I’m not often surprised by politicians. Well, let me rephrase that, I’m often surprised by politicians’ venality, but much less often by their willingness to take a risk. So, I have to admit that I was taken completely by surprise when, at the Transportation Forum sponsored by New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, there was [...]
Posts under ‘Government’
The Five Top Problems Facing Sag Hampton
Over Development / Inappropriate Development
Simply put, over development is the poison that will kill the golden goose. As we all know, people love this area because of its natural beauty, open vistas, fresh air, and rural feel. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that suburban sprawl, McMansion ghettos, charmless villages filled with chain [...]
Why Isn’t the Village of Sag Harbor Supporting the Sag Harbor Gateway Study?
It would seem, at first glance, to be a no-brainer. The Southampton Planning Department recently completed a study that recommends changing the zoning of a small area along the Sag Harbor-Bridgehampton Turnpike (the “Gateway” to Sag Harbor) from Highway Business to Hamlet Office. Since this area lies outside the Village’s borders, its zoning is under the control of the Town. …
Saving Sag Harbor
There’s a new and very active group in our community calling itself Save Sag Harbor. Its primary mission is to preserve Main Street’s traditional look and business mix — mostly small locally-owned stores and restaurants — by preventing national chains and big box stores like CVS from moving in and driving up commercial rents to the point where they are …
So Where Were We?
I’ve been on vacation, but now I’m back. So where were we?
Oh, yes…the Town of Southampton has approved a study, to be conducted by its planning department, of the gateway to Sag Harbor along the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. This has been a little slow getting off the ground, but in the interim, local hero Priscilla Ciccariello has spearheaded an effort by a group she calls “the coalition” to prepare a comprehensive document detailing the reasons the study needs to be done, what specifically needs to be studied, the areas of concern for the surrounding community, the hoped-for outcomes of the study, and the reasoning behind those hopes. It’s an amazing document
Is This the Land of No?
Sometime it feels like we’re living in the Land of No. There are quite a few things in recent memory to which one or another Sag Hampton group has said (or tried to say) NO!
Many folks said no to the NYS Department of Transportation a few years ago when they proposed a roundabout at the wharf end of Main …
That Didn’t Take Long
No sooner had I posted the story about the proposed ski-resort in Riverhead, than the whole thing started to unravel. Anthony of the Ozone blog drew my attention to this Newsday article, (thanks Anthony) in which the paper quotes Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale as saying, “I would expect him to be chairman, because that’s how he signs his letters,” …
Unbelievable
File this under “Development/Crazy.” My jaw is on the floor. Could this be for real? The blog Ozone quotes from the Long Island Traveler-Watchman (part of the Independent chain of newspapers) that a 500 ft. tall ski resort is planned for Riverhead, and that Riverhead’s supervisor Phil Cardinale is already salivating over the prospect. The Traveler-Watchman quotes Cardinale as saying, …
The Good (Next: The Bad and maybe The Ugly)
OK, so it’s the week before Christmas (Hanukkah’s already underway) and I’m pretty grumpy about how slowly grind the wheels of progress around here. But grumpy is just not an appropriate way to be feeling at this time of year. So, I’ve made myself a deal. Today, I’ll make a list of the positive developments in the Sag Hampton area in an attempt …
CPF Extension on November Ballot
There will be a proposition on the November ballot about extending the
Community Preservation Fund (CPF) until 2030. The wording will be something like:
Shall Local Law Number
1 of 2006, entitled “A local law in relation to extending the expiration
date of the two percent (2%) real estate transfer tax imposed in connection
with the town Community Preservation Fund …
