Bigger T.J. Maxx in Bridgehampton Is a Go

A proposed 17,000-square-foot expansion of T.J. Maxx, a chain store in Bridgehampton Commons, was approved by the Southampton Town Planning Board on Feb. 14.

The site plan, from Kimco Realty, the owner of the shopping center, calls for extending the rear of T.J. Maxx, which is the easternmost building, to make room for Marshalls, another discount retail store owned by TJX Companies.

The planning board found on Aug. 23 that the project would have no serious environmental impact from increased traffic because of the compatible nature of the stores.

As a condition of approval, the board required a covenant from Kimco that ensures the building will contain stores that retain such compatible uses. A separate covenant requires the installation of 97 parking spaces if the need for them arises.

Before approving the plan, the board mulled how to word signs on the property that would direct traffic flow at the eastern exit from the Bridgehampton Commons’ parking lot onto Snake Hollow Road. 

Since the nearby intersection of Snake Hollow and Montauk Highway does not have a traffic signal, the board suggested that a sign that read “27 West to the Right” and “27 East to the Left” would deter people from taking a right turn out of the lot to drive east on Montauk Highway, without discouraging them from going to other businesses — such as BNB Bank and the English Country Antiques store — south of the Bridgehampton Commons on Snake Hollow Road. Legally, however, drivers could still make the left onto Montauk Highway from Snake Hollow Road to head east.  

After the wording was decided, another condition was added to the approval: After one year, the board would review the effectiveness of the property’s signs.