Patchogue Riverfront Residents: Big Issues Roil Riverfront

Despite the end of summer it is heating up on the riverfront.

Here is a summary of some issues on the immediate horizon:

Dublin Deck

Expansion plans which means the approval of a site plan for the marina, bar, eatery and other parts of the multi-acre complex is heading to the Planning Board this Tuesday. At issue: capacity, sound, parking, traffic, lighting, sanitation, emergency access and other related concerns. The meeting on Tuesday is the first time that the public will have a chance to express its views about the plan. All who are interested are urged to go. The Planning Board does depend on public input to help it decide how to shape its decisions. No one should underestimate the value of their comments particularly nearby neighbors who may be affected either for good or for bad by any issues originating from the club property.

Fat Fish Condo

Also heading to the Planning Board probably in November. The proposed high end condo tower will most probably become the highest standing building on the riverfront. Concerns exist for potential use of a club house for club purposes. In the past the owners have promised to prohibit such use but their promise is not yet in writing. Again nearby neighbors and other interested parties will have a first time chance to discuss this plan when it formally begins its approval process and the Planning Board opens a public hearing for comment.

Off Key Tikki Bar Legal Losses

Judge Asher of the NY State Supreme court has struck down all claims against both the Planning Board and the Zoning Board when they ruled against granting site plan approval to the Off Key Tikki Bar and Marina in 2010.  The matter has been making slow progress throught the court system since then. This month the Judge, in concise summary, found their reasons for denial reasonable and not based on bias of any sort. The owner has options: back to court, re-submit a plan to the Planning Board for use of the property consistent with the rules of the Village, go out of business, sell out to any one interested and there are reports of at least one person so interested in buying the club and the surrounding property.

From the standpoint of this organization the decision of Judge Asher was a victory for neighborhood advocacy. Noise and traffic were persisent issues with the neighborhood and this ruling pays respect to those concerns and backs the Planning Board in particular that sought to enforce some order as per village rules on the development plans for this property.

Coming as it has, just ahead of major decisions for the Dublin Deck and Fat Fish there is no doubt that the hand of the Planning Board has been strengthened when it applies reasonable expectations to owners to conform with existing rules for parking, noise abatement, emergency access for starters.

The Village of Patchogue is also now considering what steps it must take in light of the decision including whether to pull the temporary certificate of occupancy it did withdraw two years ago when the Planning Board ruled that the club site plan could not be approved. The CO was restored by order of the court. That protection is now expected to evaporate as the Court kept the CO in effect pending its decision which it has now rendered.

As both the owner and the Village have options it remains to be seen how exactly the Judge's decision will impact the club.

Oar House Ticketed for Noise

This Sunday the Oar House was the subject of multiple calls from neighbors concerning decibel levels. Following several visits from Code enforcement asking for compliance with the code restrictions and the failure to gain same a ticket was issued to the club. This is the first ticket known to be issued against the Oar House this season although since May of this year it has been the subject of numerous calls about high levels of sound and its owner has been warned on at least one other date about the high levels of sound originating from his club.

The ticket will now be adjudicated in Village Court and as part of the Ticket Tracker monitoring system of this organization its progress will be followed, reports will be made about what results as well. It should be noted that an actual adjudication for noise violation is subject to being reported to the State Liquor Authority since that Authority also considers noise violations as part of its licensing authority.

Much is going on, and as this blog gets some notice I will add other details not discussed yet.