Here are our priorities.
We invite your comments and input.
OUR HARBOR
Restore Public Access to at least one of the three access points that Villagers formerly enjoyed, for kayaks, canoes, fishing and similar recreational uses. They are public roads and rights-of-way that Village government has blocked off and allowed to become overgrown. This should be done in consultation with neighboring property owners and our Police.
Limit Private Docks. Our village code stipulates that private docks be no more than 75 feet in length and that they not interfere with marshlands. We need to honor that code. We must also adhere to the guidelines of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). Longer docks, that can extend to a depth of 2-1/2 feet at low tide, will imperil the increasingly fragile ecosystem of the harbor. Long docks also interrupt the water views of all residents. Marina slips are available within a short drive.
Respect our LWRP. After much hard work, our Village and Nissequogue Village jointly adopted a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) in 1990, and the two Villages created a Joint Village Coastal Management Commission (JCMC) to review new building projects. The LWRP is our version of a Comprehensive Zoning Plan, and it should inform all land use decisions by other Village Boards and by the Mayor and Trustees. It is the LWRP that dictates decisions, not the DEC.
Unfortunately, the LWRP, as well as the recommendations of the JCMC, are frequently overridden in approvals for projects that impact our trees and our Harbor. The LWRP should be taken off the shelf, updated where necessary, and its guidance respected on waterway and land use decisions.
Join Annual Harbor Day Celebrations. After many years, the annual celebration of our waterfront was revived last year, but our Mayor refused to commit the Village to participate in the event with officials from Nissequogue Village and Smithtown. It was a success despite his embarrassing behavior.
OUR HOMES, LANDSCAPES AND ROADS
Fight Overdevelopment along Route 25A. Traffic along Historic Route 25A is already congested and threatens to spill over onto our local roads. Yet our Mayor had to be dragged reluctantly into the lawsuit against the Gyrodyne subdivision, even after he was assured that the Village would not bear any legal expenses. And he let others take the lead against the Bull Run Farm proposal for an assisted living facility.
Deny a Special Permit for Timothy House. The religious organization that purchased Timothy House has proposed to build a huge church in the property’s historic landscape, which is protected by covenants and restrictions against substantial development. Our Mayor has personally promoted this Application, and in the face of opposition by neighbors and other concerned residents, he has delayed a Trustees’ vote for over a year.
Encourage Thoughtful Development. New homes and new accessory structures help keep our Village vital, but they should be respectful of our historic structures and landscapes.
Allow Appropriate Deer Fencing. Deer are a major health hazard that transmit ticks to our properties, leading to Lyme Disease and many other tick-borne disorders. Deer fencing should be permitted to protect our residents, if it is appropriately screened from the road behind bushes and hedges.
OUR VILLAGE BUDGET
Balance our Budget. For too many years, our Village has dipped into its surplus funds and has borrowed money in order to balance our budget. Our new budget does the same. In the near future, we will run out of surplus. We need to cut out unnecessary expenditures, such as the Mayor’s proposed multimillion dollar culvert replacement in the marsh that adjoins his home. We should live within our means.
On election day, vote the Heritage First party:
Michael Utevsky – Mayor
Lisa Davidson - Trustee
