Residents Get Chance to Weigh In On Proposed Sports Facility in Mattituck

NORTH FORK, NY- The public will have a chance to weigh in Thursday morning on a proposal for a new sports facility on Main Road in Mattituck.

The Southold Town zoning board of appeals will hold a public hearing at 9:15 a.m. Thursday at Town Hall on a request by Sports East LLC for a special exception, to construct an annual membership club on a parcel located at 9300 Main Road in Mattituck, across from the old Capital One building.

Plans for the indoor-outdoor private sport facility include indoor tennis, an indoor swimming pool, multi-sports fields, a gym, rock wall, yoga, batting cages, a locker room and an organic juice bar.

“What we want to stress to the community is that this is something our community needs, it will touch all demographics, it will improve the quality of health as it is the very essence of a healthy lifestyle,” Pawlowski said. “We are talking about sports and physical fitness and if approved, we can enjoy this not only in the summers but also in the winter.”

The plan is Pawlowski’s third for the site: First, he pitched a plan for workforce housing on the land. Last year, he proposed a second concept, which would have included stores and affordable apartments on the section of the parcel fronting Main Road, with a goal of preserving 17 of the 20 acres, and a gazebo. Pawlowski withdrew that application in September after residents turned out to voice fierce opposition to the zone change, citing concerns over traffic, density and quality of life.

The new plan for a sports facility would only require a special exception from the ZBA, not a zone change.

“The end result is a healthier community,” Pawlowski said, of the proposed sports facility. “This would make our town healthier and promote community. Yes, we have great schools and sports; however, this would create a sports environment outside of school for all ages.”

Patch photo by Paul Pawlowski is a concept rendering, and not final.