Editor, Sag Harbor Express:
I read in the Express that the luxury condos to be built over a brownfield site may have no environmental review as required by the NY State DEC. At least that is the plan Village officials seem happy with. But that's not the end of the story.
Last year when it seemed that some answer was required to the County's requirement for 20% of the condos to be "affordable", the Sag Harbor Village Board came up with a "Community Housing Fund". This was to
finance housing outside that development in lieu of the 13 units on-site that would be required. Simultaneously it was announced that the developer had already pledged to donate money to this fund.
The money pledged, since increased to $2.275M, would hardly cover the cost of the land - if land could be found - on which to build the housing.
What private conversations between officials and developer occurred before this joint announcement?
Why was this private meeting proper but a meeting between a Zoning Board member and a housing advocate not?
Maybe the Village attorney, who previously represented Ira Rennert, could explain.
The Bulova project will add to the list of expensive housing available for prospective second home buyers while our teachers, police and firemen are squeezed out of the housing market.
My grandchildren who grew up in Sag Harbor have, we hope, a bright future. One is now at Pierson High, the other at college. The latter says she wants to be a teacher.
Their mother moves from one seasonal rental to another. Will her offspring do their thing in Sag Harbor?
Fat chance.
Tony Ernst
Southampton
