New plans calling for the demolition of the dilapidated beverage center at the corner of Montauk Highway, the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike and Lumber Lane in Bridgehampton are coming down the pipeline.
The plans, which will be discussed by the Southampton Town Planning Board on June 24, call for the demolition of the beverage center and the construction of a 4,500-square-foot building with retail space on the first floor and offices on the second floor. There will also be 97 parking spots to accompany the building.
The previous plans for the 1.26-acre parcel—which were withdrawn last year—called for the construction of a 10,000-square-foot bank in addition to various office and retail space. The owner of the lot, Leonard Ackerman, an attorney in East Hampton, had envisioned the building as the main branch of the Georgica Bank. That bank never got off the ground due to a lack of funding.
Planning Board Chairman Dennis Finnerty said that the plans were withdrawn last year because town planners thought the scale of the building was inappropriate for the space, and because the structure was not set back far enough from the road.
According to the plans, the architecture for the proposed building complements that of the soon-to-be-renovated Bull’s Head Inn and other historical structures in the hamlet. Mr. Ackerman noted that he hired a historical architect to design the building so that it fits in with its surroundings.
Mr. Ackerman added that it was much too early to say which retail stores would go into the ground floor of the building.
The new building and the parking for it will also complement the existing Starbucks and Prudential building, explained Town Planner Claire Vail, who is handling the application.
Joe Farrell, the chief executive officer of the Farrell Building Company in Bridgehampton, is asking the Southampton Town Planning Board for approval to build horse stables on his property on Halsey Lane in Bridgehampton.
The horse stables, which will have a footprint of 4,410 square feet, are proposed to be situated on a vacant 8.6-acre agricultural reserve adjacent to his own private residence, according to documents in Town Hall. The stables will be able to house five to seven horses. Mr. Farrell needs a special exception permit to construct the building.
Mr. Farrell said that the stables will be for his own private use.
The roof of the stables will feature four cupolas, and the inside of the building will have a storage room, washroom and tack room, according to plans on file at Town Hall.
The Planning Board will next discuss the project at a Planning Board meeting July 8.
Joseph Shaw, Executive Editor on Jun 9, 2010