
Suffolk County lawmakers approved a land transfer Wednesday night, as part of the Canoe Place Inn redevelopment project.
The deal will ensure public access to the eastern side of the Shinnecock Canal and that the developers follow through with an estimated $1 million road reconstruction and realignment project that focuses on the eastern side of the canal.
Suffolk County lawmakers were expected to sign off on a land transfer Wednesday, part of the Canoe Place Inn redevelopment plan approved in January by the Southampton Town Board, over the criticisms of those who continue to object to the project’s approval.
Under the transfer agreement previously approved by the town, the land in question—roughly a quarter acre in size and situated along the eastern bank of the Shinnecock Canal—would be transferred from the county to the town. In turn, the town will sign an agreement with Gregg and Mitchell Rechler, the developers behind the Canoe Place Inn project, to ensure public access to the eastern side of the waterway, near where they intend to construct 37 townhouses on a neighboring 4.5-acre property.
Additionally, the transfer, which was expected to be approved last night by the Suffolk County Legislature, would require that the Rechlers follow through on an estimated $1 million road reconstruction and realignment project that focuses on the eastern side of the canal.
But some hamlet residents, including Maud Kramer, former president of the Hampton Bays Beautification Association, continue to object to not only the land transfer but the entire project itself, which also calls for the restoration of the 25-room Canoe Place Inn, the building of guest cottages and the opening of a 300-seat catering hall all on the western side of the canal. The entire project, which includes the 37 townhouses and the construction of a wastewater treatment facility on the eastern side of the canal, was approved by the town as part of a maritime planned development district.
“To transfer county land to the Town of Southampton, who intends to transfer the land to private developers, seems to me as not serving the best interest of our community and I question the morality in the town’s involvement in pursuing the County property on behalf of the developers,” Ms. Kramer wrote in a letter to Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, chairman of the county’s Public Works, Transportation and Energy Committee. “The PDD process does not work the way it was intended. The goal should be to achieve community benefits and something better than what the current zoning allows—not increased density, increased traffic and other significant impacts.”
In May, some four months after the Town Board approved the project, a group of neighbors sued the municipality over its decision. A decision has not been made in that case.
As part of the PDD approval, the town, county and developers agreed on certain stipulations. Among them, the county suggested improvements to two troublesome intersections, where Montauk Highway intersects with Newtown and North roads, which lie just west and east, respectively, of the Rechlers’ property. With North Road, the county suggested that the town install a “T” intersection, according to Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman.
On Tuesday morning, Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst explained that the land to be acquired by the town would be used to create a canal-side park, guaranteeing public access along the eastern bank. She said a path leading to a 250-foot-long floating dock will be installed near where the back deck of the now-closed Tide Runners restaurant once operated.
“What it does is create, for the first time, real public access on the east side of the canal to the canal,” Ms. Throne-Holst said. “You don’t have to buy a drink to access that side—you can just park your car and go down there. It will be safe and accessible.”
But several neighbors continue to argue that the park should not qualify as a public benefit, pointing out that they had access when the restaurant was open. They also don’t believe the road upgrades will improve traffic and safety.
“Will this T-intersection worsen or improve the site’s traffic-safety and congestion issues?” Rita Knox asked in a letter to the county. “Will we be able to enter and exit our neighborhoods safely when the proposed T-sections worsen already present traffic congestion?”
Wednesday’s meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature was scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in Hauppauge.
Park my car where Queen Anna? Where can I park my car? BS.
The property between the existing One North and Altenkirch's buildings and the slope up to Montauk Highway was the property of Suffolk County and at one time was the roadway to the old bridge. The front door of both those businesses was less than ten feet from the right of way. The Rechsler plan has shown the southernmost building straddling the line between the County property and the "Altenkirch property" since it was ...more first proposed. It appears to be considerably larger than a quarter acre.
What is the county getting in return for giving public property to private developers? Additionally, much of the property in the triangle east of North Road and north of Montauk Highway will also be given to the Rechslers if the plan to move that intersection to the east is approved. This will not improve safety as it will create a compound curve on North Road approaching Montauk. Who has approved this plan and for what consideration?
The County is getting public improvements to their roadways (Montauk Highway is a County Road) so that's the benefit - but regardless the whole thing stinks and was done rather through the backdoor.
My point is that valuable waterfront public property has been given to a private entity and that entity is being permitted to reroute a public road to the detriment of the safety of its users. How can this be legal?
My point is that valuable waterfront public property has been given to a private entity and that entity is being permitted to reroute a public road to the detriment of the safety of its users. How can this be legal?
The bottom line is the developers needed the county property to build all the buildings they wanted to and the developers needed the roads moved to provide parking and they got some politicians to give it to them for ...more a project the community neither wants nor needs and that will make the roads less safe for everyone on or near them.
The county now doesn't have to fix their traffic problem, I'd imagine they think not spending 1.8 million dollars of tax money is a good thing.
No, they aren't building their town houses on that property. Look at the map.
You keep saying what the community wants. ...more That is your opinion
Actually, it may not have been so very many people, and we need to learn from this sad experience not to bow in future to the clamor of a vocal minority just ...more because they're vocal.
These people have demonstrated by their lack of care at the properties they do not have any desire to be good neighbors, they just want to pressure the community into caving in to their demands.
Mark my words - as soon as they have all the approvals needed to build their condos they will "suddenly discover" ...more the CPI building is in worse shape than they anticipated and must be razed.
Again, do some research...they are not allowed to work on the east side without working on the west side. This has been discussed for years now. Millions have already been spent.
The conspiracy theories and talk of payoffs without a shred of proof are getting so old.
One North fixed up a building that had been in and out of business for years and created a thriving restaurant. Tiderunners replaced the bulkheading, rebuilt the marina and decks and changed carpeting, furnishings and the outdoor bar. The building was painted every year, the parking lots resurfaced.
Do ...more your own research - it is against the law for a governmental agency to give public property to a private entity. The roadways are safe and well kept now; they don't need to be altered to make them less safe just to cede land to a well connected developer.
good god make up your mind already!