Ferry Road Condos Show Signs Of Life

The tentative plans for a proposed luxury condominium and marina complex on Ferry Road in Sag Harbor—an idea that has been kicking around since 2005, though no action has been taken for four years—were shared with the village’s Planning Board at a recent work session.

The revised proposal, which was presented by attorney Timothy S. McCully on behalf of developers Emil Talel and Michael Maidan, calls for 21 units to be built between the Lance Corporal Jordan C. Haerter Memorial Bridge and the 7-Eleven in Sag Harbor, as opposed to the previously discussed 18, a proposal that drew criticism from village residents. In order to alleviate concerns over density, the developers have acquired and added an additional parcel of land since the project stalled in 2009 over financing concerns.

According to Mr. McCully, the 21 condominiums will be housed on the four original properties—1, 3 and 5 Ferry Road, and 2 West Water Street—and his clients will be seeking variances from the village to essentially pool the allotted permissible residences for the four properties. If the prospective variances are granted, it would be evaluated as 21 condos on one large parcel of land, instead of dividing the complex into four separate properties.

The complex would house a marina with an unspecified number of boat slips, 13 street-level parking spaces, 29 basement parking spaces, and a rooftop pool similar to the condos being built at 21 West Water Street.

On the newly acquired separate half-acre of property adjacent to the proposed condo complex, the developers propose to build a public park and a public boardwalk to enhance and properly utilize the public beach southwest of the bridge, which, in stark contrast to Windmill Beach across the street, has very sparse visitors.

The discussion was just a work session, noted Mr. McCully, so the next step is to file an official application with the Building Department and proceed with the application for variances.

Mr. McCully said part of the application process will be to figure out how the complex will comply with the village’s affordable housing laws, which requires either on-site affordable housing or the equivalent value in cash to be deposited in the village’s fledgling affordable housing fund.

“We’re trying to finalize the plans as soon as possible,” said Mr. McCully, who added that he hopes to have something finalized with the Planning Board and with the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals by the end of fall.