A contentious two and a half years for the shuttered Springs General Store came to a head at last week’s East Hampton Town Planning Board meeting when the lawyer John Bennett, representing the owners, yelled at Samuel Kramer, the chairman of the board, “You cost us three seasons, Sam!”
The owners include Jonas Lafortezza and Mr. Bennett’s sons Daniel Bennett and Evan Bennett, who are also partners in Doubles in Amagansett.
The application, at its core a proposal to renovate the building, built in 1844, and convert a storage shed into a small retail wine shop, first came to the planning board in the spring of 2022. It also needed approval for a natural resources special permit from the zoning board of appeals (awarded in September) and site plan approval from the architectural review board (still pending).
Mr. Kramer strongly defended his board. The Springs General Store is a community focal point. An early version of the application included a narrative in which on-site consumption of alcohol was key. The store sits on a parcel zoned “neighborhood business” and abuts residential areas. The planning board heard from many who feared the quiet community spot would morph into something else, unintended and unwelcome. Ultimately, the store removed the on-site consumption aspect of the plan.
At the meeting, the board deemed the application complete and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Things initially got tense when Mr. Kramer discussed the potential of the store adding an I/A septic system. The store is close to the shore of Accabonac Harbor. While an upgrade was not automatically triggered by the site improvements, the planning board made it clear it was important. The East Hampton Town Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee had recommended the store receive a town-funded grant last fall, but because the owners had not started installation of the system in time, the grant expired.
“It’s been going on so long they have to review it again,” said Mr. Bennett, clearly frustrated. He had written a letter for the record accusing the planning board of delaying the application.
“Absent a substantive change in the application that would alter the decision, I’m not sure why they would choose to rescind it,” said Tina Vavilis LaGarenne, the town’s acting planning director. “I don’t think we have to have a debate about it.”
Mr. Bennett also grumbled about being compelled to come into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, which required the store to provide access to the historic storefront for people with disabilities. “The last three operators have not been required to come into compliance,” he said, arms firmly crossed.
“We appreciate your willingness to be a good citizen,” said Louis Cortese, a board member.
That’s when Mr. Kramer referenced the letter accusing the board of delay. He detailed the history of the application and said that twice, Mr. Bennett had taken several months to respond to comments by the board.
“This is an application that doesn’t increase by one square foot any of the buildings on the property,” said Mr. Bennett. “I’m taking a shed that’s the size of a parking space and switching it to a conforming use. I’m offering all sorts of mitigation. You took forever.”
“You took six months,” said Mr. Kramer.
“To respond to your questions,” yelled Mr. Bennett, speaking over the chairman. “You slow-rolled this thing.”
“I object, John. The record will show that we had a meeting and then six months later you gave us a letter and then we had another meeting, and you took seven months,” said Mr. Kramer, now also raising his voice.
“Yeah, because I’m trying to respond to these ridiculous comments that you have,” said Mr. Bennett.
“Well, you see, that’s the issue. You think they’re ridiculous but meanwhile we gave you virtually two hours at each meeting,” said Mr. Kramer. “We said repeatedly we understood that this was an important application. We did not slow-roll this. We gave this application the intention it deserved because the Springs General Store is such an important asset in this community and because we want to see it done and done right. When you write a letter like you wrote. . . . “
“Oh, please,” interjected Mr. Bennett.
“And you blame us for the delays that cannot be put on us. . . ,” continued Mr. Kramer.
“You’re to blame! This has got to ‘I know you are but what am I?’ “ said Mr.
Bennett. “Please let us get to a public hearing.”
“When you take six months to respond, don’t blame us,” said Mr. Kramer, not backing off. “You wrote this letter, this letter is in the record, and now you don’t want me to respond to it.”
“You said you disagreed with the letter. Do you have to say anything more?” asked Mr. Bennett. He said he was tired of being upbraided by the board. “It’s been criminal with how long it’s taken you.”
“See now. . . ,” started Mr. Kramer.
“I’m just using that rhetorically,” said Mr. Bennett.
“You wrote a letter that had a lot of rhetoric in it. It was the most egregious. . . . “
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, Sam!” yelled Mr. Bennett.
Michael Hansen, a board member, tried to bring the heat down by saying, “I’d like to reaffirm how important it was for me and lots of others, that the on-site consumption be removed from the plans. That was number one in a lot of. . . . “
“A permitted use, by the way,” shot Mr. Bennett. “As affirmed by your Building Department.”
“There’s no reason to debate this,” said Mr. Hansen.
It was over. Jennifer Fowkes, the newest member of the planning board who hadn’t been part of the earlier discussions said simply, “I’m in favor of it. I think it’s a great use for a great space and I’d like to move onto the public hearing.” Unanimously, the board agreed.
