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🐝 Zoning Rewrite: 7 Guiding Goals

🐝 Zoning Rewrite: 7 Guiding Goals

Zoning Rewrite, Pipeline Showdown, 500 Backpacks Strong

Thomas Loncar
August 21, 2025

Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! We already mapped out your weekend. Spoiler: it’s good.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

Zoning Rewrite
Pipeline Showdown
500 Backpacks Strong

Ready, Set, Go!

The Lowdown

Zoning Rewrite Picks Up Steam 📜

Southold’s zoning code is getting a revamp, and not the quick kind. Think once-in-a-generation, not weekend makeover. Town officials say a full draft of the overhaul should land with the Town Board by early October, and it’s a big deal: the rewrite touches everything from where you can build to how big, and what counts as “too big.”

Seven guiding goals are shaping the rewrite: more housing options, fewer “McMansions,” stronger support for small businesses, updated rules for ADUs, protection for farms and open space, simpler approvals, and a code that doesn’t require a law degree to read.

Greenport’s two cents: Village leaders worry the changes could push growth into its gateways while draining life from the village core. They also want stronger protections for aquaculture and what’s left of the working waterfront.

What’s Next: Draft recommendations are due late September or early October. Some are pushing to move fast while public interest is high, but zoning leaders keep reminding everyone: clarity takes time.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Pipeline Showdown 💧

The North Fork Pipeline is shaping up to be less about water and more about power.

Here’s the buzz: Suffolk County Water Authority wants to run an 8.5-mile, 24-inch main from Riverhead to Southold to handle summer demand and maybe one day hook Orient into the system. The state gave SCWA the green light to oversee its own project, but Riverhead isn’t having it. They’re pulling out the Monroe Balancing Test (think legal tug-of-war over who’s really in charge) and Southold’s standing right beside them.

Riverhead says SCWA has been dismissive, hasn’t shared plans, and left them off the “important agency” list. Add in worries about farm impacts, roadwork scars, tourism dollars, and whether this pipe is sized to push more growth than anyone’s asking for, and you’ve got a full-blown standoff.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

500 Backpacks Strong 🎒

CAST just wrapped up its annual school supply drive, and let’s just say the North Fork showed up. More than 500 backpacks, the biggest haul in three years, are packed and ready to land in the hands of local students this week.

It’s a true community effort: dozens of volunteers, local businesses, and even the Southold police stepping in to help kids pick out their bags. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

Last Call 🍗

The grill is hot, the corn is shucked, and the Cutchogue Fire Department is almost out of tickets for its 68th Annual Chicken Barbecue this Saturday at Peconic Bay Vineyard. Out of nearly 3,000 tickets, only a dozen are left, and with 3,520 chicken halves on deck, you know this isn’t your average backyard cookout.

For $40 you get half a chicken, all the summer sides (corn, potato & cucumber salads, tomatoes, peaches, ice cream, and a drink), plus their famous secret sauce, a recipe guarded by just four members. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

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Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

🧘 Breathe In, Stress Out Join North Fork Bodies in Motion for a one-hour Authentic Qigong Meditation session designed to reverse the effects of stress and promote self-healing. Learn breathing techniques, sitting and standing meditations, Tai Chi/Qigong self-healing practices, and anxiety-reducing exercises, all with a focus on mindful awareness. No experience necessary, bring a folding chair and water. Cost is $25 and pre-registration is required. More Info

🎥 Movie Night The Landcraft Garden Foundation is turning its dreamy landscape into an open-air cinema, screening Edward Scissorhands. Bring a chair, your go-to snacks, whatever you’re sipping these days and settle in under the stars. More Info

Saturday

🌿 Great Pond Cleanup Coffee first, cleanup second. The Kenney’s/McCabe Beach Civic Association, Group for the East End and Town of Southold are hosting the Great Pond Cleanup. After a quick meetup at Lake Court for caffeine and training, volunteers will head out to Great Pond to clear phragmites and give native plants room to thrive. More Info

🍗 Chicken BBQ The Cutchogue Fire Department’s 68th Annual Chicken BBQ is back and yes, it’s still at Peconic Bay Vineyard while the new firehouse gets built. It’s everything you love: juicy chicken and local pride. Find your favorite firefighter or call (631) 734-6907 for tickets. More Info

🍉 Watermelon Festival Head to Harbes Family Farm for their annual Watermelon Festival on Saturday & Sunday. There’ll be juicy slices, farm fun, and watermelon-eating contests that are equal parts competitive and hilarious. Live music from 1–5 PM both days keeps the vibes going strong. More Info

❤️ More Good + NoFo Pilates Pilates in the park? Yes. Doing it for a good cause? Double yes. Stacey Krumenacker is leading a light, feel-good Pilates class in Mitchell Park. It’s donation based and every dollar goes to help a 76-year-old dad who’s the full-time caregiver for his profoundly disabled daughter, now also battling lymphoma. Pilates has been his lifeline. Let’s help keep it that way. More Info

🫖 Tea Party A picture perfect morning awaits moms and their little ones at Hortons Flower Farm. Sip refreshing iced tea, snack on sweet treats, and wander the garden to pick your own bouquet. Kids get to craft a flower crown to wear, and every ticket includes a professional photo among the blooms to capture the memory. More Info

🛹 Community Market Skate meets street art at the Best Frnds Community Market. Roll through for a day of local art vendors, photography, live painting, and an open skate session right at the heart of Greenport Skatepark. More Info

🇺🇸 Travel Back to 1775 The 3rd NY Regiment is setting up camp at the Oysterponds Historical Society, complete with muskets, marching, and life just as it was during the Revolution. Soldiers, families, and camp followers will all be in full period dress, giving you a front-row seat to history in action. More Info

🍦 Pups & Pints (of Ice Cream) The North Fork Animal Welfare League is teaming up with Magic Fountain for the ultimate feel-good event. Come meet some adorable, adoptable dogs while treating yourself to a pint (or two) of your favorite ice cream. More Info

🇧🇷 Brazilian Night Get ready for a dockside trip to São Paulo. The Shoals & Maizeat are bringing the heat with Brazilian Night. Get ready for spit-roasted meats carved right before your eyes, a colorful spread of traditional dishes, and caipirinhas that taste like they came straight from the streets of São Paulo. Don’t miss the samba beats, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, and barefoot dancing on the grass. More Info

🍽️ 10 Mile Dinner Paumanok Vineyards is throwing a dinner that’s as local as it gets, every ingredient comes from within 10 miles of the vines. Chef Tom Schaudel is bringing the magic with a hyper-local tasting menu, each course perfectly paired with Paumanok wines, all at one long communal table. More Info

🎶 Real NYC Blues When veteran bassist and producer Mike Griot says he’s bringing real NYC blues to the North Fork Arts Center, he means it. Head over and listen to top-tier musicians from the city (and beyond), an intimate venue, and a sound that’ll stick with you long after the last note fades. More Info

Sunday

🏃 Race from Sound to Bay The Jamesport Fire Department’s annual Sound to Bay 5K & 10K is back, and it’s the most scenic sprint of the summer. Start on the beach, breeze through South Jamesport, and cross the finish line with a view. More Info

🚗 Start Your Engines The 11th Annual Southold American Legion Car Show rolls into town. From antiques to hot rods to motorcycles, this is your chance to show off your prized wheels or just admire the chrome. Expect live music, local vendors, tasty eats from a food truck, and raffle prizes throughout the day. More Info

🦞 Lobster, Chips & Sparkling Sips The summer lunch code has been cracked. Here’s the lineup: a flight of three Sparkling Pointe wines paired with North Fork Potato Chips, followed by a Barrow Food House lobster roll with a glass of Sparkling Pointe Rosé. More Info

^{_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just fun things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something is sponsored}}

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Thursday

Friday

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Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships

🐝 Zoning Rewrite: 7 Guiding Goals

Zoning Rewrite, Pipeline Showdown, 500 Backpacks Strong

Together With

Sponsored By Party Animal North Fork

Where North Fork Parties Begin 🎉

The Lowdown

Zoning Rewrite Picks Up Steam 📜

Pipeline Showdown 💧

500 Backpacks Strong 🎒

Last Call 🍗

Happenings: Weekend Preview

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Thursday

Friday

THANKS!