The old Oyster Farm, a unique property
There is a unique historic property at the southern end of Shipyard Lane in East Marion, directly on Orient Harbor: the old Oyster Farm property. It is 18.7 acres and is one of the few remaining beachfront properties on Orient Harbor. It includes some wetlands and is part of the Peconic Estuary system. The only access road is Shipyard Lane directly off Route 25. This is a residential area, with houses on Shipyard Lane and a condominium complex across the road from the property. The property is currently zoned M-2, which permits a wide range of water dependent uses. Because the site was used for seafood processing and as a repair facility for large motor vehicles, it has some environmental problems.
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Proposed development: Gaia Holistic Circle (Shizen) Resort
The current owner of the Oyster Farm property has proposed to develop it as a resort operation.
The plan includes:
– 114 transient motel rooms, consisting of 23 guest lodges, totaling 87 accessory motel units (14 lodges containing 3 unit motel rooms and 9 guest lodges containing 5 unit motel rooms)
– 27 remaining hotel rooms are located in a main spa building, along with a 185-seat restaurant (103 private seats, 72 public seats) 10 public bar seats, office space, a retail gift shop, and 27 personal service treatment suites and accessory uses
– a 3,864-square-foot private restaurant annex with 45-99 private guest seats and a 758 square foot covered deck
– a 1,987-square-foot manager’s residence with a 687 square foot deck;
– a swimming pool
– a 7,205-square-foot maintenance and utility building
– a sanitary waste treatment facility
– 3 gazebos totaling 1.160 square feet
– man-made water features (not specified except for one waterfall)
– replacement of existing bulkhead
– dredging for a 16-slip private marina basin, and is beach-like in appearance and “other outdoor amenities non- specified.”
If Shizen is built according to this plan, it will be the largest resort facility on either the North or South Forks - bigger than Gurneys Inn in Montauk.
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Concerns about proposed project
In addition to the concerns that neighbors have about negative impacts on their properties, the Town of Southold Planning Board identified the following potentially significant adverse impacts:
– Substantial adverse change in existing ground or surface water quality, traffic, or noise levels, increase in solid waste production, leaching or drainage problems.
– Removal or destruction of large quantities of vegetation.
– Due to site’s location on Orient Harbor, potential negative impacts on water quality, harbor use, shellfish beds and scenic resources.
– Impairment of existing community character.
– Significant increase in energy use requiring analysis of local facilities.
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Community concerns
– The community and Shipyard Lane cannot support the traffic this project will generate.
– If the resort is built and the business fails, what happens?
– Where will the workers necessary for this resort live? These are not high paying jobs, and there are few affordable rentals in this community.
– Southold Town services, such as schools, fire, and police, will face increased pressures.
– The parent company of the owner of this project is a tax-exempt non-profit. While we understand that non-profit status has not been sought yet, it may be.
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What steps must be taken and approved in order for construction to start?
In order to develop the site as proposed, the following approvals are required:
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