Letter to the Editor
June 25, 2022
To the Editor:
Deep-pocketed off-island businesses buying and expanding old ones and creating new ones. Rising home prices and disappearing year-round rentals, strengthening calls for subsidized housing. Expanding public water. The Island is at a crossroads.
When would growth force folks to swap well water for public or bottled water? Traffic lights for stop signs? Stop swimming or fishing in the bays? Answers to these and other questions are crucial for the ongoing comprehensive plan effort, as well as the November referendum on the proposed new real estate tax.
Regarding environmental concerns, the public is entitled to know when (1) additional consump- tion of water (commercial, residential, irrigation) would threaten our water supply, (2) additional pollutants (septic, fertilizers, pesticides) would threaten the quality of our drinking water and bays, and (3) growth would require public water. Also, what areas are most sensitive: the shoreline, where pollutants quickly reach the bays, or elsewhere?
Regarding housing, how many units are contemplated over the next 2, 5, and 10 years? What percentage will be rentals/sales? Who is eligible? Can eligibility legally be limited to those resid- ing here or who work or volunteer in a particular capacity? Are town employees eligible? How is housing going to be allocated to ensure fairness? By lottery? What zoning changes will be made and/or limits on subsidizing housing in residential neighborhoods? What are taxpayer costs?
The Town hired a consultant to generate a generic environmental impact statement and housing plan, which should address at some of these issues. Particularly since the consulting firm was identified by the Town Attorney prior to the RFPs and there were no other bidders, its work product should be made available with ample time for public scrutiny.
Patrick Clifford
Stephen Jacobs
Shelter Islanders for Clear Water and Responsible Zoning
February 24, 2022
Letter Sent to the Comprehensive Plan Task Force & Advisory Committee February 16, 2022
Dear Comprehensive Plan Task Force and Advisory Committee,
We are a volunteer organization formed to preserve the natural beauty and quality of life on Shelter Island by advocating on behalf of all Shelter Islanders for clean water and responsible zoning. At this time, we would like to express our views on several issues.
The Paramount Importance of Water
A year ago, the Comprehensive Plan task force authorized a community survey that received over 1,000 responses---a survey response that the consultants employed by the Town found statistically and otherwise significant (see Conclusions, Survey report #1 on Town website). Survey responses made indisputably clear that (1) protection of our groundwater and bays is a primary concern to residents and (2) residential and commercial development must not threaten our drinking water and bays. We ask that the task force and CPAC recognize these priorities of the respondents, and if they disagree, to inform us by February 28, 2022.
We also urge that, in formulating a proposed plan for the Island’s groundwater and bays, the task force and advisory committee review both the Water Advisory Committee’s Ground and Surface Water Management Plan, dated February 27, 2020, and the General Environmental Impact Statement to be generated, as discussed in yesterday’s Town Board work session, in connection with the Board’s contemplated legislation for the creation of a bank for the transfer of development rights. We anticipate commenting on at least one of those documents at a later date.
Any Rezoning Should Await a New Comprehensive Plan
Zoning changes must follow a Comprehensive Plan that considers the holistic effect of imminent commercial development on the aquifer, bays ,and harbors. We join other community groups that have requested the Comprehensive Plan task force and CPAC to respect the quality of life in residential neighborhoods and prevent the expansion of commercial interests in residentially zoned areas. The CPAC should again urge Town Board not to attempt to rezone any part of the Island prior to the completion of the comprehensive plan. Common sense and applicable law compel no less.
The Need to Keep Preserved Land Preserved
We call upon you to include in the comprehensive plan a clear statement that preserved land purchased with Community Preservation Fund money should be kept preserved as open space for recreational use and not used for other purposes, including for a wastewater treatment facility.
Despite weeks of public opposition from a wide spectrum of Islanders, the Town has not abandoned the idea of using CPF property at Klenawicus airfield for a sewage treatment plant.
The Town’s resistance illustrates the importance of your addressing this issue, regardless where the facility is ultimately placed.
We believe that, as a matter of law, the Town may not use CPF property for waste water treatment or other non-recreational purposes. We also believe that a majority of Shelter Islanders agree with us that, even were it legal to do so, CPF property should not be used for non-recreational purposes. Moreover, we are greatly concerned that, absent a clear understanding that preserved land will be kept preserved as open space and for only recreational use, it will become more difficult or expensive to preserve land.
We would welcome a dialog with any of you regarding any of these issues at any time.
Respectfully,
Patrick Clifford & Stephen Jacobs