Letters

With respect to the Pond Lane proposal outlined at the Southampton Village Board meeting last week:

• The instinct of the last village administration to withhold items like this from the public was arrogant and counterproductive. This proposal should have been presented to the Planning Commission and shared with the public 12 to 18 months ago. Shame on those who didn’t understand that.

• Hiding the project caused many members of the public to believe they were being hoodwinked when it was announced.

• The fact is that they are not being hoodwinked; the proposal — with a few important and thoughtful changes — is a unique, generational opportunity to improve the lake and the village, thanks to the leadership of generous residents.

• A one-way road heading out of the village should remain open to the public at all times.

• The project only makes sense if it maximizes the volume of water pumped from the lake to irrigate the garden; without the natural treatment of this irrigation and the subsurface filtration provided by the proposed permeable reactive barrier, the project may not be worthwhile.

• Dr. Christopher Gobler mentioned the significant runoff that enters Lake Agawam in its northwest corner. However, very little of this runs through the proposed project or will be addressed by it. In conjunction with the Pond Lane project, the village should install the Windmill Lane bioswale called for in the Master Plan, as well as subsurface, bio-reactive drainage structures on Hill Street, Breeze Lane and Halsey Street.

• With no disrespect to Robert Giuffra and Peter Marino, a “world-class garden” is not a priority for the village. Southampton is, first and foremost, a place where residents live. Before we worry about impressing visitors from around the world, let’s optimize the environmental benefits and address the needs of residents. To this end, the critical goals of the garden should be environmental, recreational and educational. World-class aesthetics may need to wait.

I ask fellow residents whose reaction to initial headlines was skeptical to review the actual proposal, focus on the environmental benefit and appreciate the generosity behind it.

I ask the Lake Agawam Conservancy to focus the gardens on function, recreation and education, rather than “world-class” beauty.

I ask the mayor and trustees to maintain a one-way road out of the village, and also to install drainage on and around Hill Street and Windmill Lane.

Oh, and keep the public informed.

Rob Coburn

Southampton