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Updated: September 12, 2008, 3:14 pm	Share    Print    Email

Architect Stan Eckstut suggested that the master plan is meant to enhance and maintain the historic fabric of the village while providing a road map to its future. Photos by Kelly Carroll

Southampton - Judging by the positive response Friday evening, village residents are pleased with the direction the proposed master plan appears to be taking for Southampton, as designers Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut and Kuhn, a Manhattan-based architectural firm chosen to prepare a map for growth and sustainability for the village, vets a future snapshot intended to serve as a guide for the first New York settlement all the way through to it's 500-year anniversary in 2140.

"At the beginning it was touchy-feely, and I don't know," commented local businessman Henry Hildreth, who at one point chided the village planning commission for not dealing with the more important issues facing the village of parking and waste management. After Friday's presentation of first ideas, Hildreth was more at ease.

Key objectives to the planning vision include transforming Windmill Lane into a viable, sustainable venue like Main Street and Jobs Lane.

After weeks of public input designed to identify the main challenges facing the village and make an educated guess as to what the greatest needs of its residents will likely be 50 to 100 years from today, the architectural firm, represented by lead architect Stan Eckstut, presented its "first ideas" outlining main components to a master plan.

"It's a road map of a future which recognizes the charm and beauty of this village," Eckstut explained. "How do we grow? How do we evolve?"

Based on community involvement and participation, key objectives to the planning vision include transforming Windmill Lane into a viable, sustainable venue like Main Street and Jobs Lane, continuing preservation efforts for historic structures and village landmarks, as well as fostering a year-round feel to the downtown district; maximizing walking capabilities throughout the village, designating art as a defining village characteristic and reinforcing Southampton's green areas.

According to Eckstut, Windmill Lane can become the street of the future. The most far-reaching suggestion posed by the architectural consultants is moving village hall from Main Street to Windmill Lane, to be housed in the firehouse building. Part and parcel to that move would be the shifting of the fire department to the village justice center. The proposed new village hall complex would incorporate the old firehouse, a new atrium and office building. "This changes what Windmill Lane could be in the future," Eckstut offered.

Roughly 80 people attended Friday's "First Ideas" presentation for the village master plan at the village justice center.

In discussing the village's open spaces, Eckstut suggested there is a need to make them more "usable." While the village already showcases considerable open space, Eckstut said it is not being utilized to its potential. As part of the on-going Lake Agawam clean-up campaign, the lake could become a unique resource to the village Eckstut recommended, allowing more social activity on the water, such as rowing or boating. In his mock-ups, Eckstut created a Lake Agawam with a rowing center, a boat landing, a band shell and a restaurant overlooking the lakefront.

Eckstut recommended creating deck parking to be constructed behind the movie theater and also in a lot behind the Parrish museum grounds.

Also integral to his plan is the emergence of an art district to incorporate the Lake Agawam area and stretch to the current grounds of the Parrish Art Museum, including a good portion of lower Jobs Lane.

Eckstut sees the concentration of potentially art-related properties as "unusual," suggesting village residents should take advantage of what's already there. "It's the quality of the open space," he commented. "It could be an iconic symbol, a true center of the community."

While Eckstut's recommendations were met with praise, there were some aspects of the village make-up that he struggled with in his plans, most notably parking limitations felt keenly during the summer tourist months. "I don't think we are ever going to solve the parking problem," said Eckstu, matter-of-factly.

Throughout the public part of the session Eckstut expressed that the parking plan would not be designed for peak time in that a village never wants to have a time of year when it feels empty, even if it means the village is filled up at the height of the season. With that in mind, Eckstut did recommend creating deck parking that would not be visible from the street to be constructed behind the movie theater and also in a lot behind the Parrish museum grounds. If adopted, the existing pathways would have to be enhanced to encourage residents and visitors to walk or bike to the center of the village from these lots. According to Eckstut, landscaping in this case is just as important as buildings.

"This is a unique quality - [the village is] charming, walkable," he offered. "Smallness is as important as any big idea."

Of paramount interest and concern are solutions to the village's water treatment and drainage issues as new development remains throttled by the lack of waste treatment as current conditions do not meet health code standards for expansion. Moving some of the village business concentration to Windmill Lane could help these issues, according to Eckstut, who envisions greater drainage and treatment potential on that street more than others. More trees and paving could help the drainage problem almost immediately.

Also integral to his plan is the emergence of an art district to incorporate the Lake Agawam area and stretch to the current grounds of the Parrish Art Museum, including a good portion of lower Jobs Lane.

"We need to put on our sustainable hats," recommended Eckstut. "In order for the development of parcels of land, you need to have the sanitary aspect in place."

Eckstut said that the development of this plan, if adopted by the residents and the village board, would need to be "pragmatic" and staged as to not rush into big developments and changes all at once. "Whatever we do in a vision really lasts forever," he offered. "We want to preserve and enhance the village's historic fabric. If you like it, we have a draft vision."

The draft plan of proposed first ideas is now available to the public. Village Planning Commissioner Siamak Samii reiterated that without a consensus from village residents and officials, the plan cannot move forward. The public is urged to take a look at what Eckstut and his team have envisioned, by either visiting the planning commission's offices or the village's website.

The planning commission will announce the date, time and location of the next master plan meeting expected to be held in the coming weeks.