RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Southold hereby accepts the Findings Statement on FGEIS as set forth below:

• An Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) Part I based upon the proposed action was prepared for the Town Board (by the Town Planner and Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, LLC, as consultant to the Town).

• The Town Board reviewed the EAF and, in conjunction with the provisions of SEQRA, determined that the proposed action meets the criteria for a Type I action, and, as the Town Board proposed to undertake the action itself, assumed Lead Agency status.

• Based upon this document, the Town Board, as Lead Agency under SEQRA, determined that the proposed action may have a significant impact on the environment, and issued a Positive Declaration, requiring that a Generic EIS be prepared (January 7, 2003), and scheduled a public scoping meeting for January 29, 2003.

• The draft scope for the GEIS was prepared by the project sponsor and submitted on January 7, 2003 consistent with SEQRA procedures. Subsequently, a public scoping meeting was held on January 29, 2003, and written comments were accepted by the lead agency until February 10, 2003. A revised draft scope which addresses the valid comments and issues raised during the entire public comment period (as determined by the lead agency) was prepared, and the lead agency issued its Final Scope on April 8 (22), 2003. The Draft GEIS was prepared based upon this Final Scope.

• On June 3, 2003, the Town Board accepted the Draft GEIS; as complete and adequate for public review and issued a Notice of Completion of the Draft GEIS.  The DGEIS was filed in accordance with SEQRA procedures identified in 617.12, and was broadly disseminated and made available at multiple locations including libraries, Town Hall offices and the Town of Southold web site.

• A public hearing on the Draft GEIS was held on June 19, 2003, and as continued to June 23, June 24, July 8 and July 15, 2003; the Lead Agency accepted written comments until July 28, 2003.

• A draft Final GEIS was submitted to the Town on August 29, 2003. The Town Board met to discuss this draft on September 4 and September 9, 2003.

• A Notice of Completion of the Final GEIS was issued by the Town Board on September 9, 2003.

• The public review period on the FGEIS was expanded beyond the minimum 10 days required to the close of business on September 22, 2003.

• Two comment letters were received by the lead agency from the public during the extended comment period on the FGEIS. One letter addressed the issue of Country Inns, requesting that the subject of Country Inns be removed from the document. The GEIS record is complete and comments from the public are noted with respect to Country Inns. Reference to County Inns cannot be removed from the document as it has been a consideration of past studies and may resent certain options that the Town Board may wish to consider in the future. Any proposed legislation would require review consistent with Part 617.10 (d) to determine if it was addressed adequately in the FGEIS. Further SEQRA consideration should be based on the specifics of proposed legislation.

The second letter comments on the adequacy of responses in the FGEIS with regard to projecting a build out analysis based on a continuation of land preservation effort, providing several examples, and suggesting that the authors of the FGEIS were seeking to support particular planning tool. The FGEIS sought to disclose facts and make projections related to land reservation, recognizing that land preservation would continue, and establishing the relative success of such continued efforts toward meeting the stated goals of the Town for land preservation and density reduction. The analysis indicated that land and development rights acquisition alone would not allow the Town to meet it's stated goals. The FGEIS indicated that water restrictions may not always exist, particularly in view of the Suffolk County Water Authority findings that various water supply options would not have a significant adverse effect on the environment; this supports the concept that proper land use planning measures should be in place so that the water supply needs of the Town can be met for protection of the health and welfare of the community.

The GEIS did not support a particular tool or series of tools, but ought to examine the potential adverse environmental impacts of possible planning initiatives assembled for the purpose of analysis.

The Draft and Final GEIS are the documents of the Town Board. The Board designated a team of independent consultants and Town planning, legal and land reservation staff to prepare documentation for Town Board consideration. Two liaisons of the Board met with the team throughout the process, and report text was made available to the overall Town Board for review, comment and input prior to finalization. The Town Board is ultimately responsible for the content of the GEIS documents, regardless of who prepares them. Town Board input and review occurred throughout the preparation of SEQRA documents, and the Board adopted the Draft and Final GEIS reports by resolution.

In review of letters received during the comment period on the FGEIS , no new substantive comments were received which would alter the basic findings of the GEIS record. These letters are on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Southold.

In consideration of the foregoing, it is clear that the Southold Town Board, as lead agency, has fully and properly complied with the procedural requirement of SEQRA.