Adam Potter’s project at 7 and 11 Bridge Street in Sag Harbor took another step forward Tuesday evening, when the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board unanimously voted to deem the draft environmental impact statement on the project complete.
The impact statement will be the subject of a public hearing at the board’s next meeting on April 22. The project is a mixed-use development, with apartments and commercial space.
This is the third version of the D.E.I.S. that has been submitted to the board, and even though this one required minor edits, John Ellsworth of the engineering firm Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, advised the board to deem it acceptable.
“Our recommendation is that the board consider the D.E.I.S. complete,” Mr. Ellsworth said, “understanding that that’s more of a procedural step allowing the document to be released for public review. . . . You’re not making a determination that you agree with anything in the D.E.I.S.”
While Mr. Ellsworth believes that there are a few questions that still need to be addressed, they can be tackled during the public hearing and comment period. Some that he mentioned included the preparation of a stormwater pollution prevention plan, the transition of 5 Bridge Street from public to private parking, and keeping the historic characteristics of 7 Bridge Street.
The full draft environmental impact statement will be available on the village website, and hard copies will be available at the municipal building and John Jermain Memorial Library. During the time it takes to produce the final environmental impact statement, other boards in the village will also have the opportunity to comment on specific issues.
“For example,” Mr. Elsworth said, “for the issue on the historic resource value of the building at 7 Bridge Street, we would look to the historic preservation and architectural review board for input on that.”
“But they wouldn’t be weighing in on what their decision would be once the application is before them,” he continued later.
Tiffany Scarlato, representing Mr. Potter, did not have any comments for the board, aside from confirming that she will make small edits that were requested before the plans become public. These are separate from the issues that Mr. Elsworth brought up and include things like fixing a labeling error on one page.
After the planning board’s regular meeting on April 22, there will be a 10day window in which to submit written comments.
“We anticipate there will be lots of interest in this,” said John Shaka, the board’s chairman. “It might be that there will be so much interest that it’s going to be difficult to get through the whole thing in one night. If that’s the case we expect we would consider extending the public hearing to the following month as well.”
If the public hearing is extended, the 10-day window for written comments would also be extended.
