Proposed TDR legislation and East Marion...

Southold Town is proposing legislation that has the potential to have a great impact on our tiny hamlet. It is involved and confusing but should not be taken lightly. (See, What is TDR?, below). We strongly suggest that residents read the actual proposal on the Town's website to become informed. On May 27 many East Marioners voiced their concerns at the public hearing on TDR legislation. The town is currently putting together their final draft after which there will be another public hearing. It is important that we stay on top of this as a community and respond when the final legislation is presented.

The following letter was sent to the Town Board from the EMCA board and some of its members.

Dear Supervisor Russell and Members of the Southold Town Board,

   In the DGEIS for the propsed TDR plan inequity is apparent in the "sending" and "receiving" areas between Orient and East Marion. This was also noted by Supervisor Russell at the public hearing on May 27, 2008. In the proposed TDR plan East Marion will be burdened with "receiving" Orient's share of "sending" areas. The reason for this lopsided disparity is because the TDR zones have been defined by school district.
    As an organization whose goal is community preservation EMCA does not find this acceptable for our tiny 2.2-sqaure-mile hamlet. The sending and receiving zones must be divided by fire district, zip code or some other more equitable method in order not to to unduly burden East Marion.
    Should the Town decide to adopt this proposal as it is now written, the TDR plan will leave East Marion as the most highly impacted of all hamlets by the TDR process. The Town Board must consider an alternate method of defining the sending and receiving areas for Orient and East Marion.

Respectfully,
Ruth Ann Bramson, President
Robin Imandt, Vice President
Joe Vandernoth, Treasurer
Barbara Pfanz, Corresponding Secretary
Kaye Kanev, Recording Secretary
Anne Murray, Board Member
Florence Cope, Board Member
Jim Cope, Member
Michael Conway, Member
Victor Neisch, Member

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What is TDR?

The town is moving toward implementing a voluntary transfer of development rights program designed to allow the private market to help accomplish farmland preservation goals while providing for "smart growth" in hamlets where infrastructure exists or may be built to support it. The TDR program would allow property owners in designated "receiving areas" (HALO zones) to purchase development rights from property owners in designated "sending areas" (agricultural lands.) The purchasers would be allowed greater development densities, subject to wastewater treatment restrictions imposed by the county health department, and the senders -- owners of large lots in agricultural zones -- would get cash while retaining title to and certain uses of their properties. The private market would determine the selling price of a development right, to be negotiated privately between the parties to the transfer. We encourge everyone to read the actual legislation by going to the Town's Website.

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About that Broadwater LNG terminal...

The East Marion Community Association's March general meeting featured Bob DeLuca and Jen Hartnagel from the Group for the East End. They gave an impassioned and informative presentation on the Broadwater LNG terminal proposed for Long Island Sound. Among the many facts given was one that particularly stood out in our minds: if something should ever go horribly wrong with Broadwater, East Marion (and Orient, Plum Island, and Fishers Island) are directly in the hazard zone (see map below.) In other words, our hamlet is considered expendable because of our low-density population - and that's just fine with Broadwater backers. Their attitude is "it's not that bad," like the toll Riverhead, Port Jefferson, Coram or any other more densely populated Long Island towns would take.

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Preserving our Open Lands and Water Resources topic of EMCA's February general meeting

At our general meeting in January, members said they wanted EMCA to work with all interested parties, including nonprofit preservation groups to ensure that the Oyster Farm property is utilized in a way that is consistent with our goals. For our February 9 general meeting we invited Tim Caulfield, Vice President of the Peconic Land Trust to be our speaker. The Peconic Land Trust is a nonprofit organization established to ensure the protection of Long Island's working farms, natural lands and heritage. Since its creation in 1983 the Trust has worked with many land owners, communities and local governments to protect almost 9,000 acres of land on Long Island. This meeting was an opportunity for EMCA members to learn about PLT and its work and to ask questions about how the Trust might assist us in our goal of preserving East Marion's remaining open space.

There was an update by Lori Luscher on the efforts underway to deal with the phragmites proliferation in Marion Lake and in our wetlands.
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How to respond to a DGEIS (Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement

EMCA was fortunate to have Bob DeLuca, President of The Group for the East End present a seminar for EMCA on responding to an Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement. Why is this important to East Marioners? The owner of the proposed Oki-Do resort on Shipyard Lane is due to present the DGEIS to the Town Planning board soon. If the Planning Board accepts the DGEIS, the community has just 30 days to study and respond to the statement with our concerns. Mr. DeLuca spoke about how to read the DGEIS and the best ways to address a it.
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Consensus reached among EMCA members on proposed Oki-Do development

EMCA hosted an information session and discussion on the proposed Oki-Do development at the foot of Shipyard Lane in East Marion on Saturday, January 19. The meeting was attended by 71 interested parties (including 64 EMCA members). It was covered by a reporter and photographer from the Suffolk Times (the article should be in Thursday's paper).

The purpose of the meeting was to give an overview of the proposed Oki-Do project, discuss and address community concerns, get a status report on the project and have a discussion to see if EMCA members as a group would want to take a position on the project. The group developed and came to consensus on the following statements:

1. The Oyster Farm (Factory) property has unique importance to East Marion and the surrounding communities. The East Marion Community Association (EMCA) wishes to see the property utilized in a way that:
- has minimal negative impact on the quality of life of the residents of East Marion,
- protects the environment,
- respects the rural character of the hamlet,
- preserves open space and,
- preserves and protects public access to the bay waters for East Marion residents.

2. The East Marion Community Association opposes the Oki-Do development proposed for the Oyster Farm property because it is inconsistent with these goals and will forever change the quality of life and rural character of the North Fork.

3. The East Marion Community Association is committed to working with al interested parties, including the Town of Southold, State and Federal agencies, non-profit preservation groups, educational institutions and current or future owners of the property to support uses of the Oyster Farm property consistent with our goals.

The EMCA will now be able to represent East Marion residents as we go forward with our opposition to this development. Please contact us if you would like to give input to these statements or help work on plans for the future. We are looking for EMCA members to write letters to the newspaper, volunteer to monitor meetings at Town Hall and help us with education and fundraising events.

Respectfully submitted by the
East Marion Community Association Interim Board of Directors.
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Budding filmmakers wanted
EMCA is looking for people who have a digital camcorder, a few free afternoons to spare and an interest in helping us tape oral histories for the East Marion History Project. Volunteers would go along with one of our interviewers and videotape East Marion's 'storytellers' about our community's past. No experience necessary, we can train. Remuneration for your camera-work will be big fun, great memories and the satisfaction of being part of preserving East Marion's past for future generations. For information or to join the project, email: history@emca.us
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