“Nimby” (Not In My Back Yard) is often improperly used to dismiss People who oppose a development. Opponents to development are Nimbys only if the development will be valuable to the community and located in the least harmful location.

In 1983, a development proposed to be located in the heart of Cutchogue was called “Seacroft”; In 1988, it was renamed “Hamlet at Cutchogue”; In 2005, it was renamed “Heritage at Cutchogue”.

The irony of these names is patent. The farmland proposed to be developed into a high density residential subdivision is as far from the sea as you can get in Cutchogue. Cutchogue is already a hamlet. And the development of a neighborhood real Cutchogue Heritage

proposed has been and still is planned for maximum profit to the developers with blatant disregard for the community.destructive of neighborhood would have significant adverse impacts on the entire North Fork especially because it is sited inside a Watershed Protection Zone (WPZ) within which development density would be discouraged and the preservation of open space and agricultural `land would be encouraged as defined by the Southold Water Supply Management & Watershed Protection Strategy and on the Northern border of Cutchogue Hamlet Center.

The land is currently fallow farmland. It was spot zoned in 1983. The spot zoning has not yet been the subject of a fair review. The rezoning in 2009 mitigates the inappropriate zoning, but still permits developments which would be potentially destructive of the natural and our cultural environments.

Following the 2009 rezoning, the developer started a lawsuit against Southold Town. In the Complaint the developer alleges that Southold Town Officials conspired with members of Group for Cutchogue. Companies that sue the government for “conspiring” with citizens are anti-democratic.

The issues which are facing Cutchogue are not limited to Cutchogue. The Group for Cutchogue understands that local planning should be based on the entire local government jurisdiction. This issue of united we stand is closely related to the issue of how we communicate, or fail to communicate. While personal face to face meetings will always be essential, communicating via the internet is also essential. The lack of organization, inefficiency and ineffectiveness of our local government is reflected in the hapazard internet presence of Southold Town.

Benja is still working on designing the new SaveCutchogue.com click here to view the old document index

Democracy is a continuous process by which the public defends and promotes the public interest. What can we do?

Which way will Cutchogue develop?