North Fork Town Plots Waterfront Retail Zone, Nightclub Ban

Greenport is known for its marina and surfside restaurants, not for DJs playing loud music deep into the night.

But just in case, the North Fork village is planning to ban nightclubs as part of a larger retail zoning revamp that comes with a load of requirements for new businesses, the Suffolk Times reported.

The plan would order new businesses to add parking, even though parking in the popular seaside town is not especially difficult, except perhaps by suburban Long Island standards (meaning an open spot within 10 steps of any business).

Two spaces for every three customers, plus a space for every employee, would be required for new bars, restaurants and tasting rooms. Stores, gyms, galleries and banks would need one spot per 300 square feet.

Applicants could seek a variance or pay $25,000 or $50,000 — depending on the business’ size — for each spot they are required to build but don’t.

The proposed rezoning would forbid entertainment businesses that have cover charges, disc jockeys, sound systems and late hours. Other entertainment businesses could operate, but would need a two-year license that might not be renewed for any that had been slapped with citations.

Village officials scheduled a public hearing on the proposal a day after Labor Day. The town posted a notice of the hearing, as well as the 104-page proposal itself, on its website.

That did not satisfy local business leaders and Compass’ Bridget Elkin, one of the North Fork’s top-selling residential agents. They say the village is rushing through a sweeping change about which most of its residents, workers and business owners know little or nothing.

Greenport, which has suspended commercial development on the waterfront and is cracking down on short-term rentals to prevent loud parties, also plans to rewrite its noise code for residential districts, according to the publication.

But the more significant changes would be to retail zoning along Greenport’s waterfront, which village officials want to limit to businesses that rely on its harbor and surrounding bay, such as those processing or selling fish and shellfish. Yacht clubs, marinas, maritime museums, boat charters and storage would also be welcome.

So would government facilities, although it’s unclear why those not involved in maritime operations would need to be there, other than for the view.

— Erik Engquist