At its meeting February 25, 2020, the Southampton Town Board approved the Hampton Bays Downtown Overlay District which paves the way for the revitalization of the downtown area while retaining local character.
The vote follows four years of planning, many public meetings and the creation of the Pattern Book that will help guide the architectural styles/materials and sustainable landscape designs with future development. It also enhances the ability of developing the downtown into a walkable area with mixed use zoning for businesses, residences and open spaces.
The new overlay district encompasses 54.8 acres from Ponquogue Avenue to Springville Road extending south to Good Ground Road and north to Good Ground Park.
The next steps include an engineering report for the sewage treatment plant funded by a $50,000.00 grant from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.
“The overlay district codifies the desired forms of future development that we arrived at through an extensive community participation process,” said Janice Scherer, Town Planning and Development Administrator.
“We are so excited to see sustainable and beautiful re-development within the Hamlet Center that will complement the park and provide new uses and experiences that the community desires. This is smart growth at its finest.”
Supervisor Schneiderman applauded the Planning Department for taking the time to work with the Hampton Bays community in developing a vision for the future of its downtown and helping enact a legislative framework for realizing that vision.