Riverhead to Host Forum on Agritourism

Riverhead town officials have scheduled a forum on agritourism in response to an overwhelming amount of public comment in response to a proposed change to the zoning of agritourism, inns and resorts.

The topic was originally set to be discussed during a public hearing at an August 20 town board work session meeting but that hearing was cancelled since the town board meeting rules do not allow officials to respond to questions. The hearing was replaced with a dedicated forum on the topic that does allow a bac-and-forth conversation, officials said.

“Supervisor (Timothy) Hubbard and the entire Town Board have  agreed it would be beneficial and productive to host a public forum on the subject,” officials said, “in response to the unusually high volume of opposition and commentary received by all members of the Town Board — whether that be emails, calls or texts — regarding the topic of  Agritourism, Inns and Resorts, some of which may reflect a misunderstanding of the intent  and/or extent of the proposed change.”

The legislation in question is regarding Chapter 301, Zoning and Land Development is related to  proposed specially permitted use for Agritourism, Inns and Resorts in the RA80 Zoning Use District.

The forum is scheduled take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18 in the Riverhead Town Hall Board Room.