Case Study

Greenport LWRP

Community Name & Location:
Greenport, New York, Suffolk County, Long Island

Challenge:
The decline of traditional industries caused the waterfront to deteriorate, and the village needed to foster economic vitality. A controversial proposal to convert a former shipyard into condominiums threatened the traditional maritime commercial waterfront.

Vision:
Use Greenport's identity as an historic and working waterfront community to revitalize the Village
  To address the competition of land uses for waterfront properties, Greenport developed a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). In order to implement the LWRP, the Village adopted several zoning revisions and new local laws to protect waterfront commercial development and encourage the type of waterfront development envisioned during the planning process. A local historic preservation law was enacted to increase protection of Greenport’s historic resources and a waterfront consistency law was adopted to ensure that all actions are consistent with the LWRP.

The Village’s existing waterfront commercial zoning district was strengthened by eliminating residential condominiums as an allowed use and water-enhanced uses were made conditional to prevent displacement of water-dependent uses. A bonus building coverage provision was also created to encourage private developers to build public walkways along the waterfront. Other zoning refinements included a Park District zoning classification for Village-owned areas previously regulated in residential and commercial zoning districts and stronger site plan review submission requirements to ensure consideration of waterfront resource protection.

Greenport has been very creative in raising money to implement waterfront projects. An antique carousel, valued at $200,000 for grant match and tax deduction purposes, was donated to the Village by the decommisioning Northrup-Grumman facility. The Village also abolished its police force in a controversial but successful effort to reduce taxes and free up $1 million for waterfront revitalization; sold a municipal utility for $3.5 million to satisfy grant match requirements; generates more than $200,000 annually in carousel ticket sales; and created a downtown business improvement district to create a regular source of income for downtown improvement projects. The Village also held an international design competition for the waterfront enclosure for the carousel.
 
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  LWRP Document was approved in 1988; amended in 1996; with project implementation ongoing since then.
Continued implementation of waterfront park development, and management of revitalization efforts.
 

Importance of vision, persistence, strong partnerships and creativity in planning and financing.

How/why is this a success?
The downtown is also coming alive, spurred on by the success of Mitchell Park. Mitchell Park is part of a reinvigorated waterfront that is attracting tourists, generating sustained growth for Greenport's tax base and stimulating reinvestment in surrounding neighborhoods. Managing the Village's success and maintaining quality of life for all residents has become Greenport's biggest challenge.
 

Partners
NYS DOS, Northrup-Grumman, OPRHP, ESD

Project Dates
N/A
 

Community Contact Information
Mayor David E. Kapell
Village Hall
236 Third Street
Greenport, NY 11944
(631) 477-3000

DOS Contact Information
Steve Ridler
NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources
41 State Street
Albany, NY 12231-0001
(518) 473-3942
sridler@dos.ny.gov

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