Town board wrap: New alcohol policy, farm stand laws and mega-drone company coming to EPCAL

After an hour of impassioned statements on both sides of the issue, two controversial farm stand laws were adopted unanimously yesterday by the town board.

Under the new laws, the farm size requirement to open a farm stand has been reduced from 7 acres to 2 acres, and the portion of off-site goods a farm stand is allowed to sell must now have been produced within 250 miles of the farm – a radius that some say should be made smaller. (Full story)

Other actions taken by the town board yesterday:

• An alcohol policy was adopted, prohibiting alcohol at all events geared toward youth. (Full policy)
• Recently hired principal accountant Donald Pearce resigned.
• A real estate brokerage firm was hired to sell the East Lawn building at 542 East Main Street – the same firm that the town recently engaged to market the EPCAL site.
• A senior citizen discount week is in the works for December 6 to December 12.
• Hickory Lane in Baiting Hollow was added to the town’s list of roads for snow clearing.
• The town is bringing a lawsuit against TS Haulers for alleged illegal sandmining operations.

Public hearings set:

• The town is considering a local law to override the tax levy limit set by New York State. A public hearing will take place October 20, 7:05 p.m. at Town Hall.
• Luminati Aerospace LLC, the company that  purchased the former Sky Dive Long Island site, is developing a solar-powered unmanned aircraft to provide wifi and communication services from the earth’s stratosphere. Luminati has applied to use the runways at the Enterprise Park in Calverton. A public hearing will take place October 20, 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
• The former Court House Restaurant site on Griffing Avenue has been deemed an unsafe structure by the Riverhead fire marshall, and a public hearing is required by law to establish the dangerous condition. The hearing will take place November 4, 2:05 p.m. at Town Hall.
• Under current Town Code, special events on Sundays are required to begin after 1:05 p.m. The board is considering striking out that requirement in an amendment that would also restrict special events on Sundays with service of alcohol to after 12 p.m. only. A hearing will be held November 4, 2:20 p.m. at Town Hall.
• Microbreweries may soon be allowed in a handful of new areas around town located in “Village Center” zoning – including a strip of Pulaski Street, the north side of Main Road in Aquebogue near West and Church Lanes and a portion of Main Road in Jamesport near Manor Lane. A public hearing on the zoning amendment will be held on November 4, 2:15 p.m. at Town Hall.
• The town is preparing its application for next year’s Community Development Block Grant funds, which will bring in an estimated $103,130 of aid from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The town wishes to solicit comments from the public regarding the application in a public hearing set for November 4, 2:10 p.m. at Town Hall.