Bed and Breakfast Issue in our Village!
Someone who lives in the vicinity of Lake Shore Drive, Patchogue Village, thought it would be a great idea to change the Village code, to allow creation of a Bed and Breakfast, in any area of our village including 1A Residential. A proposal was submitted to our village, and addressed by our village government.

At the March 9, 2009, Patchogue Village Board Meeting, the issue of allowing applications to open a Bed and Breakfast, in a 1A residential area, was considered. This change to our code would allow an applicant to start a Bed and Breakfast business, next to your house!.

It appears that we in the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch have been focusing on certain issues and ignoring other issues. As I have said many times, when our quality of life is acceptable, we as a group tend to be passive.

I must admit that I did not know that this important issue was being considered at the March 9, 2009 Village Board Meeting! I wish that the agenda of upcoming Village Board Meetings was published on the Village Web Site. “Joe the Plumber,” simply doesn’t have the time or the desire to rummage through the legal notices every week! I would rather go to the Beach!

Someone did their homework! All and every rule pertaining to allowing someone to open a Bed and Breakfast in a residential area was meticulously laid out. Go to the Patchogue Village Web Site and read the Minutes of the March 9, 2009 Board Meeting.

http://www.patchoguevillage.org/

Twenty five residents from Patchogue signed a Petition opposing establishment of code allowing a Bed and Breakfast in 1A Residential areas of our village. A few non residents, and two residents, spoke in support of allowing a B&B to operate in 1A Residential Zoning.

Some local residents see a Bed and Breakfast as yet another Boarding House.

Honestly, I personally have a big problem with a B&B in any area of our village. I personally am in favor of a moratorium on Bed and Breakfasts, as well as Boarding Houses. We must learn from our past, or else we are doomed to repeat it.

Another resident was concerned that TriTec, the company that is going to build the Hotel, might be upset with the possibility of new legislated competition.

The Patchogue Village Board reserved decision; that means that it could be passed at any time without notice, possibly in a different form, such as allowing a B & B to operate in the Historic District! I doubt that this could be passes in any form, in lieu of the overwhelming opposition to this issue.

I personally feel that the village of Patchogue is literally crippled when it comes to housing issues. A member of this Neighborhood Watch Group said that her neighbor is operating an illegal boarding house, but the village could do nothing. (Please forgive me for not giving specific details! It would be totally reckless of me to divulge information that could be used to bolster yet more illegal Boarding Houses!)

(The material necessary to write this article was abstracted, from the published Minutes of the March 9, 2009 Patchogue Village Board Meeting.)

Neighborhood Watch Members:
Please reply to this article with your comments: (No anonymous comments will be accepted on this issue! I must recognize your email address; although all names will remain confidential.)

Send emails to the email address listed below!
davispark2000-manw@yahoo.com

Reply to Joe the Plumber:
Dear “Joe the Plumber”:

Please be advised that the Village Board Agenda is posted on the Village website on the Friday prior to the Monday night meeting (2nd and 4th Monday’s of the month). On rare occasions we are unable to post it on Friday, but as a general practice, it is always posted by the close of business on Friday.

Regards,
Patti

Patricia M. Seal
Village Clerk
Village of Patchogue
14 Baker Street
Patchogue, New York 11772

Comment from a MANW member:

A member of our NW said that he is not against a Bed and Breakfast, in a "Tourist Area," possibly near the water, but against a B&B in a residential area.

Maple Avenue Gazette goes interstate
I recently visited longtime friends in New Jersey. My wife and I met Eddie and Arlene Forty Six years ago on our honeymoon in Bermuda. We managed to maintain contact through the years, and even visit each other occasionally. On my most recent visit, to celebrate Eddie’s 70Th Birthday, I started to talk to Eddie about local Patchogue issues. To my surprise, Ed knew exactly what I was talking about, and also had opinions on our local issues! I was surprised when Ed told me that he has a shortcut to our Gazette on his desktop, and reads it occasionally! Wow what a surprise!

I hereby make Eddie and Arlene honorary consultants to the Maple Avenue Gazette, simply because they care enough to look!

My definition of a friend is someone who calls or emails, once a year, to see if I am dead or alive! Reading this Blog also fills the above requirements!
Thank you Ed and Arlene for a wonderful time!

Happy Birthday Ed!

Send your Comments, Articles, and Announcements (about 200 words), to the Maple Avenue Neighborhood Watch, via Email to davispark2000-manw@yahoo.com
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