Owner Of Strong's Marine Speaks On Proposed Mattituck Expansion

MATTITUCK, NY —Some Mattituck residents have raised concerns recently about a proposal for two new boat storage buildings in Mattituck they say could impact the environment and their quality of life.

This week, Jeff Strong, owner of Strong's Marine, spoke to Patch to clarify the issues and outline the proposal.

The plan for the Strong's Marine storage buildings, which would be sited at 3430 Mill Road in Mattituck, would include the construction of two boat storage facilities, one at 52,500 square feet and the other at 49,000 square feet, located on 32.6 acres in the Marine II— and R-80, or residential — zoning districts where there are currently 69,245 square feet feet of existing boatyard buildings.

Strong has said in past months that the project will bring 15 new full-time jobs to the area. He also set out to clarify some misinformation he said the "Save the Mattituck Inlet" group had shared.

First, he said, the proposed building height is 45 feet, not 55 feet, as the group stated; the structures are designed to be built into the elevated sand area, allowing for minimal view impact.

In addition, the trucking of sand is anticipated to take seven months, not a year, as the group stated; the entire project is slated to take 13 months, he said.

As for those raising environmental concerns, Strong pointed to advancements taken to protect natural resources.

Strong said the project will allow for the Cornell Cooperative Extension Floating Upwell System, or FLUPSY, a shellfish nursery growing system, at the marina that will help to keep the waterways clean.

"We worked with the CCE marine program to transform a portion of our marina into a shellfish nursery that enabled approximately 15 million clams to be grown at our marina over the last three growing seasons —June to October 2018, 2019 and 2020 — through the Long Island Shellfish Restoration Project in partnership with CCE Marine," Strong said. "Each of the eight FLUSPYs we hosted enable up to 600 gallons of water a minute to be passed through the millions of juvenile clams housed in these systems, leading to improved water quality. The Mattituck Inlet has proven to be the best location for growth rate in Southold Town. The FLUPSY site at Strong’s Yacht Center is integral to shellfish restoration on Long Island and will continue in partnership with CCE for many years to come to support the health of the Mattituck Inlet."

In addition, Strong said, the project will allow for the roughly 12 commercial fishing vessels on the Inlet to continue to dock, service, and store with the business and remain viable.

Plans for the project call for water runoff to be significantly improved over what exists today and septic systems to be improved over what is currently in place, he said. To that end, Strong said, Suffolk County Water Authority water will be brought in, eliminating the need for well water for potable uses.

The project also means that the Strong family, with longtime roots in the community, will remain firmly focused on growing the business. "This project and investment will allow this marina to remain a marina for many years to come and not develop the Marine II-zoned property for housing," he said.

Also, Strong added, it's important to note that the parcel on which the expansion will take place is zoned MII, one of the few sites in Southold Town specifically designated in the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan for such marine uses.

In addition, Strong’s Marine provides a pump out boat that services seven days a week in season to be proactive in pumping out boats that visit the inlet, he added.

Strong assured that his vision for the future of Mattituck was similar to that of residents who want to protect the area they love.

"We are neighbors," he said. "It’s not like 'us against them.' We want the same things that they want."

The Strong family has been in Mattituck since 1965, he said; they own two homes on the property where the buildings are proposed to be built. "It's not like we're somebody that's not local and not affected."

Strong and his wife Re have lived on the Mattituck Inlet for 35 years, he added. "From a personal and professional perspective, we want and need clean water just as much as everyone else does. We have three grandkids who are boating and swimming on that inlet — we get it. We are not going to do anything to jeopardize our grandkids."

Allowing residents to weigh in on a proposed project is all part of the planning board process, Strong said; but, he added, while the "Save the Mattituck Inlet" group sent in letters — outlining their concerns about loss of trees, the impact on the inlet and environment, and quality of life issues — there were also letters sent to the planning board in support of the project.

Once residents have listed concerns, Strong said he, his family, and a consultant will review those issues with water and environmental experts.

As for those who say the project will involve "strip mining" the land, Strong said that land is elevated and the sand was put there by Suffolk County when the inlet was dredged in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Asked about tree removal, Strong said: "Do we love taking down trees? Of course not. But it is MII-zoned property...and we'll take steps to minimize the impacts."

Anne Sherwood Pundyk, an artist and writer who moved her studio to Mattituck in 2014, lives and work on the North Fork year-round. She's voiced her concerns and organized other neighbors though a Facebook page and outreach.

She said it was with a "mix of horror and personal disappointment" that she learned of the proposed project, which is about a quarter-mile from her home.

"The size of the project is completely out of character for the Mattituck Inlet," she said. "Nearly 500 trees will be destroyed along with their understory habitats for flora and fauna. The 134,000 cubic yards of sand excavated will not only destabilize the adjacent public open space woodland preserve, but promote erosion, affect runoff, and potentially impact groundwater and local well water."

She worries about trucks on residential streets used by pedestrians, bicyclists and school buses, she said.

The "Save the Mattituck Inlet" urged residents with concerns to provide written comments to the Southold Town planning board, to be included in the draft scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project's application.

"We will be continuing our effort to raise awareness about the project in the coming months while the application is reviewed," she said.

Strong said he believes community communication is vital; he reached out to the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association to organize a Zoom presentation on the project. "We're neighbors," he said."We care. We want to share the facts and listen to feedback as best we can."

In addition, Strong said he is willing to meet with any neighbors who have concerns."We want the same things," he said.