Civic groups push for 'scenic corridor' designation for Riverhead roadway

Several Riverhead civic groups are pushing to designate the idyllic Sound Avenue as a scenic corridor so they can preserve the bucolic nature of one of Riverhead’s most historic roadways.

While emphasizing the idea is still preliminary, civic group representatives say that several instances involving developments or expansions along the roadway, both recently and in previous years, have them considering the benefits of such a designation to help regulate development there. Some groups have recently presented Town Hall with petitions signed by residents supporting the idea.

Linda Prizer, president of the Northville Beach Civic Association, said it is important to preserve the road’s rural character while still allowing wiggle room for commerce from wineries, farm stands, craft shops and "the kinds of things people come out here for."

"What we’re trying to do is not have this corridor look like the Long Island Expressway," Prizer said. "It’s a historic corridor, but historic is not enough. In order to really preserve everything, you’d really have to have something like a scenic corridor."

The 14.2-mile roadway contains open space and has several farms and farm stands, craft shops and wineries along the road.

Riverhead’s 2003 Comprehensive Plan, or its Master Plan — which outlines the town’s future goals and objectives while guiding development — defines a scenic corridor as "roads, streams, trails, and other linear paths that are characterized by an exceptional visual quality along the sides of the corridor."

New York State designated Sound Avenue as a historic corridor in 1974. However, the plan notes, the historic designation "has not actually resulted in concrete protections for the roadway."

A recent proposal from Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard to build a 6,000-plus-square-foot tasting room at its winery on Sound Avenue spurred discussion about the roadway’s future. The vineyard’s application for site plan approval drew opposition from residents and was rejected by the town’s Planning Board on Oct. 7.

Mike Foley, a Reeves Park resident and member of the Sound Beach Heights Civic Association, told Newsday on Monday that civics involved would like to have the corridor designated as scenic as the town works on updating its comprehensive plan within the next 12 months.

"Our desire is to tighten up the existing language to make sure there are no abuses of existing farmlands to expand under the guide of agri-tourism to result in putting things in there that don’t belong," Foley said.

George Bartunek, a former Riverhead Town councilman and member of the Greater Calverton Civic Association, said the town needs to find a balance between development and preserving the character of roadways like Sound Avenue.

Town Councilman Tim Hubbard said Tuesday that while the town must consider proposals for Sound Avenue on a case-by-case basis, he understands why residents would feel the need to preserve the roadway.

"You have to look at each situation individually," Hubbard said. "But to me, at the end of the day, it’s very important to keep Sound Avenue historic and as rural as we can."