Riverhead "Agritourism" hearing canceled due to high volume of public opposition

Long Island Morning Edition

The NYS Public Service Commission yesterday approved a three-year rate hike that will allow London-based National Grid to raise average residential natural gas bills by $33 a month starting next month.

The six commissioners voted unanimously to pass the increase. Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that PSC commissioners generally applauded the rate plan, which was first filed in April 2023 and involved tens of thousands of pages of records as well as public hearings for Long Island and New York City customers, who are also seeing similar increases.

National Grid serves about 600,000 gas customers on Long Island.

On a year-over-year basis, average Long Island residential gas customers bills would increase $33.35 a month, or 22%, starting next month. They would rise another $8.19 a month, or 4.39%, in 2025, and another $18.81 a month, or 9.17%, in 2026. On a cumulative basis, average customers would pay a total of $1,622.88 more for gas service over the three years — $400.20 more the first year, $497.48 the second and $724.20 more the third.

A current average bill of about $150 a month for those using 83 therms would rise to $183.35 a month in the first year, starting Sept. 1. That same bill will jump to $191.54 a month in the second year and $210.35 a month in the third year.

"Long Island’s ratepayers are already struggling and this hike will only worsen the financial strain, particularly on low- and fixed-income households," said Laurie Wheelock, executive director of the Public Utility Law Project, a consumer group.

Noting more than 51,000 Long Islanders are behind on their gas bills by more than $51 million, she added the PSC's attempt to strike a balance between utility and consumer interests "must be accompanied by concrete measures to ensure that utility rates are affordable to all New Yorkers, especially those who are most vulnerable to rising costs." National Grid's rate hikes anticipate relatively stable commodity gas prices during the three-year period. Higher gas costs, which typically rise in winter, would increase bills proportionately, as would a colder winter, as bills would jump with increased use. Warmer weather generally moderates those costs.

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The hearing on a proposed law to allow resorts on land north of Sound Avenue in Riverhead Town has been canceled “in response to the unusually high volume of opposition and commentary received” on the topic by Riverhead Town Board members, Supervisor Tim Hubbard said yesterday. Alek Lewis reports on Riverheadlocal.com that the supervisor said the board is not abandoning the idea of adopting the legislation, known as Agritourism Inn and Resort zoning. Hubbard said the town will hold a public forum on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. in Riverhead Town Hall, where residents are invited to come discuss the legislation with town officials. “Supervisor Hubbard and the entire town board have agreed it would be beneficial and productive to host the public forum on the subject, rather than simply add the topic to an upcoming work session wherein members of the public cannot engage freely with town board members and/or planning staff,” Hubbard read from a statement at Thursday morning’s work session. “The forum format is intended to foster dialogue so that all sides of the issue can be freely discussed.“ Hubbard said some of the emails, calls and texts board members have received about the legislation “reflect a misunderstanding of the intent and or extent of the proposed change.” Once again, a public forum to discuss the Agritourism Inn and Resort zoning bill will be on Wednesday, September 18 at 7pm in Riverhead Town Hall.

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SOUTHAMPTON VILLAGE OCEAN RESCUE announces that because of Hurricane Ernesto tomorrow’s 7am S-Mile Swim race Fundraiser has been moved from Coopers Beach in Southampton to Long Beach, SAG HARBOR.

SVOR is primarily funded by Southampton Village

However, their equipment needs, extensive training, and essential operational expenses require additional funding.

Thus, the SVOR annual S-Mile Swim Challenge fundraising event…which for tomorrow will be staged at Long Beach in Sag Harbor.

Founded in 2018, the mission of Southampton Village Ocean Rescue (SVOR) is to respond to emergencies in the ocean and bay, in and around the Village of Southampton • 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, via 911.

SVOR is a volunteer organization, dedicated to making expeditious and safe open water rescues at unprotected beaches.

For further info visit southamptonvillageoceanrescue.org

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The East Hampton Housing Authority plans to build 50 affordable rental apartments in Wainscott for working professionals — the latest push to expand affordable housing on the East End. Earlier this month the town transferred two vacant wooded properties — spanning 6.5 acres — to its housing authority. The authority will partner with a developer to build and manage the new complex, which will be south of Route 114. Joe Werkmeister reports in NEWSDAY that the development is the town's second for moderate-income residents who earn up to 130% of the area's median income. The 26-unit Springs Fireplace Apartments, built in 2008, was the first, officials said. "We could have 10 more of those and have 100% occupancy," said Catherine Casey, the housing authority’s executive director. Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said the town needs to expand rental opportunities to support "working families who are the backbone of East Hampton," as well as seniors and young people. East Hampton paid a total of $1.8 million for the parcels in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, the town launched an "All Hands on Housing" initiative to address what officials referred to as an acute housing crisis. Peter Van Scoyoc, East Hampton Town supervisor at the time, called the housing issue one of the "most serious and immediate threats to the well-being and sustainability of our community." The housing authority recently built a 50-unit affordable housing complex on Three Mile Harbor Road — The Green at Gardiner’s Point. It's set to open in several weeks. The income limit is 60% of the area's median income, less than what is planned for Wainscott. Rents are $1,500 for a one bedroom, $1,784 for two bedrooms and $2,045 for three bedrooms. There was intense demand for spots at The Green at Gardiner's Point when a housing lottery was held earlier this month. A total of 543 prospective renters applied for 41 units, officials said.

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During her visit to the East End last Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul presented a check for $1.2 million to Greenport Village Mayor Kevin Stuessi to rebuild the Mitchell Park ice skating rink. Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that the original ice rink at Mitchell Park was first opened in 2005. The rink has since fallen into disrepair and has been closed in recent years.

The $1.2 million in state funding will contribute to the estimated $1.7 million total cost for the engineering and construction of the new ice rink. Once completed, the rink is expected to boost winter tourism and support local youth sports programs, reinforcing the idea of Greenport as a year-round destination.

In addition to the ice rink, Greenport Village is undertaking several other infrastructure improvements at Mitchell Park and the marina, including rebuilding the marina bulkhead, enhancing stormwater management systems, and adding ADA accessibility to the park’s historic cultural walking paths.

Greenport is the only Disadvantaged Community certified under the state Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act on the North Fork.

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"The populations of spotted lanternfly in Nassau and Suffolk counties are higher this year than they ever have been," said Brian Eshenaur, senior extension associate, invasive species, at Cornell University's Integrated Pest Management Program.

That's based, he said, on reports coming into the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets' spotted lanternfly reporting portal — yes, the problem is pervasive enough to warrant a special portal — as well as reports going directly to Cornell.

"The numbers are certainly up this year," Eshenaur said, adding: "The populations are highest the closer you get to the city, with very low numbers in Eastern Long Island and the North Fork of Long Island." But, noticeably present this summer in western Suffolk.

Eshenaur urges killing the spotted lanternfly on sight.

Matthew Chayes and Nicholas Grasso report on Newsday.com that the spotted lanternfly — Lycorma delicatula — is an invasive insect pest from Asia. It made big news in past seasons in New York City. Now it's Long Island's turn.

The black nymphs can be seen from April to July. Then the adults begin to appear that month, about an inch long and half an inch wide at rest, with what the state Department of Environmental Conservation calls "eye-catching wings" — grayish with black spots, red with spots and dark with a white stripe.

Robert Carpenter, director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, which represents about 550 farms, said his constituents have reported that the East End has been spared from the swarm — for now — but are dreading what could happen if, as predicted, the spotted lanternfly population spikes.

Carpenter said the pest "basically bores into the trunks of trees and grapevines and other wooded masses to lay their eggs," and can devastate crops.

Eshenaur said, "Grapevines are a favorite crop plant of this insect," particularly worrisome for a region like the eastern end of the Island and its wineries and vineyards.