Letter Campaign Urges Open Review Of Major Development Proposals In Sag Harbor

Four members of the Sag Harbor community are circulating a letter requesting that the Village Board take a transparent and comprehensive approach in the face of two, and possibly three, major development proposals that are coming down the pike and have the potential to permanently alter the character of the village.

The letter, under the name Concerned Members of Our Community, is being circulated by the artist April Gornik, civic activist Susan Mead, architect Maziar Behrooz and Kathryn Levy, a writer. The letter, which was circulated by Gornik by email Tuesday morning, had 81 signatures by 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

It cites the recently unveiled plans of Adam Potter to construct 79 affordable apartments and approximately 30,000 square feet of commercial space on a 1.4-acre parcel between Bridge and Rose streets as well as the expected submission of plans for a new Bay Street Theater on the site of the Water Street Shoppes complex.

The letter also cites speculation that a “tiered parking garage” would be constructed on the former National Grid gas ball lot. Last year, 11 Bridge Street LLC, one of Potter’s real estate ventures, won a lease for that parcel, but this week Mayor Jim Larocca announced that Potter had agreed to give up that lease so that the village could negotiate its own deal with National Grid.

Along with holding a transparent review of the applications, Gornik said the letter sponsors would like to see the village hold one or more public forums, similar to one that was held to address the Bay Street proposal in the spring of 2021, to give the community an opportunity to weigh in. “Many people who love this village have no idea what’s being proposed,” she said.

The letter writers are also urging the Village Board to review the development proposals together, so that their combined impact can be better gauged in the required environmental review.

“We understand that each of these projects in this vulnerable area requires review from the village boards and other regulatory agencies,” the letter stated, “but it is important that these building projects and their attendant challenges can be taken into consideration as a whole.”

“We respectfully ask our hardworking mayor and board of trustees to invite the participation of citizens, local organizations and unaffiliated experts to establish a transparent, public process in addition to the required regulatory reviews,” the letter concluded. “Noticed public meetings of this kind will provide an opportunity for input that results in the best possible outcome.”

The letter can be found online at: openletter.earth/an-open-letter-from-concerned-members-of-our-community-cf499d89.