Town Board Considers Extending Hampton Bays Moratorium Deadline

Public Hearing To Be Set For July 10

By Kelly Carroll | 7 Comments

The building ban in Hampton Bays, set to expire June 30, may be extended until Dec. 31. Photos by Andrea Aurichio

Hampton Bays - With the June 30 expiration date for the Hampton Bays moratorium quickly approaching, the Southampton Town Board is considering extending the ban on building until the end of 2009.

"Hampton Bays is so densely populated." asserted Southampton Town Councilwoman Anna Throne-Holst at a board work session on Tuesday, June 16. "The idea of smart growth has to be redefined. We don't want more residents. It presents a separate set of issues."

Town Supervisor Linda Kabot discusses the expansion of the Hampton Bays moratorium with civic activists Mary Jean Green, Andrea Spilka and Eve Houlihan last year.

The ban on projects for the area of Hampton Bays from Jones Road east to Peconic Road was adopted on June 10, 2008 after several contentious public hearings. The decision was determined by a small margin, with Councilwoman Throne-Holst and former Councilman Dan Russo casting "no" votes citing the moratorium's "limited scope." In August of last year, the moratorium was expanded to include more study areas, however the June 30, 2009 deadline was not extended.

So, far, officials say they do not feel enough study has been done to clearly define the future of Hampton Bays once the moratorium is lifted. While Assistant Town Planning and Development Administrator Freda Eisenberg said a draft strategic plan recommends several planned development districts, a full array of transportation recommendations, design guidelines and a committee-created vision statement, she also stated that the draft raised a "number of concerns."

"The primary thrust is to have a core hamlet center that's vibrant," Eisenberg told the board. "They'd like to see life there, businesses revived." She also added that residents would like a sustainable focus, as well as a plan that was "density neutral."

The town board will be holding a special meeting on Friday, June 19 for the purposes of setting a public hearing on this matter for Friday, July 10. Since the moratorium will expire on June 30, there will be a two-week gap between the deadline and the proposed extension, making board members concerned that developers might try to squeeze plans through the approval process during this gap. Town Planning and Development Administrator Jefferson Murphree said it was unlikely that any projects would be able to receive the proper approvals in that amount of time.

"I'm concerned that we missed this deadline," Town Councilwoman Sally Pope commented. "Having worked in a law office, we really need to stay on top of deadlines."

Should the board vote to extend the moratorium until the end of the year, Town Supervisor Linda Kabot said the board will take another look at the list of projects excluded from the moratorium, and may add more projects to this list.

"We need to address our community character," the supervisor asserted. "The date is quickly upon us."

Comments

Spinnaker from Hampton Bays says:
If Skip and his political mechanics hadn't concocted their fudge-the-budget-for-votes program in the first place, this board would have more time to work on current issues, rather than having to fill the $16 million hole with more of our tax dollars. The "new guys" that Skip's party and supporters are running for office this year are the same guys who endorsed Skip, Linda, Chris and Nancy in past elections. If you want more, you'll get it, if they're elected in November. This town needs an enema! Let's start with those who are responsible for buying votes with their budget-fudge-it plan.

jim from hampton bays says:
sure have a moratorium as the country free falls into a near depression. The morons running Southampton can't even keep track of their books. Now they are going to dictate development?

Publius from Sag Harbor says:
Why wasn't the deadline met? I submit that it is because this town government - as demonstrated by the financial fiasco as well - is simply dysfunctional. It is time for a serious change.

Hampton Bays resident from Hampton Bays says:
By a narrow margin- how many resolutions are passed by a 3 to 2 vote- alot- as for the rest of this story it is obvious this reporter does not care about the future of Hampton Bays-we are deeply committed-

dk from southampton,ny says:
Anna Anna Anna are you even HUMAN? Do you just mimic the words of others to get elected?? I have seen you as a representative for Anti-Bias at the OLA meeting at Bridgehampton National Bank and when the most Bias words spoken---YOU SAID NOTHING!!!! How can we expect you to do ANYTHING except pander for your VOTES!...County Rd. 39's reasons for end of moratorium will be all too soon to see what the "plans" are. and the Hampton Bays moratorium? Well, we can only hope that they do extend it for the citizens have asked for a long time now...I know all of this first hand...Personnally!

Tuckahoeres from Tuckahoe says:
They suddenly end the moratorium County Rd 39 for no reason that the public can understand. Now they want to extend the Hampton Bays moratorium? This makes no sense.

rick58 from easthampton says:
the polit6icians could not meet there deadline so lets extend it. then they can extend it again when they do not meet the second deadline i am glad to see that easthampton is not the only town with politicians that should all be replaced