Searching for the Balance in Amagansett

At its first meeting with new officers at the helm, the Amagansett Citizens Advisory Committee inspected draft outlines of hamlet and business-needs studies and agreed to compile suggestions to improve them, heard from the town’s chief harbormaster about a proposal that beach fires be confined in metal containers, and hoped anew that a public restroom might someday be constructed in the business district parking lot.

While the hamlet study outline was closely aligned with many of the committee’s topics of discussion, such as land use, parking needs, and affordable housing, the business-needs study provoked references to the growing clash of commercial and residential interests in Montauk.

“What benefit does a year-round resident get for the diminution of quality of life?” asked Jeanne Frankl. “What does the town get in tax revenue?”

The study is intended to look at commercial and residential needs alike, said Supervisor Larry Cantwell, the town board’s liaison to the committee.

A healthy tax base and adequate funding for public services are important, Ms. Frankl said, but asked, “How do we balance the desire to have a thriving tourist economy with the concerns of a residential community for a high quality of life?” An analysis of the taxes, and costs, generated by businesses, and an assessment of their impact on quality of life and environmental goals should be part of the inquiry, she said. Another element of the study “might also be, where do these revenues go to? Are local entrepreneurs really reaping the benefit, or are we providing people an opportunity to come from all over and exploit the environment we provide?” Vicki Littman, the group’s new chairwoman, asked Ms. Frankl to put those thoughts in writing to be forwarded to the town board by tomorrow. 

Ed Michels, the town’s chief harbormaster, told the committee that 36 of 92 summonses issued by his department over the July 4 weekend were for beach fires, with another 44 issued last weekend. Officers, he said, have found everything from couches, garbage, and glass to snow fencing and even lifeguard stands in beach fires. Visitors unaware of town regulations, he said, “think that by burying it it’s going to go out,” but people and dogs have been burned by embers long afterward. “If they’re real good at burying it,” he said, a northeaster in the fall will uncover the remains, “and the beach is black.”

A proposed amendment would require that fires be fully contained within a metal container, as in East Hampton Village. Mr. Cantwell said that in his experience as village administrator, “With enough control, over time, people become aware that they need” a container, and that the regulation “did significantly improve the amount of debris left behind.” He said that the proposal has been referred to the town trustees, who have jurisdiction over most town beaches, and that a public hearing is likely.

The committee voted 9 to 4 to support the amendment. Those opposing it felt it was ambiguous and should be worded differently, or that additional regulation was unnecessary.

Mr. Cantwell told the committee of a potential new location for the long-desired public restroom, construction of which was again delayed after opposition to its previously proposed location, directly behind the Amagansett Library. The latest proposal is on the north end of the lot, occupying four to five parking spaces. “It fits back there without real modifications to the building,” he said. A sidewalk along the lot’s north side, connecting to the one on its west  side, might also be added, providing a path to the restroom without the need to walk through the lot.

The lot would also be re-striped, an effort that was to coincide with the since-postponed construction of the restroom, with a resulting net gain of around five spaces. “The parking lot could use a facelift,” said Michael Cinque of Amagansett Wine and Spirits. “We haven’t cleaned up from last year’s dust storms yet. I think if we sweep it, seal the asphalt, and restripe it, that would be great.” Mr. Cantwell sent an email to Stephen Lynch, the town’s highway superintendent, asking that the lot be swept.