Government Briefs 02.23.17

East Hampton Town

Car Wash Back on Agenda

The site plan for a proposed car wash on Montauk Highway in Wainscott, which met vigorous neighborhood opposition when it was initially discussed by the East Hampton Town planning board on Sept. 15, is back on the board’s agenda for Wednesday. The owner of the proposed car wash, James Golden, sent the town a brief revised narrative on the business, along with a new survey. The fire marshal’s office has already expressed concern with the new proposal, noting that “the access driveways do not meet the 20 foot minimum” required by the town code. At least 67 residents of Wainscott either spoke out or submitted a letter to the board opposing the proposal last September, according to a letter submitted earlier this month by Simon Kinsella. Wednesday’s session, which includes other matters, begins at 6:30 p.m.

Turkey Trot Donation

Last fall’s Turkey Trot in Montauk sponsored by the East Hampton Town Recreation Department raised more than $4,100, which was donated to the Montauk Food Pantry, Councilman Peter Van Scoyoc announced this week. The race was the 40th annual Turkey Trot, which covers three and six-mile courses. Started by John Keeshan of Montauk in 1976 with just eight participants, it grew to include nearly 600 runners this year.

Rabies Alert

In a public service announcement this week, the town’s Animal Control Department has alerted residents, especially pet owners, to a confirmed case of rabies this month in the Town of Brookhaven. There was also a confirmed case of the disease, in a raccoon, in Nassau County last year. 

While officials are not worried about an outbreak, according to the announcement, all pet owners have been urged to make sure that their animals’ rabies vaccines are up to date. Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted from infected mammals to humans through a bite. 

Southampton Town

Farmland Purchase

During a meeting on Feb. 14, the Southampton Town Board approved the acquisition of 7.5 acres at 40 Narrow Lane East in Sagaponack for $3.45 million from the community preservation fund. The purchase includes enhanced development rights, which ensure that 80 percent of the acreage remains in food production and that if sold it will remain affordable for a qualified farmer. Jim Pike leases the property and has been farming it for 30 years, he told the board. 

Lee Foster, a member of the Sagaponack Village Board who comes from a farming family, said the owners of the land, which is north of Sagg Main Street, have not farmed it themselves for two generations. They had proposed a five-lot housing subdivision with 50-percent open space there, but withdrew a pre-application before the Village of Sagaponack in October. The property is adjacent to 100 acres of preserved farmland to the south and 10 acres to the north. 

Freshwater Wetlands 

The Southampton Town Board repealed a local law related to the State Freshwater Wetlands Act, as part of a housekeeping measure on Feb. 14, noting that the town had not assumed authority to implement the act in 22 years. 

Kathleen Murray, the deputy town attorney, said the town board adopted the law on Aug. 20, 1994, to assume regulatory oversight of mapped wetlands areas from the State Department of Environmental Conservation, as the first in a three-step process to seek permission and demonstrate to the D.E.C. that the town was capable of handling regulations. It was unclear why the town had not done so, Ms. Murray said.  

The repeal does not prevent the town from overseeing local wetlands, however. Wetlands in state jurisdiction are those that are 12 acres or more or that the D.E.C. has deemed to be of unusual local importance. 

Draft Filming Rules

Like in the Town of East Hampton, Southampton Town officials are also considering establishing a permitting process for commercial and educational filming on public and private property. At a public hearing, the board discussed a proposed law requiring advance notice of filming, even at private homes or businesses, and the maximum number of people allowed at a shoot. 

In proposing rules, town officials had accepted the Suffolk County Film Commission’s suggestions. Instead of requiring applications to come in 30 days in advance, as first proposed, the draft was shortened to 20 days. The original proposal limited production crews to five, but the number has been increased to 12. The process would not apply to news organizations. 

Violations of the law could be punishable by a fine of $7,000. Violations had initially been designated as unclassified misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in prison.

The public hearing was closed, and the board is awaiting a final draft from its attorney. 

Weekend Work Hours

The Southampton Town Board will hold a public hearing at Town Hall on March 14 at 1 p.m. on a proposal to limit construction on Saturdays and Sundays. Currently, construction can take place any day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Supervisor Jay Schneiderman is proposing that construction start one hour later and end one hour earlier on weekends. However, homeowners would still be able to do work themselves at any time.

Work Session Cut

The Southampton Town Board work session scheduled for today has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled work session will be held next Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Town Hall meeting room. The next town board meeting, however, is on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.