Environmental Impact Study for Hampton Bays Released

The long-awaited Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for Hampton Bays hamlet center was released on Dec. 2 during the Southampton Town Board's regular work session.

The study, which has been in the works for since 2008, is the culmination of intensive efforts by the town and community to address density and traffic within the hamlet. 

According to Freda Eisenberg, assistant town planning and development administrator for the town, the study, in it's final form, will guide future zoning efforts in Hampton Bays. 

"If the town adopts it, it will become part of the Comprehensive Master Plan update," said Eisenberg. 

However, before it becomes a guiding document with accompanying, new zoning regulations, it will be subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) . That means, said Eisenberg, public hearings must be held.

The town board is poised to set hearing dates in the near future, said Eisenberg. 

"I think the general censuses of the board it to set the hearings separate from the regular town board meetings so all the focus will be on Hampton Bays."

Eisenberg said she believes that the hearings will take place over several sessions so the public has the opportunity to vet any issues they may have with the draft study. 

At the work session, Eisenberg provided a power point presentation to the town board, outlining the major features of the report.

According to Eisenberg, the study focuses on the redevelopment of Hampton Bays' commercial corridor.  It explores ways to address issues over which the community has voiced concerns, including the reduction of density, the protection of environmental resources, and planned development districts.

Pointing to specifics, Eisenberg says the plan will promote hamlet-scaled commercial uses; increase green space though open space acquisitions and the creation of a Good Ground park area; provide an access lane at Bittersweet South Extension; and add diagonal parking in the commercial corridor.

Dr, Bruce King, head of the Hampton Bays Civic Association, ws pleased to hear the draft was complete; however,he reserved comment until after he has reviewed the document

The same was true of Dr. Sam Lamagna, chair of the Hampton Bays Citizen's Advisory Committee. 

Dr. Lamagna weighed in on his vision for the hamlet:  "We would like our roads improved and beautified with shoulders., but we are not in favor of using the study as an excuse to increase the amount of roads through Hampton Bays."

In addition, Dr. Lamagna, said he hopes the study addresses future density in the town.

"Future growth must be carefully monitored," he said.

Eve Houlihan, a Hampton Bays resident who was part of an ad hoc committee that worked with the town to create the study, said she is interested in reading the final draft of the study.

"This has been going on for over two years. I would like to see what type of mitigation has been proposed to alleviate density."

Eisenberg says the draft study will be posted on the town's website in the near future.  In the meantime, Hampton Bays Patch has posted a PDF copy of Eisenburg's power point.