Save New Suffolk's Waterfront

Please come to the Planning Board Meeting at Southold Town Hall on Monday, June 2 at 6pm, to join this discussion.

I was encouraged and heartened at the overwhelming outpouring of dissent flowing from New Suffolk residents, at the May 17th meeting held by the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund (NSWF). The concerned responses were generated by the NSWF’s site plan for our cherished waterfront. Where we had been promised preservation, we were presented with plans for a restaurant, an elevated septic system, surrounded by a 4.5 foot retaining wall and a large parking lot. All this in a high flood zone with an already fragile eco-system. Why on earth would our tiny hamlet of 350 residents, need a second restaurant within 2 acres of another restaurant – meaning double the number of delivery trucks and speeding drivers rushing down New Suffolk Avenue?

One resident, an accountant by trade, eloquently noted that, even if this were something we all wanted, their approach was “bass ackwards,” as they are essentially building a large commercial project on spec, having no idea who will rent/run it. The current annual property taxes on this spot are $1980. The construction of a commercial restaurant will increase these exponentially, to say nothing of business insurance, flood insurance, regular building maintenance – all of which will be considerable. Many residents have asked to see the operating budget of the NSWF, a 501c3, non-profit organization. Financial transparency has been raised at several previous meetings, but these questions have never been answered. In fact, there were so many questions at the May 17th meeting, they ran out of time and very few questions were answered at all.

The NSWF has done a great job of repairing the marina. Income from the 2012 season’s slip rentals was $21,000., which would nicely cover the costs of maintaining our waterfront as a community garden, with wildflowers, benches and picnic tables. Preservation = less is more.

The one thing we all agreed on is that we feel so very fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots left in these parts. New Suffolk is a little slice of heaven. Let’s save what’s left.

Please come to the Planning Board Meeting at Southold Town Hall on Monday, June 2 at 6pm.