Off Course

When Sag Harbor Village began taking a hard look at its waterfront, through consideration of a zoning revision, much of the discussion revolved around wanting to protect the historic waterfront community’s aesthetic. The village is envied for how it has evolved over the years yet maintained a strong group of local business owners in its downtown, and a charm that has made it one of the most desirable main streets on Long Island to stroll, dine and shop.

What began as a protective effort long before anyone had ever heard of the Friends of Bay Street now appears to be heading down a path that will expand development and density in a 2-square-mile community that already has serious infrastructure issues that have not been addressed.

The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, supported by many other local business owners, the Sag Harbor Historical Society and the Sag Harbor Partnership, weighed in with significant concerns over aspects of the proposed zoning code, including plans to expand the number of uses in the office district — included in this new overlay — thereby opening the door to more intense development.

From private committee meetings, to the lack of a clear vision, to the fact that the village has yet to even update its planning strategies document — crafted in 2008, it’s meant to serve, when paired with its Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, as the village’s planning roadmap — this is a process that has left a lot to be desired. The way the public has been presented these plans has been confusing and haphazard.

There has to be a better way.

If the village wants to ensure visual and pedestrian access to its waterfront through building height restrictions, setbacks and an effort to keep condominiums off the waterfront, it has the ability to change its zoning code. And it can do so without throwing open the door to intense redevelopment in a village that still has yet to address drainage, water quality, parking and traffic issues — let alone the future impact of climate change — in a substantive way.

In short, it’s time to simplify this process and this code. Sometimes true leadership is admitting when things are moving in the wrong direction. It’s time to regroup, start listening closer and begin to chart a new path forward. When it comes to this waterfront code revision, it would be disastrous to think that the ship has already sailed.