or change in use, the property owner demonstrate that traffic would not be
made worse by the proposal or change. "This would apply to wineries, other commercial
activities, housing developments, and Plum Island associated projects. Construction, development, and commercial activity shall be limited and managed so that there is no material increase of vehicular traffic on Main Road in Orient; there shall be no change in category or scope of use that would materially increase such
traffic."

Advanced septic systems: Currently old cesspools can be rebuilt, and marginally effective septic systems can be used in new construction, the group said. "This contributes to nitrate pollution of our drinking water and bays. This measure would require best practices when new construction or major work is being done. It also promotes a subsidy program to help pay for upgrades. All new construction, or substantial renovations and expansions, and all upgrades or replacements of existing cesspools or septic systems shall include an installation of an enhanced septic system; the town shall use its best efforts to secure subsidies for upgrading of existing systems to enhanced septic systems."

Agricultural preservation: Officials attempt to preserve farmland with public funds, but
there is no formal requirement preventing that farmland from being turned into a private
lawn or a high-hedged garden, the Orient Association maintains.

"All purchases of development rights on lands currently being used for agricultural purposes shall include covenants in deeds requiring preservation of historic viewsheds, and either active farming or dedication to public use."

Preserving the viewsheds: Currently, the Orient Association said, "the vista along Main Road and the causeway is just one factor in an environmental impact statement, and these statements are not
required on all projects that could compromise our historic views. This would restrict changes that significantly damaged the historic viewsheds. To help preserve open vistas and community character, construction, landscaping, hedges, fencing, signage or other actions that materially impair the historic viewsheds, including the vicinity of the causeway and Route 25, shall be prohibited.

Stormwater runoff: Currently, the Orient Association said, there is significant runoff into Orient Harbor, Hallocks Bay and the Long Island Sound from adjacent roads. "There are some pipes and culverts
that carry road debris and petroleum waste directly into our waterways. This proposal would require a plan to reduce the pollution of our waterways. A plan to prevent direct stormwater runoff from roadways into Orient waterways shall be developed and implemented."

Pest control: According to the Orient Association, "We are struggling with deer, ticks and other insects, phragmites, mile-a-minute vine, knotweed, and other pests. This would create a system to focus corrective
action that is fine-tuned to our community. An Orient Pest Control District shall be established to control insect and animal pests, and invasive plant species."

Traffic calming: As the North Fork continues to attract guests as a destination, the Orient Association maintains, "Residents are often trapped in their driveways by the continuous stream of high speed ferry traffic. Buses and autos struggle to enter Main Road near the school, firehouse, Village Lane and Youngs Road. This proposal would require a plan to ease these traffic problems. A traffic calming plan for Main Road shall be developed for the areas around Village Lane and the Cross Sound Ferry; the Town shall use its best efforts to obtain cooperation from the necessary agencies to bring about implementation."

Development based on infrastructure: Current regulation allows for more dense construction in business and marine districts if there is town water or sewer service present, the group said. "This proposal would remove this encouragement of denser construction and more intense use. It also would strengthen zoning as a means to preserve community character. The availability of public water or sewer services shall not be a basis for increasing permitted land use density."

Hanlon said the propositions are meant to define the specific issues faced by the Orient community.

"We have a very good relationship with Southold Town officials. However, they are charged with planning for the entire town," he said. "Orient has a population and hamlet features that are not typical of the town as a whole. For example, half of all historic buildings in Southold are located in Orient. We are, on average, older, we have much more preserved land and farmland and much less commercial activity than the rest of the town. It is more remote, and we like it like that."

Neighbors have said that they hope to preserve community character, something that requires specific priorities and possibly regulations that differs from what the own needs as a whole, Hanlon added.

"We are not asking all of Southold to live by our wishes, but we want Orient to reflect the will of the Orient community," Hanlon said.

Town officials applaud the residents' efforts: "Developing a comprehensive plan is a community-driven effort. The document does not belong to Town Hall. It belongs to everyone," said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell. "The people of Orient should be commended for wanting to be such a significant part of the process. It will be a better document because of it."

Added Southold Town Councilman Jim Dinizio: "I think it's great that they have such an active group. The more information the better."

Information is set to be sent out to the Orient Association's mailing list on Tuesday, Hanlon said.