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A packed house asked for a park at the former Bel-Aire Cove Motel property in Hampton Bays at a hearing last month. The Southampton Town Board voted to convene a committee to explore all possible uses for the site instead.
A rally, a petition with more than 2,000 signatures and a packed house public hearing didn’t convince the Southampton Town Board to walk away from a development plan for the former Bel-Aire Cove Motel property in Hampton Bays and create a passive park, as urged by protesters, signatories, and speakers.
But the board this week voted to form a committee to look at all possible scenarios for the 1.47-acre site at the tip of Penny Pond on Shinnecock Road.
On Tuesday, April 11, board members unanimously adopted a resolution convening a 16-person committee comprising community stakeholders. They’re to meet twice a month and review an array of aspects of the property’s potential use.
A recommendation will be due July 15.
During an April 6 work session discussion of the notion, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said he plans to accept the committee’s recommendation, “whatever it is.”
And what could it be?
The lawmaker said the committee will still consider competing proposals to develop the property — with housing for senior citizens or a luxury condo hotel. He noted the bidder of the latter project, Chad Gessin of First Dunes Inc., mentioned scaling back the plan to build 12 units by half and creating a public park on the rest of the property.
There are all kinds of different possibilities the committee would consider, the supervisor put forth. “People have thrown out things from camping to dredge spoil site,” Schneiderman related. A butterfly park was suggested, Councilman Rick Martel noted. A Hampton Bays resident, he’ll serve as an ex-officio member of the committee and as its Town Board liaison.
It could be a passive park, as requested by community members. Or , Schneiderman said, it could be one that promotes tourism. He admitted that although he still thinks the development plans make sense, “I don’t think I have properly convinced the community.”
Committee members will investigate the two bid proposals, as well as environmental, neighborhood, community school and tax impacts of varied uses. The stakeholders would also have to look at what the costs to the town for maintenance would be. The expense of tearing down the building and fixing the deteriorated bulkhead would also be considered.
Beyond “reexplaining” the two development proposals, Martel said, the committee will discuss the hamlet’s changing landscape. Both Schneiderman and Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni recalled that back in 2018 when the vision was first articulated, community members were urging officials to leave the property on the tax rolls.
The land was purchased by the town for $1.06 million in 2019, and both developers have promised to pay $1.5 million.
Schneiderman pointed out that if the property isn’t sold to a developer, the town stands to lose $300,000 in blight remediation money. He also said he wants to see clear figures regarding what the developers would pay in property taxes; the figure $45,000 has been mentioned. Schiavoni reminded that during the March 29 hearing, residents said they didn’t mind the tax impact, “which is a different tune than we were hearing years ago.”
Lowering taxes was a priority back then the supervisor said, intoning, “If it’s no longer a priority, great.”
“I would just love to see that building gone,” Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara said when it was her turn to weigh in.
Schneiderman said it could be an ideal structure for an aquaculture facility. He also reminded that the cost of tearing the building down would likely be twice what a private developer would spend. But, he added, “I realize knocking it down would be welcomed in the community.”
Such demolitions don’t happen very quickly, McNamara emphasized. She said she’d hate to get to July or August and end up with the building’s demolition not occurring until next year. She wants to explore removing the building while the committee is meeting. “So we’re moving toward something,” she said.
Additionally, the councilwoman asserted, “Penny Pond has to get dredged.” She wants the spoils tested. “That will tell us what we can and can’t do,” McNamara asserted.
Schneiderman said the Town Trustees should take on the task. They’re looking into it, Martel said. McNamara confirmed speaking to the Trustees, too, on Tuesday.
At the vote, Martel reported that he’s conducted outreach and has gotten commitments from three quarters of the people suggested. They hail from community organizations like the chamber of commerce , civic association, school district, Rotary Club, fire department, American Legion, Lions Club, library and community advisory committee.
“The formation of yet another committee is unnecessary and unproductive and looks to be a stalling maneuver,” Daria and John Roulett, the organizers of the protest and petition drive last month said in a statement sent via email.
The people of Hampton Bays have spoken through the rally, petition and appearances at Town Board meetings, the couple continued. “The message is loud and clear: The property should be a passive park with a kayak/paddle board launch.”
The pair rebuked the measure as an effort to dredge up support for a condo development and “taxation fear mongering.”
“For once in their political careers” the couple wants the board members to “just listen to the voices that have already spoken instead of muddying the waters with their blatantly obvious stall and fear tactics.”
“We are disheartened with the board’s response to the public’s outcry but are not done fighting for the right result here,” the Rouletts said in the statement.
