Dan's Papers - August 15, 2008 - Sag Harbor: Mad As Hell, Not Gonna Take It

Just as Sag Harbor's site plan review moratorium is set to expire by September, with a flurry of potential development, as well as some that are already underway, the village could see a lot of changes in the coming year.

"I would say the village is looking at a perfect storm coming in from all directions," said April Gornik, a board member for Save Sag Harbor. "This is usually a relatively sleepy little town."

Last week, Gerald Mallow, owner of the Sag Harbor Cinema, announced the theater is up for sale. In the meantime, Bay Street Theater could possibly be looking for a new home and the Sag Harbor Inn has announced that it hopes to expand its property with 75 more rooms, a restaurant and 20 moderately priced apartments. This is on top of the recently completed Waterside Condos - which aren't selling - and the condos currently being constructed on West Water Street by developers Michael Maidan and Emil Talel and their proposal for condos on Ferry Road.

Gornik says she's optimistic the Cinema will remain as it is: a village icon and arthouse theater that plays foreign and independent flicks not available elsewhere on the East End - and that the idea for a consortium of private patrons to come together and take over the theater is already out there. "We very much want the cinema to remain," she said. "It's been receiving quite a large outpouring of interest and support from the community."

The biggest problem, she says, is the potential for more condos coming into the village, referring to the proposed Ferry Road project, since it's too late to do anything about West Water Street Condos and Waterside Condos. There are a number of potential problems that could come from the project, including environmental concerns from sewage and water runoff, and taking away even more beachfront from the community. "[The developers have] shown an interest in largesse in helping the community. It would help the community if they donated it as public beach front," Gornik said. "Wouldn't that be spectacular? A three-story condo would completely block the view of the harbor. It would deleteriously change the nature of the harborfront."

She added, "People are saying, 'Isn't it so odd they're pushing to do Ferry Road when Waterside hasn't even completely sold?'"

But don't think the residents of Sag Harbor are going to idly sit back and let the village be overrun by new development - remember, Save Sag Harbor, a group of about 1,500 residents, started because they wanted to keep CVS and other big box stores out of the village. The recent site plan review moratorium, which was extended in March for six months, has served a purpose for the village. During that time, the village board, with much public input, has been mulling over potential Zoning Code changes, revising the code so that it would better protect the character of the village. Public hearings on the legislation will begin soon and the board will likely adopt the changes into law by the time the moratorium has ended. All of these proposed developments would face the new Zoning Code.

Southampton Town will also conduct a Sag Harbor Gateway Study, aimed at saving the stretch of Bridgehampton Turnpike that leads in Sag Harbor's downtown from overdevelopment. The area will likely be rezoned to a combination of hamlet office/residential zoning, with one development district. Already, Suffolk County is considering purchasing two parcels totaling 10.3 acres within the Long Pond Greenbelt area for preservation.

Meanwhile, Save Sag Harbor continues to work to keep chain stores out of the quaint village. They've started a "Shop Locally" campaign, encouraging residents to shop at and support local mom and pop shops rather than run to a nearby town. "It's not just about keeping formula-based retail (chain and big box stores) out," Gornik said. "It's about making sure the mom and pop stores are thriving. The question is, do we want to go the way of every other town or village in America? Do we want to turn into an extended mall or retain our character?"