Consultants to the East Hampton Town Board issued a draft report on a Springs-Fireplace Road Corridor study on Tuesday, an ongoing initiative to evaluate traffic, land use, and environmental issues and offer recommendations to improve the functionality and character of the area surrounding the county road while reducing potential environmental threats.
The study encompasses the nexus of North Main Street, Springs-Fireplace Road, and Three Mile Harbor Road and runs north to Abraham’s Path and east to Accabonac Road, with a southern boundary that runs along Floyd Street and dips to the fork at the top of North Main.
Alongside residential neighborhoods, the corridor is home to many commercial and industrial uses considered vital to the town’s economy. A February 2020 public workshop, shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed such activity, revealed a wealth of traffic, land-use, and environmental issues — including dirt, dust, and odor impacting residents’ quality of life — and highlighted concerns for residents’ health and the pollution of groundwater, air, and soil. “Irregular uses, construction yards, truck parking, [and] ‘temporary’ storage areas challenge zoning and code enforcement,” according to the draft report summary.
Takeaways from the 2020 workshop included support for roadway improvements and landscaping; potential installation of a roundabout at the North Main Street fork; integration of pedestrian connections, trails, and greenspace with surrounding areas; an evaluation of the cumulative impact of existing development, approved plans, and future growth, and enhancement and preservation of the scenic and historic character of the area, which is at the heart of the town’s community life.
There are approximately 275 acres of developable land on 182 parcels ranging from 2,000 square feet to 62 acres, said Peter Flinker of Dodson and Flinker, a landscape architecture and planningconsultancy firm. All but 13 are smaller than two acres.
Vin Corrado of L.K. McLean Associates described four recommended infrastructure improvements, including the traffic circle. Its cost would be approxi mately $2 million, he said, and the improvement would accommodate an expected growth in traffic to 2040. The town should request that the Suffolk County Department of Public Works add the project to its reconstruction of Three Mile Harbor Road, scheduled for 2026, Mr. Corrado said. That reconstruction is now under consideration at the county level.
Abraham’s Path could be widened to provide two lanes at the approach to its intersection with Three Mile Harbor Road. That project, too, could be added to the county’s Three Mile Harbor Road reconstruction, Mr. Corrado suggested. Two more roundabouts, where Abraham’s Path meets Springs-Fireplace Road, might also be constructed, he said, but these, like the Abraham’s Path widening, could be deferred to assess the recent improvements to SpringsFireplace Road and determine if they had improved traffic flow and safety.
The town should investigate paving Washington Avenue between SpringsFireplace Road and Tanbark Trail, Mr. Corrado said. Chronic flooding and drainage issues on Floyd Street also need mitigation. The county should provide bicycle lanes on Three Mile Harbor Road, he suggested, and Abraham’s Path should be widened to 28 feet to allow bicycle lanes connecting Springs-Fireplace Road and Three Mile Harbor Road. The county should also provide continuous sidewalks on one side of Three Mile Harbor Road, Mr. Corrado said.
For open space and conservation purposes, the board was told, the town should create a permanent buffer on both sides of Tanbark Creek; protect areas with high water table and groundwater ponds; establish pedestrian and bicycle paths running north-south and east-west, and create public parks facilities such as picnic areas, playgrounds, and playing courts. These could be implemented by acquiring open space; pursuing permanent protection of remaining farmland; incorporating open-space goals into revised zoning, with incentives for protecting and enhancing open space corridors; developing a plan for public properties around the decommissioned landfill at the town recycling center, and developing a “maritime walking district” and pedestrian and bicycle-path connectivity with the Paumanok Path.
The board was asked to review the consultants’ report; seek input and feedback from the relevant citizens advisory committees, property owners, and the public at large; make revisions and establish priorities; conduct a public hearing and review under the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act; review public comments and make changes as necessary, and ultimately adopt the report into the town’s comprehensive plan.
Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said that the town would hold an initial meeting about the Three Mile Harbor Road reconstruction project with Suffolk Legislator Ann Welker and the Department of Public Works this week, following an internal meeting to assemble a list of topics to raise. She said that she hopes for a community dialogue once that meeting has taken place.
