Residents Speak Out Passionately on Both Sides of Sports East Fitness Club Plan

NORTH FORK, NY - The public came out Monday night to speak passionately on both sides of a proposal for the Sports East Fitness Club on Main Road in Mattituck.

A standing room only crowd packed Southold Town Hall for the public hearing on the sports facility.

The meeting was the second in a week on the topic; last week, partners in the project Paul Pawlowski and Joe Slovak, along with Suffolk County Legislator Al Kruspski, and Bob DeLuca, president of the Group for the East End, were guests at a forum organized by the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association and held at the Mattituck American Legion.

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

The plan is Pawlowski’s third for the site, located on Route 25 across from the old Capital One building: 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 21 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. He said last week that the current plan is his last and he's "not doing anything else" on the parcel should the plan not get approved.

The ZBA must determine if Pawlowski's plan is eligible for special exception to allow for the project to proceed.

Planning board chair Doug Wilcenski said the application is also before the ZBA and they are waiting on the planning board's state environmental quality review act, or SEQRA, determination.

Neighbor Denise Geis kicked off the evening by raising concerns over traffic, as well as with a traffic study that she felt should have been conducted during a more busy time of year than March.

Suffolk County Community College, she added, will be opening its "huge sports complex," including a pool, by spring of 2017. Others agreed services offered would be duplicative.

She referenced Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski's willingness to consider talks with Pawlowski regarding a county purchase of the parcel for preservation and said that option should be considered.

Geis also questioned plans to allow children to be dropped off before and after school unaccompanied by parents and asked about the difference between a day care and sports complex.

She mentioned that, at last week's meeting, Pawlowski said he would consider creating a not-for-profit, which could take the parcel off the town's tax roll.

Should that happens, she said, "there would be no long-term benefit for the community," leaving the town with detriments including traffic and noise. "We've heard time and time again that this will address drug use. That's an unrealistic promise," she said. A special exception, she added, "would benefit himself and his other partners."

Resident Julie Amper, also a member of the Mattituck Laurel Civic Association, said she was "very much opposed" to a special exception being granted. "This is just a subterfuge to allow a commercial use in a residential zone," she said.

She added that a "much ballyhooed carrot" is merely just a "small pool for member use." The town already has fields, health clubs, tennis courts and pickleball facilities, as well as dance and Pilates classes and a sporting goods store on Main Road. "Does this one carrot, a private swimming pool, justify the stick?" she asked. Amper said downsides include traffic concerns and the shattering of a vision for Mattituck's quiet residential area, to be replaced by the "thump" of tennis balls from dawn to dusk during summer months when it's light longer.

After a town planning meeting to discuss the draft land use chapter of the comprehensive plan, Amper said, "I wondered, why bother? Will our vision, goal and objectives be honored? Can we trust our leaders to uphold policies and land use designations from the comprehensive plan when anytime and anywhere in Southold, a special exception can be granted that makes a mockery of the issue of trust and the letter and spirit of the zoning law?"

She asked that the ZBA honor the spirit of the town's vision by denying the special exception request.

Granting the special exception for a private club, she added, would be "opening up Pandora's box" for other commercial enterprises to litigate for the right to build on residential property with special exceptions.

She also mentioned environmental concerns that she said could be posed by the project, and said nitrogen overloading and deteriorating water quality on the East End are a critical issue. The removal of trees in the plan also pose a concern, Amper said. Pawlowski has promised a wide swath of trees as a buffer to create a pleasing gateway to Mattituck for those driving by.

Traffic congestion was another worry, Amper said. Years ago, the New York State Department of Transportation would not approve any entrances or exits onto Main Road; she asked why they were considered now.

The project should only be considered in a commercial zone, she said.

Addressing concerns

Pawlowski stood up to counter concerns and said he lives in Mattituck and lives within a few miles of the proposed facility. He's approaching the plan as a resident, not a developer, he said.

He went over the plans, noting that the six lane, 25 meter pool is "by no means small. It's the largest of its kind out here by far," allowing an "avid swimmer the ability to do laps and children to have fun in the pool and learn how to swim."

He added that he and his partners are proud to say the project is privately funded. When asked about seeking not for profit status, he said he and his partners are not looking for any financial assistance or tax abatements.

Childcare would be for members only, he said; by no means would the club serve as a a baby-sitter.

The club, he said, is not meant for tourists, although weekend members who joined would be welcomed. "This is for us, the residents of Southold Town," Pawlowski said.

Noise would not exceed what currently exists on Main Road, Pawlowski said, reminding that the plan is for an indoor facility with outdoor fields.

He reiterated that the partners are willing to consider an alternative wastewater treatment system.

As for selling to Suffolk County, Pawlowski said, "I'm dedicated to Sports East. If this wasn't approved and that was my last resort. . . but it's not my last resort." He added that in regard to his last two proposals, when Krupski was asked for preservation funds, no funding offer was on the table.

The project could offer both preservation of the remaining acreage — and give Southold residents a sports facility it does not currently have, Pawlowski said.

Turning to the crowd, he asked, "Who here wants this?" His question was met by loud applause.

Preserve what's left

Joy Ellinghaus of Mattituck said she's owned a second home on Sigsbee Road for many years. She attended to speak out against the plan. "Each year on the ride out, I was always rooting for the wooded lot to still be there when I came for the summer," she said. "And I can't have been the only one."

Over the years, Ellinghaus said she's watched the area change. None of the other hamlets, she said, "took the beating that Mattituck did."

Of the fact that so many seemed to embrace the plan, she added, "Maybe you can fool all of the people, all of the time."

There is no "need" for a pool, she said, just as there is no need for other examples such as a cinema or indoor shopping mall. "This is a want," she said. "Can you give people what they want without breaking the back of Main Road?"

The plan, Ellinghaus said, "is simply being offered at the wrong location but just as with all his projects, Mr. Pawlowski refuses to see any negative, it's neverending assurances. He can't possibly deliver on all his promises. No one could."

She raised concerns about the time of year the traffic study was conducted and asked who would be there to facilitate children coming and going or riding their bikes, as well as what types of professionals would be hired for the daycare component.

Pawlowksi said as with any traffic study, the data collected was added to years of data from other studies for a comprehensive look.

Ellinghaus also questioned the wastewater treatment plan pitched and said Kevin McAllister of Defend H20 "did not seem impressed" at last week's meeting.

She suggested Pawlowski pursue the option of allowing the county to purchase the property for preservation, to prevent overbuilding and retail sprawl "similar to Route 58," which is a goal of the town.

"The North Fork is beyond a turning point. We are at critical mass," she said, stating that it won't "take much" overdevelopment to threaten quality of life. "This isn't about one developer, it's about the many who are coming. It's a challenge to keep the rural character of the North Fork at the forefront and the only way is through preservation and adaptive reuse."

Small business owners worried

Jill Schroeder, owner of JABS in Mattituck, said she is passionate about fitness but feels the facility "will greatly challenge what I have done over the past five years and may destroy my business" as well as other small local fitness facilities, owned by individuals with young children.

Small local business people, she said, will be affected "the by sheer magnitude" of the project "and the money behind it. I don't have that, but I have passion for what I've done and for my charity work" in the community, she said.

Applauding the plan

Others spoke out in support of the plan.

Personal trainer Frank Zagarino of Laurel said he moved from Los Angeles 15 years ago to raise his children. Senior citizens, he said, will benefit greatly from not having to drive long distances for a pool.

He addressed the burgeoning heroin crisis and said there is a need to create activities for young people during the winter months so kids aren't sitting in the basement "doing drugs."

"Everyone wants to put their heads in the sand," he said. "One of the biggest benefits of this is giving our kids something to do."

He noted that the buffer of trees would ensure the facility would not look like Walmart in Riverhead, where trees were razed.

Also, while Zagarino said he felt for Schroeder, in Los Angeles, he'd seen boutique gyms continue to thrive even with the creation of larger facilities; clientele remain dedicated to their gyms and trainers, he said.

"The good outweighs the bad," he said.

Eric McKenna, who teaches at Mattituck High School and also coaches at a local soccer club, said he "passionately" supports the plan. "Sports East is a unique opportunity to shape countless lives and instill life lessons that come with sports," he said. "Where would my life be if I hadn't learned the values associated with sports?"

His son, 10, also stood up to laud the plan. "My friends and I are asking because we need a place for year-round sporting activities. You wouldn't want us sitting around doing nothing at all."

McKenna added that sports had taught him the value of hard work and competition, and given him an outlet when he was a young person himself. Academic success and sports are also closely linked, he said.

Nan Shea, a Southold native who has lived in the area for more than 70 years, was admittedly nervous at public speaking, but stood at the podium to let her voice be heard. "I think this is the best thing that can happen to our town. No question."

She and four friends get in a car at 7:15 a.m. to drive to Riverhead and swim; some have physical challenges and would benefit greatly from the facility close to home.

Local counselor Jeanine Warns also spoke about the drug plague sweeping the North Fork. "I've seen families devastated. I've attended the funerals."

Not only would Sports East provide a healthy outlet for kids, it would help the elderly have a place to exercise. "It would give every age group a place to grow. I think it's a wonderful opportunity fo revery single one of us."

Added Charles Cuddy, "This is the right thing, in the right place."

Slovak said as a father and educator, the plan has been modeled after a number of facilities nationwide, not just SYS in Southampton and said the facility would be inclusive, with a demographic of "birth to 100." He envisions a "community hub" for seniors, toddlers "and everyone in between."

As for the bus for before and afterschool programs, he said the district could include Sports East as a stop on the route or they could provide buses.

He blasted the "withering remarks" of some toward Pawlowski. "He's got to have a thick skin."

Slovak gave examples of the benefits of physical fitness, including less risk of obesity, higher test scores, academic success, and intergenerational programs.

"We need this," he said. Quoting Vince Lombardi, Slovak said, ""Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

Mindy Ryan showed her support for Sports East, saying she's been advocating for a facility in the area for years.

The hearing was closed.