With plans proposed for expansion and a new marina at the historic Galley Ho in New Suffolk, some neighbors, who say there has been a “lack of transparency” by the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, Inc., have organized a petition in protest.
Neighbors sent a letter to Southold Town planning board chair Donald Wilscenski, stating that what they at first believed would be a project meant to preserve the building by the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, Inc., had suddenly grown, from plans for a snack shop to a 66-seat eatery.
“Instead of a harborside snack bar amid open space with scenic bay views, the plan has gone from preservation to development and includes an elevated restaurant with 66 inside seats, (and many more outdoor seats), behind concrete retaining walls in an area leveled by Superstorm Sandy,” the letter and petition state.
The NSWF, the letter states, has “not been transparent about their change in goals and many in the community are not happy with what they’ve learned from meetings and sparse documents.”
The petition states that concerns include the size of the project, as well as the fact that a “full-fledged restaurant,” and not a snack bar, are slated.
Elevation is an issue, the petition states; the restaurant will be elevated because it will be sited in an area that was “devastated” by Sandy.
Scale was also a concern. “A project of this scale would be devastating to the delicate waterfront property, destroying views for residents and having an environmental impact that will be felt throughout the community.”
Residents said environmental concerns center on plans for a raised septic system, “a very questionable plan in a flood zone. Flooding could cause contents of a system to flow into our businesses and into our bay, one that is already closed for shellfishing, making our beaches off-limits for residents.”
A planned retaining wall, while it may protect the restaurant, could cause water to flow into the streets of New Suffolk during times of flooding, where it will “pool” after the storm is over, neighbors wrote in the petition.
Parking and traffic congestion in an already popular area will worsen with the proposed expansion, the petition states; no contingency plan has been offered for special events.
The letter also charged the NSWF with a “lack of transparency” and said planned funding had not been adequately disclosed voluntarily; a request for information on funding had been denied, the petition read.
“NSWF’s apparent change in mission to make this property into their own moneymaker rather than a proposed open space is troubling to those who choose to live in a quiet beach community,” the petition states. “While we understand the desire for this 501(c)3 organization to earn money to support preservation, they seem to be more concerned with a commercial business enhancing their cash flow without the attendant nonprofit goals.”
And, the petition said not all residents are in favor of the project. “Not all in the New Suffolk community know anything about the details of this project, nor do all support this project,” the petition states.
The petition urges residents to write letters to the planning board, as well as to the town board and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
Diane Harkoff, co-owner of Legends in New Suffolk, said the issue was not specifically about the Galley Ho’s expansion, but rather, the impact of such a large scale endeavor. “There are parking issue in New Suffolk to begin with, let alone by adding a 66-seat restaurant,” she said. “The beach parking is already maxed out.”
And, she said, with a New York State easement allowing for visitors to come down and witness the panoramic views, the project poses concerns, because ,”those views will be gone.”
The elevated cesspool and restaurant plans have sparked concerns because during a storm, water would be displaced, she added. “It has to go somewhere,” Harkoff said. In the past, grading issues led to knee deep water in the area. “We had people who had to wade out to their cars,” she said. “I wrote a letter back then saying it could put me out of business. Nobody wants to wade through water to get to a restaurant.”
After Sandy, Harkoff said Governor Andrew Cuomo and FEMA reps stressed that “towns need to be cautious with what they allow and make sure it’s not detrimental to neighbors. We have to do things differently. And if we’re doing things differently, I don’t see why we’re putting a commercial structure up in a flood zone,” Harkoff said.
Concerns over the health of the bay and the environment also exist, Harkoff said.
Lack of transparency is a major issue, Harkoff said, adding that she’d never seen mention of the 66-seat restaurant in a letter sent out to NSWF donors. “That really, really surprises me. I don’t know why we’ve been kept in the dark. This should have been brought out into the open.”
Legends staffer Raini Caravella added, “I’m on the side of keeping things on the lighter site. Wanting things fixed up, but not built up.”
Last month, members of the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, Inc. came before the Southold Town planning board to discuss plans for the relocation, renovation and addition of 47 square feet to the Galley Ho, located on First Street and Main Street in New Suffolk.
Plans for the Galley Ho building, which totals 1,725 square feet, include a 16-slip marina on 2.3 acres in the M-II zoning district. The marina will include a few spots for transient boaters.
Last year, the historic wooden structure was moved, farther away from its previous location about 18 feet from Peconic Bay, at the end of New Suffolk Road.
After Hurricane Sandy, the aging foundation of the structure was damaged, and the decision was made to relocate the business and reopen the eatery for business.
Originally, the Galley Ho sat only 18 feet from the bulkhead, in flood zone — the bulkhead was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy — but after its final move, the building will be located 90 feet from the bulkhead.
The building, which was built at the turn of the 20th century, is an iconic landmark for residents.
The new restaurant will aim to recreate the ambiance of the Galley Ho, but on a smaller scale, with 66 seats instead of 95 and an outdoor deck.
The eatery would operate year round, and include the deck and a community garden, as well as access to the water. A marina office, marina storage building and existing barn storage building by the community gardens would also be included in plans, as well as three retaining walls for a raised septic system, to meet federal flood zone requirements.
Parking would be created, with 38 stalls for both the restaurant and marina, including two handicapped spots.
Some work is already ongoing, and members of the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund asked the planning board to okay the efforts, including weed removal, maintaining the community gardens, and creation of a six-foot wide walkway.
After the bulkhead was done, pilings were driven in for the walkway, but the group initially ran out of money and couldn’t finish until the current time.
Floating docks would be taken in at the end of every season, members said; work on the bulkhead has been completed. Initially after Sandy, the dock had been washed away, as were the finger piers.
The board commended the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund members for a “thorough job.”
Members of the NSWF could not be reached immediately for comment Thursday.
