Proposed Southold Zoning Code Amendments
The Group is advocating for Southold Town zoning code amendments to ensure our land, water, wildlife, and community character are protected for future generations.
When the Town of Southold prepared its final comprehensive plan update in 2020, the Group applauded several of the plan’s many land use recommendations, which would help protect Southold’s land, water, wildlife, and community character for the future. Protecting the Town’s natural resources is a matter of top importance across the community, and a well-established priority in the comprehensive plan.
In 2025, the town released an updated draft zoning code and held several well-attended community meetings to gather feedback from residents. The Group reviewed the draft and participated in the meetings. Unfortunately, several key environmental and community planning protections that were specifically identified in the town’s comprehensive plan did not make their way into the most recent draft.
In particular, the draft zoning amendments did not address the creation of several recommended land use tools, including the creation of:
An Aquifer Protection Overlay District to protect drinking water resources
A Coastal Resiliency Overlay District to prevent the overdevelopment and erosion of natural shorelines in the face of climate change
A Tree Code to protect significant trees throughout the community
Clearing Restrictions to limit the amount of natural habitat that can be cleared when developing an undeveloped parcel of land
A Battery Energy Storage System Code to safely manage rising electrical demand with battery-based energy supply systems that do not impact community character or public safety
The comprehensive plan also recommended attention to several broader natural resources and land preservation goals and objectives, which could be addressed through further zoning code amendments. Such recommendations include:
Limiting the use of the sole source aquifer for filling pools
Developing and applying land use tools to preserve Plum Island’s water quality
Avoiding or minimizing pollution from stormwater runoff, pesticides, nitrogen pollution, and more in our coastal waters, and using native plants to mitigate these concerns
Protecting tidal and freshwater wetland habitats
Promoting sustainable use of marine habitats and resources in the town
Protecting and restoring habitats and ecological quality by reducing the scale and intensity of development
Requiring the use of native plants in landscaping plans
Protecting vulnerable fish, wildlife, and plant species
In the spring of 2026, the Town of Southold announced it would no longer pursue a revision to the zoning code in its entirety due to limited staff and resources. Rather, it identified eight priority topics to work on over the next three to five years. They are, in priority order, more community housing, improved zoning for businesses, improved zoning for agriculture, protecting community character, the definitions section of the zoning code, Zoning Board of Appeals code interpretations, coastal resilience, and amending the Use Table and Use Specific standards.
The Group continues to advocate for a zoning code that’s reflective of the town’s comprehensive plan and prioritizes environmental quality.
What is the Group Doing About the Suffolk County Water Authority Pipeline?
Southold’s water use skyrockets in the summer. To address this, the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) has proposed running a pipeline from Flanders to the Southold Town line to support the existing water supply. However, when more water is made available, it can attract developers who argue for more development. The Group is urging the SCWA to examine the development pressure that may result from increased water availability, and to work with Southold Town to develop a long-term agreement that addresses water conservation and land preservation.
What You Can Do
Visit the Town of Southold’s dedicated zoning code update website here
Participate in community meetings and voice your desire to see additional environmental conservation amendments adopted into the code
