Sag Harbor - The future of the property at the base of the Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter Memorial Bridge in Sag Harbor, known locally as 1 Ferry Road, is in question once again as Mayor Brian Gilbride is leading a movement to maintain open, public access for the village.

The land is currently owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who is in negotiations to sell the property to East End Ventures, a development company seeking to erect an 18-unit condominium complex that has come under intense scrutiny from members of the public. According to Mayor Gilbride, the railroad offered an easement on the property to the village for public use back in the 1950s, however, in response to a number of letters he sent to the MTA over the past month, "They said we no longer have the rights we had," Gilbride explained during the board's Aug. 11 meeting.

Mayor Brian Gilbride (left) assured village residents that he would fight to maintain public access to the area at the base of the bridge during the board's August meeting. Photos by Aaron Boyd

The issue is one of public access to the cove on the south side of the bridge. "Part of the letter says [East End Ventures] would allow a walkway or something across the property and I told [the MTA] that in my mind that was not enough," Gilbride asserted, "We have access over that property, we want to continue to have access over that property."

East End Ventures is currently proposing an 18-unit condominium complex, situated in five stand-alone buildings at the base of the bridge, however the project, almost three years in the making, seems to have hit another wall as well, as the newly enacted revisions to the zoning code would limit the number of units to less than half of the current proposal. The project has already been culled down from the original request for 60 units, however, and the developers, who have seen the code revision process as a direct attempt to stop their project, are preparing to pursue legal options.

"You will see that I am very tenacious in following up on this," Gilbride assured, "The village should have been part of these negotiations and discussions."

East End Ventures is currently proposing an 18-unit condominium complex, situated in five stand-alone buildings at the base of the bridge.

While the mayor was in full support of trying to acquire the property for the village, Trustee Tiffany Scarlato voiced her opposition to moving forward. "There is serious litigation and cost-benefit analysis involved," Scarlato, who is also employed as an attorney for the Town of East Hampton, contended, maintaining that it would be detrimental to the village to "get involved in litigation with a current applicant and the MTA." According to Scarlato, there was a "consensus of the prior administration not to do anything on it, and I'm standing firm with that position." Gilbride stated that he was unaware of previous discussions on the topic, though Scarlato assured him that they had taken place.

Village Attorney Fred Thiele, who is also the New York State assemblyman for the district, put a temporary halt to the conversation. "I would seriously advise this board, if you're going to discuss this like this, you do it in executive session," Thiele cautioned, as the board could expose itself by discussing legal matters and pending applications before the village during a public meeting.

Village Attorney Fred Thiele cautioned the board against discussing issues that could lead to litigation in open session. Trustee Tiffany Scarlato was adamantly opposed to getting involved in litigation with East End Ventures and the MTA, stating that that was the position of the prior administration.

"I just wanted to be clear that I'm not in support of this," Scarlato reiterated, wary of the toll that such legal battles may take on the village's finances.

A number of residents spoke in support of the mayor's efforts, including American Hotel owner and founding member of the Sag Harbor Business Alliance (SHBA) Ted Conklin. "We are talking about giving up what is potentially village-owned waterfront," Conklin asserted, "I would argue for a stronger posture and a more aggressive posture. As a taxpayer, I would stand squarely behind helping pay the cost not to roll over."

"Don't think for one minute that I'm rolling over," Gilbride insisted, "I'm going to vigorously fight for this for our residents."