Greenport Hears First Post-Moratorium Commercial Proposals

The Greenport Village Planning Board heard two hotel proposals last week, the Suffolk Times reported. They were the first projects to come before the board since a 10-month moratorium froze progress in the North Fork village’s downtown.

One proposal is to enlarge the Greenporter, an established hotel on Front Street. The owners are requesting an expansion of 9,000 square feet, 21 more rooms and an increase in the number of restaurant seats from 45 to 65. This would be accomplished by joining two buildings and adding a third floor.

Boston-based Blue Flag Partners, owner of The Greenporter, is also proposing relocating the main parking lot to the west side of the property, drawing some concern from the planning board.

The board also heard a proposal to build an 18-room inn at 200 Main Street, the former site of Sweetwater Indulgences. The proposal comes from Mark Boyle and Erik Warner. The latter was a vocal critic of the moratorium.

The proposal is seven rooms smaller than a previous version of the concept. Other changes include reducing the building size, increasing the minimum size of each room and moving the lobby to the back of the building. To comply with a change in zoning made during the moratorium, the inn also includes a retail component, expected to be a gallery space.

The applicants noted that their revisions reflect community feedback, but the planning board still expressed concern about a parking study commissioned by the applicants, which may lead to a third-party study. Parking is relatively easy in the popular summer destination, but not by Long Island standards, meaning no searching or walking.

The proposals — both at a “pre-submission” stage to solicit feedback from the planning board — might presage the future of commercial development in the village. Initially set for six months, the moratorium lasted another three before being lifted as zoning changes were enacted.

Those changes included modifying entertainment permits and variances for non-maritime use on the village’s primary shopping street. There were also plans for parking mandates and fees, though those were reduced from what was initially opposed in response to complaints from the business community.

— Holden Walter-Warner