Government Briefs 01.19.17
East Hampton Town
Launch-Site Parking at Issue
Parking along Landing Lane in Springs, which leads to an Accabonac Harbor access used by paddleboarding and kayaking businesses, could be restricted to those with town parking permits, both resident and nonresident, according to an East Hampton Town Board discussion this week. The restriction, board members explained, is designed to balance the rights of the businesses issued town permits to use the site and residents who might seek to use it for water access themselves and need a place to park.
David Lys, the proprietor of Weekend Warrior Tours and Outfitters, who is also a member of the town planning board, raised questions about the need for the restriction and said it would negatively impact his business if out-of-town clients were unable to park at the launch site. The topic will be taken up again at a future meeting.
Eye Photo-Shoot Permits
A town board discussion on Tuesday of legislation that would require town permits for film and photography shoots on private property in East Hampton, which are currently exempt from the permit requirement for shoots on public property, drew comments from two East Hampton business owners who arrange and produce still-photography sessions.
Jenny Landey and Holly Li, who each have 25 years in the business, told the board that the permit requirement and fees would be onerous and hurt their businesses. As still-photography shoots are typically smaller, with less potential for neighborhood disruption, than film or TV sessions, the women suggested the board establish separate categories of permit requirements. A proposed requirement that permit applications be submitted at least 14 days in advance would also present difficulties, they said, as they are often not given that much lead time by clients.
At present, shoots involving six people or fewer are exempt from getting permits; the draft legislation would include even those smaller shoots in the permit requirement. The proposed law changes, Supervisor Larry Cantwell said, would provide a way for officials to track when a private property might be too often used for commercial activities such as filming. The board will discuss the issue further. J.P.
Federal
Aid Request for Sag Harbor
Representative Lee Zeldin has issued a statement of support to grant federal aid for Sag Harbor Village through the Small Business Administration Disaster Recovery Program following the Dec. 16 fire that affected many businesses there. Other businesses are also suffering from the ongoing limitations imposed by the subsequent demolition and cleanup efforts.
State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. have led the effort to secure a disaster declaration through the S.B.A. A request from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is also required.