Housing choices
To the Editor:
In terms of constructing neighborhood housing, lots of people are involved about change. Within the 40-plus years I’ve been on the Island, it has modified.
There are now not youngsters enjoying flashlight tag at Card’s Cabins on summer time evenings. Charlie’s, or Kraus’ is now not the place to get ice cream or a hotdog on a summer time day on the seaside. Carol’s vanilla cokes, chili on Wednesdays, and Fedi’s roast beef sandwiches — all gone.
It’s onerous to simply accept change. Offering a couple of extra housing choices is an effort to maintain Islanders on the Island. Did you hear that? A number of. Not tons of, as individuals have threatened. That will be financially, mathematically, and environmentally not possible.
And a further 0.5% actual property switch tax for first-time property patrons in right now’s world will result in an nearly unnoticeable change to most.
However the change shall be enormous for these searching for stability.
NELL LOWELL, Shelter Island
Want solutions
To the Editor:
In concept, everybody ought to be in favor of the idea “inexpensive housing.” Nevertheless, we’re being requested to vote on an addition to an actual property switch tax that new patrons — not residents — should pay, with no sundown, to fund a mere idea because it stands now.
I haven’t seen a selected plan and my intestine says vote “No,” as I’ve a number of unanswered questions.
The place is the housing to be positioned? Some say alongside Route 114 which might detract from the aesthetic of the primary artery. How is the lottery for items to be carried out? Does a brand new resident making $140,000 a 12 months have the identical odds of securing a unit as a fifth-generation single father or mother making $60,000 a 12 months? Is there any incentive for the lottery winners to ultimately transfer out to make room for others, or can we simply preserve constructing new constructions? Might this future plan be a disincentive to make sufficient cash so that you just now not qualify for the profit?
These questions amongst others want solutions earlier than I vote to approve a brand new tax. The plan, no matter it’s, wants examine, evaluate and commentary by individuals smarter and extra skilled with the difficulty than me.
At current, there are about two months earlier than we’re requested to vote on this new tax, but there isn’t any particular proposal for the allocation of the income.
This proposal (no matter it lastly is) though nicely supposed, wants time for evaluation. Thus, I’ll vote “No.”
JOHN EVANS, Shelter Island
Regrettable
To the Editor:
Final week’s story on the controversy over the City Board’s choice to make use of as much as $100,000 of CPF funds for a examine for its proposed switch of developments rights (TDR) program repeats varied doubtful assertions made on behalf of the City Board.
One which deserves explicit scrutiny is that land acquisitions made in prior years didn’t adjust to relevant authorized necessities as a result of there have been no public hearings.
First, because the City Board emphasizes when it desires to restrict the actions of volunteer our bodies or reject their suggestions, the CPF Advisory Board (CPFAB) and the City’s different volunteer advisory boards and committees, are advisory.
The buck stops with the City Board, which indicators the contracts of sale and would have had the only real authority to note a public listening to. If someway previous acquisitions ought to have been, however weren’t made, topic to a public listening to, the accountability fell to the City Board and City Legal professional at the moment.
Second, I’ve not heard it instructed, and don’t have any purpose to imagine, that any previous CPF acquisitions have been consummated with out ample public disclosure. Accordingly, even when the City didn’t adjust to a listening to requirement earlier than making the acquisitions, the general public was not prejudiced.
It’s regrettable that previous CPF acquisitions are being criticized, somewhat than celebrated.
STEPHEN JACOBS, Shelter Island
A chilly one
To the Editor:
As a self-styled craft beer aficionado and a Shelter Island resident, I felt prompted to take a look at the three newly-renovated resorts, and the bank-turned-restaurant, as to their craft beer menus.
An enormous disappointment!
After multi-million {dollars} spent on renovations and enhancements, their faucets have been antiquated, and their beer coolers anemic. Not one in every of them poured a pilsner (probably the most sought-after heat climate lager), No porters, and never a double IPA in the home. They simply don’t appear to get It that there’s an enormous world on the market of craft and specialty beers and a market that buys them. Their ignorance is inflicting them to overlook the culinary business’s area of interest of beer pairing.
Now, I gained’t rank the beer menus of all 4 bars, since that may smack of favoritism, which I most likely could possibly be rightly accused of. And grading the menus would change into subjective and superfluous. Suffice to say {that a} trainer of a category in Beer 101 (sure, there are such programs) would return every of them a report card that claims: “Wants enchancment.”
HANK McMANUS, Shelter Island
Editor’s notice: Mr. McManus previously wrote a beer column for AM-NY and has contributed to nationwide publications about beer.
Objections
To the Editor:
I’m writing with respect to the Reporter’s description of the ZBA listening to of my request to interchange an ugly present deck with an prolonged deck. The declare that the prolonged deck will have an effect on my neighbors views relies on a misreading of the location plan.
It’s onerous to listen to that my deck will “destroy the character of Silver Seashore” when Silver Seashore has modified through the nearly 30years I’ve lived there, from a beachy neighborhood of bungalows. My bungalow is one in every of three remaining Sears and Roebuck package homes. I’m dedicated to its repairs and to sustaining its historic attraction.
I used to be saddened by the coordinated assault on my request. 4 of the properties objecting are owned by the identical particular person. This 12 months, I rented one weekend in June. That discounted rental was to one of many objectors. The Reporter failed to say my full-time neighbor’s testimony in help.
The objections are primarily based on the false assertion that there was a historical past of “noise complaints”, and that I lease my home. Not as soon as in 28 years has a neighbor spoken to me about noise.
The only 10:15 p.m. grievance throughout a small celebration on a Friday evening was made by one of many objectors, proper earlier than the listening to. The barking canine grievance was attributable to the grandsons of one of many objectors pitching baseballs at my good friend’s canines. My beforehand uncomplaining neighbors characterize our welcoming residence as a “nuisance”.
I lease my home pursuant to an STR license. For many of the 12 months, my daughter and Silver Seashore pals get pleasure from my home. We kayak and swim when entry shouldn’t be blocked by the Sunfish Races. I agree with Ms. Peffer’s latest plea that we stay in a neighborhood and ought to be form to one another.
MICHELLE d’ARCAMBAL, Shelter Island
Remembering Dave
To the Editor:
Please be a part of our household in remembering a really particular Islander, David Klenawicus, for a joyous celebration of life. All are welcome to a Mass of Remembrance at Our Woman of the Isle at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18.
Lunch will observe at midday at 11 Spring Backyard Avenue, Shelter Island Heights, with Dave’s favourite songs from the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies.
Please share a reminiscence or {photograph} of Dave by emailing: [email protected].
KATHRYN KLENAWICUS, Shelter Island
Vote ‘Sure”
To the Editor:
I really like Shelter Island. I grew up right here. After highschool, I swore I might by no means stay right here once more.
I used to be bored with understanding all the things about everybody. It took me 10 years of dwelling elsewhere to comprehend simply how wonderful this neighborhood actually is. This place is particular.
Sadly, most of the folks that make this place so particular battle to afford to stay right here. Numerous individuals I do know have moved from the Island. Numerous individuals I do know are saving as much as purchase a home some other place. They aren’t doing this as a result of they wish to, however as a result of they’re getting priced out.
These persons are all vital components of our neighborhood. A few of them pour your morning espresso or catch the fish you grill for dinner. A few of them play you in pickleball or stroll the identical seaside as you at sundown. In case you’re actually fortunate, a few of them will take you clamming or for a sail across the Island.
If we don’t create neighborhood housing, many of those individuals will go away. Please vote “Sure” on the Peconic Bay Area Neighborhood Housing Act in November to assist preserve Shelter Island the particular place that it’s.
Don’t be a sufferer of misinformation. The proposed tasks are very affordable. Examine them out on the Neighborhood Housing Fund Advisory Board web page of the City Web site:shelterislandtown.us/community-housing-fund-advisory-board-1
CHRIS DiORIO, Shelter Island
There’s just one
To the Editor:
There is just one place to get your fuel pumped. There is just one pharmacy. There is just one ironmongery store.
There is just one goody pile. There is just one fish cooler. All people wants the ferry drive. All people wants somebody to trim the paths. All people wants their grocery retailer.
You discover your wooden by calling three different individuals. Every part is phrase of mouth on Shelter Island. There is just one Shelter Island. What’s it going to take to maintain it this manner? Reasonably priced housing. As a result of most of those individuals, or individuals who work at different institutions battle to afford to stay right here.
A vote ‘Sure’ for the switch tax this November is a vote sure for maintaining Shelter Island distinctive and never the New Hamptons.
KELCI McINTOSH, Shelter Island
