The Patchogue Village Board of Trustees set public hearings on a zoning map cleanup, a disabled veterans tax exemption, a swimming pool rule and new traffic changes near a village park at its Tuesday, Oct. 13, meeting. Trustees also heard updates on New York Forward grant applications, the proposed hotel and repairs to the brewery wastewater system.

Public hearings

The hearing on a disabled veterans property tax exemption, which would add a new article to the village code, is set for Monday, Oct. 26.

Hearings on the zoning map amendments and on clarifying the village's swimming pool design requirement are set for Monday, Nov. 9. A hearing on proposed traffic changes on the streets next to a village park is set for Monday, Nov. 23.

Zoning map cleanup

The zoning map changes would affect properties on more than 20 streets, including Waverly Avenue, East Main Street, South Ocean Avenue and West Avenue. Officials said a review found inconsistencies, such as small parcels zoned differently from the land around them and apartment complexes still zoned industrial.

A trustee asked whether the changes would take away property rights. Officials said nearly all of the changes would match how the properties are used today.

Property owners and residents within 200 feet will be notified and can speak at the hearing. Officials said a spreadsheet will list each property's current and proposed zone.

Hotel parking and traffic

A special planning board meeting on the proposed hotel was held before the trustees met. Trustees said the hotel was approved and that the meeting focused on its parking plan, though one trustee said the village was still waiting for a recap.

A trustee said the plan includes nothing to address traffic at Division Street and River Avenue. Trustees said the planning board chairman had suggested the owner buy nearby property to ease the problems, and that the village would ask a traffic consultant to review the intersection again.

Brewery wastewater

The board took up a proposal from the engineering firm H2M for a feasibility study on a brewery wastewater pre-treatment system at the village treatment plant. The system was damaged in a fire in July, and brewery wastewater cannot be mixed with the plant's other wastewater before it is treated.

The first task costs $65,000. Meetings are billed hourly up to a $15,000 cap, and a $50,000 state engineering planning grant is assigned to the project.

Grants and projects

The New York Forward application period closed Oct. 2. The village received 24 large projects and 16 small ones, with requests totaling close to $10 million, and about $4.5 million is available to spend right away.

The local planning committee will decide whether to set aside a $300,000 or $600,000 fund for small projects, which are those under $75,000.

The village has also identified more than 30 properties for a new state program to buy properties in flood zones. The state would buy and clear the land, and the village would own it afterward, with a focus on properties near parks, especially Shorefront Park. Officials expect letters to go to property owners in a couple of weeks.

The village applied for state funding for a feasibility study on restoring Little Creek and plans to apply for a second round of funding. Officials said oysters grown along the living shoreline will be moved at the end of the month to start a reef in Patchogue Bay.

Trustees also approved a village contribution of $80,350 toward the recreation center pathway project at 380 Bay Avenue. Community development block grant funds will add $115,000, for a total of $195,350.

Dates and events

The board ratified moving the Fall Festival from Oct. 10 to Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 5 p.m. The mayor said MoCA L.I.ghts runs Oct. 22 to 26, with an event at Lake View Cemetery and a trolley.

Trustees approved the senior holiday luncheon at Sunset Harbor on Friday, Dec. 11, from noon to 3 p.m. They also approved the Kiwanis Club of Patchogue's 5K Toy Trot on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Shorefront Park, and a Stomp the Stigma 5K there on May 29, 2027.

Zoning board and building reports

The zoning board meets next on Oct. 20 and the planning board on Oct. 27. The zoning board adjourned applications at 34 Railroad Avenue and 14 Oakland Drive to Oct. 20 for site visits, and approved a second-story addition at 113 Bailey Avenue, which now goes to the planning board.

The building department reported 13 building permits, 12 rental permits, 11 notices of violation and 4 summonses in September. It received 7 complaints, none for illegal dwellings or overcrowding.

Public comment

A Lakeland Avenue resident asked about traffic on Waverly Avenue as new rental properties are built. Trustees said the road crosses several jurisdictions, that light timing near the highway is part of the problem, and that a county legislator's office is looking into improving signal coordination.