Letters

The Southampton Press and Alfred Caiola continue to advance the red herring argument that anyone who raises questions or concerns about his development plan is against all change in Hampton Bays. That is categorically not true.

The opponents have been clear about their objections. They do not want a sewage treatment plant in the middle of downtown, increased density in the most densely populated hamlet in Southampton, and development that encroaches upon Good Ground Park. As for the rest of Mr. Caiola’s vision, it is hard to tell what that is, because all Mr. Caiola has presented thus far are sketches of what it might look like.

Instead of dismissing all concerns as obstructionist and anti-development, why don’t we try to have a dialogue about specifics? There may be a middle ground that everyone can agree on.

Mr. Caiola and The Southampton Press seem to be blaming the lack of any progress on defining revitalization of our downtown solely on the residents who oppose certain aspects of his proposed development plan. But it should not be an all-or-nothing debate. It is not impossible to come up with a plan that avoids the serious concerns about traffic, density and siting of a sewage treatment plant but provides a more accessible and attractive shopping area.

A perfect example of “all or nothing” is the refusal of the town and Mr. Caiola to reject the plan to build a sewage treatment plant on Mr. Caiola’s property at 30 Cemetery Road, wedged in between Good Ground Cemetery on two sides, Good Ground Park on a third side, and just 800 feet from Montauk Highway — a site that requires Suffolk County waivers because it cannot meet the setback requirements.

The message from Hampton Bays was and continues to be clear: We want a sewer district, but not a sewage treatment plant smack in the middle of our downtown, our cemetery and our park. Yet that plan was dusted off and presented again at the Express Sessions. Where is the effort to reach common ground?

One attendee at the Express Sessions claimed that only a very vocal minority of people oppose Mr. Caiola’s plan. Were the 500-plus people who packed the high school auditorium in August the very vocal minority?

How should the town determine what Hampton Bays residents want? I suggest it should be the views of those who come forward in public hearings at Town Hall, those who came to Jay Schneiderman’s listening sessions and those who sign petitions. People whose opinions are publicly stated and verified. Not the views expressed privately to Town Board members, votes taken at Express Sessions (requiring payment to attend), or answers given to a poorly crafted results-oriented survey.

Elizabeth I. Hook

Hampton Bays