Representatives from the Village of Greenport and Southold Town are expected to sit down to hash out the details of how Community Preservation Fund money could be used within the village in two weeks, after a crowd of nearly 50 Greenport residents showed up Southold Town Board’s July 16 meeting asking for greater use of the CPF fund within village boundaries.
Pictured Above: Greenport Mayor Kevin Stuessi addressed the Southold Town Board Tuesday afternoon.
Since 1999, each of the five towns on the East End of Long Island has had a Community Preservation Fund dedicated to land preservation, funded by a 2 percent real estate transfer tax. Throughout the East End, those funds have collected more than $2 billion since its inception, according to data compiled by State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, who drafted the state law creating the CPF.
Towns on the South Fork, where real estate values have skyrocketed over the past 25 years, have collected the lion’s share of that funding, while Southold had collected just over $151 million from the program’s inception through 2023, according to Mr. Thiele’s figures.
CPF rules have changed over the course of the program, and voters agreed in 2016 to allow 20 percent of the funds to be used for water quality projects, though Southold has chosen to continue using its money primarily to preserve farmland. South Fork towns have also chosen to use some of their money for historic preservation.
Greenport Mayor Kevin Stuessi has been advocating heavily over the past month that Southold Town use some of its money in Greenport, pointing out that additional changes to the CPF law that await Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature would require East End towns to spend 10 percent of their CPF revenues in areas deemed Disadvantaged Communities by New York State’s Climate Justice Working Group. Greenport is the only such community in Southold Town.
Mr. Stuessi says the village is working to acquire a special historic parcel that would be central to providing public access to the waterfront.
Pointing out the village’s frequent flooding issues, both from rainfall and coastal flooding, and antiquated sewer system, Mr. Stuessi told the Southold Town Board that the village “needs this as part of the tool kit of options for our village to use,” and urged Southold “to act quickly and swiftly and work with us on a plan to protect the Village of Greenport.”
Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski said Southold has a long history of being concerned about water quality, but has used other sources to fund water quality projects, bonding about a quarter million dollars every year for stormwater improvement.
“Last year we cut off 77 outfalls, mostly into Peconic Bay and the Peconic Bay watershed,” said Mr. Krupksi, adding that Suffolk County had funded changes to a stormwater outfall at Widow’s Hole on Fourth Street in Greenport Village last year. He added that Southold has preserved a vast swath of wetlands around Pipe’s Cove, at the gateway to Greenport, and had also preserved the land surrounding the drinking water wells that provide water to Greenport Village.
“I was born and raised in Southold, and I know a lot about farmland preservation,” said Greenport Village Deputy Mayor Mary Bess Phillips. “No doubt land preservation in other hamlets has benefited us. We do not have land, but we have direct access to the Peconic Estuary. We need to expand prevention of pollution, and other toxic issues that come with being a waterfront community. if this brings about many joint discussions, it’s a positive for everyone.”
Greenport Village Trustee Patrick Brennan said that he believes it’s a “false choice” between farmland preservation and water quality.
“I believe you’re obligated to secure funds for the benefit of your constituents,” he said, adding that he believes it’s been failure of leadership that the town hasn’t done both.
“Let’s not ignore, delay or obstruct. Let’s be leaders in protecting our water quality. It’s within your grasp,” he said.
Greenport High School Student Council President Faith Welch said she believes the CPF has been an “incredible tool for preserving open spaces,” but “it can be so much more than just a way to save land. By adopting changes other towns have made, you can unlock the full potential of the CPF.”
Ms. Welch said she sees firsthand the value of fishermen and local oyster farmers when she swims in the bay, and she believes the fund could be used to preserve historic buildings like the Greenport Auditorium and the Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
“These buildings tell the stories of our past,” she said. “Help create affordable housing, and recreational spaces where kids like me can play and grow. Other towns have seen great success with these changes, and have been able to preserve both land and the character and diversity of their communities. I urge our leaders to look at the examples set by neighboring towns.”
“Our historical village and our environment need protection,” she added. “We have significant needs for water quality and preserving our heritage.”
Russell McCall of Cutchogue, who owns McCall Vineyard and has played a large role in helping preserve farmland in Cutchogue said “the CPF seems so sacred to me.”
“These are certainly valid needs,” he said, but “I suggest solving the problem another way. Do a bond issue. I don’t mind borrowing the money. Solve it. Having this fund go to preserve farmland is probably the best way to achieve water quality.”
Michael Osinski, who started the Widow’s Hole Oysters oyster farm in Greenport with his wife after leaving a career on Wall Street, said he thinks the village and the town should work together.
“Without the high density of the village, we would not have low density outside the village,” he said. “The village has paid into this fund quite a bit. We have stormwater that goes into private property, right into the wetlands, and there’s never any money to fix it. We want to preserve the quality of our water. We need financial assistance with this. It’s only fair that the village, since it contributes so much, has some say in that money.”
Former Long Island Farm Bureau President Karen Rivara, also an oyster farmer, said she understands the Community Preservation Fund Project Plan, which includes a list of properties the town would like to purchase through the CPF if the sellers are willing to sell, is updated every five years.
“Is that a process where we could involve people from both the town and the village, and spitball and look at the funds and come up with an overarching plan?” she asked.
“This one square mile (of Greenport Village) is the heart of Southold Town,” said Greenport resident Randy Wade. “Everyone likes to shop. Everybody likes to eat, and walk around Mitchell Park with their dog. For decades, we have been the low income housing for the entire town.. Greenport said Yay! and now we’re saying we want to have more community housing and more workforce housing…. The bottom line is, Greenport is the heart. Figure out how much that heart is worth to the rest of Southold Town.”
Mr. Krupski said the town would like to host the village board at its work session in two weeks to “flesh out some of these details.” The town board’s next work session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30 at 9 a.m.
At the July 16 town board meeting, the Southold Board also voted unanimously to preserve 8.6 acres of the 11.5 acre Early Rising Farm on Cox Lane in Cutchogue for $537,682.
Mr. Krupski pointed out that this particular farm is contiguous to a great deal of other preserved farmland, on prime agricultural soils.
“In the past, the town has passed on preserving farmland because our resources are so limited,” he said. “We’re taking in only 7 percent of all the revenue. We’ve passed on preserving farmland in the past because we didn’t have the money.”
Southold Board members said, however, that they are committed to continuing the dialogue.
“We’re one town, and I think together we will solve lots of the really important things that are happening if we set our priorities together,” said Southold Councilwoman Anne Smith.
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