Southampton Town Board Considers Dropping Hampton Bays Downtown Overlay District Appeal – 27 East
“Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara and Councilman Rick Martel agree.
“I absolutely support dropping the appeal,” Martel said, on Tuesday, November 1. “Even if we won, I wouldn’t feel comfortable bringing it [the overlay district] back to the public.”
“I wanted to drop it before we did anything,” McNamara said. “Why start over when you haven’t ended the last process?””
Liberty Gardens Affordable Housing Hearing Draws Crowd – 27 East
“After representatives of the applicant offered an overview of the project, Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara wanted to ask questions, offering, “I’m not going to be brief.”
Supervisor Jay Schneiderman asked, instead, to let the public speak first. At the end of the over three-hour hearing, the councilwoman spoke for 10 minutes, outlining an array of questions and concerns. . . .
Once the public portion of the hearing reached an end, the councilwoman argued for the hearing to be left open for additional public comment. Explaining her reasoning on Wednesday morning, she said, “I know people came and saw the line to the street and left. I wanted to give those people the chance to come back.”
“Which is in no way suggesting that there aren’t legitimate concerns to address with the somewhat ironically named Concern Housing proposal on land owned by the Southampton Full Gospel Church. Southampton Town Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara has raised an entirely sensible concern: Will adding 60 units of housing be a tipping point for emergency services already stretched thin? And how would access to and from Liberty Gardens, as the development would be known, affect an already troubled main road?”
“Hats off to Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, who is actually reading what is put before her before voting, unlike her glassy-eyed colleagues, who can’t be bothered until caught out.
Councilwoman McNamara, upon learning about Concern for Independent Living’s (now redubbed “Concern Housing”) proposal to build 60 units of “subsidized” housing (“affordable” is subjective, as is “income restrained” — who isn’t?), became concerned about traffic on County Road 39 and the potential drain on services. . . .
Given time, Councilwoman, look into the proposed 6,800-square-foot ancillary building with myriad uses, the 24/7 security guards, the gated entry.
And thank you for your due diligence.”
Frances Genovese
Southampton
“Particularly concerning, she said, was the potential strain that 60 more residential units could have on already short-staffed local police and ambulance services.
The lawmaker emphasized that she supports the creation of affordable housing and knows of the need townwide. But, she emphasized, “We don’t have the services.”
“They offered to take me on a tour of their facilities, “she said. “But, it’s, like, if I invite you to a party on Saturday night, my house is going to be spotless. But if you show up on a Tuesday and knock on the door …”
In an effort to gauge the volume of services the development might need, McNamara asked for police call data for two up-island developments run by the nonprofit housing organization. “I felt I owe it to the taxpayers to show up on a Tuesday,” she said.”
“Officials and residents who originally found themselves in favor of the proposal should feel duped. The developer made promises of 60 workforce housing units; when the smoke cleared, an entirely different project is in its place.
The Town Board must reject the zone change application and either tell Concern Housing to go back to the drawing board or find somewhere else for the project. It’s a proposal built on a shaky foundation — which makes it a bad risk.”
Candy Canes and Lumps of Coal – 27 East
“LUMP OF COAL To the Southampton Town Board, for the obtuse refusal to understand a measure spearheaded by Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara that would have streamlined the town’s zone change process for both applicants and town staff. The town receives myriad requests for zone changes and has the power to “decline to consider” proposals that could never work — be they contradictory to the town’s Comprehensive Plan, de facto illegal spot zoning, or not viable for other reasons. McNamara suggested that town planning staff, which review every proposal, write up recommendations, which the entire board could adopt to demonstrate why members might decline to consider some requests. Supervisor Jay Schneiderman chose to see the time-saving move instead as an effort to decrease his power. Or maybe he’d rather singlehandedly tell a developer the project wouldn’t fly? That’s the job of a team, not just the supervisor.”
New Community Center And Affordable Apartments Eyed For Bridgehampton – 27 East
“A new 13,000-square-foot Southampton Town community center replete with 15 or 16 affordable apartments may be on the horizon for Bridgehampton. . . .
“I’m all for it,” Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara said. “We need to do more stuff like this.”
Councilman Rick Martel appreciates the dual use of the building. “I think it’s low impact to the community,” he said, adding, “It’s a step into the future for us.””
Town Partners With Heart Of The Hamptons For Senior Shopping Assistance – 27 East
“The Town of Southampton will partner with Heart of the Hamptons to implement an essential shopping program for older adult residents of the Town. Heart of the Hamptons, a local nonprofit that assists people who are in need, will provide a part-time shopping assistant who can help older adults living within the town to obtain their groceries and medical prescriptions. The town received a $40,000 grant from Suffolk County Office for Aging to fund the program.
“I’m excited about this partnership,” said Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, who sponsored the resolution. “This will be a great service for some of our most vulnerable community members, our seniors.””
Southampton Town Board Sets Longer Terms For Planning Board, ZBA Members – 27 East
“Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara cast the sole dissenting vote. Seven years is a long time, she said, arguing that the current four-year term provides for greater oversight of board members.
“I feel that loss of oversight is not a good thing,” she said.”
Term Limit Bill for Regulatory Panels Passes in Split Vote of Southampton Town Board – 27 East
Opponents of the idea, Southampton Town Councilmen Tommy John Schiavoni and John Bouvier, fear an exodus of institutional knowledge as veteran members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals are term-limited out. On the other side of the issue, Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara, who sponsored legislation changing term limits from three terms to two, supports the notion of regularly adding new blood to the deciding bodies.
On Tuesday, September 27, the measure passed by a one-vote margin, with Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Councilman Rick Martel supporting McNamara’s proposal. . . .
“While I would have preferred to keep four-year terms, the passage of this bill will keep the total length of service what it was, while providing more opportunities for public service,” McNamara said.
A Voice For The Trades Community, Thanks To Southampton Town Councilwoman – 27 East
“With so many townwide issues specific to the trades, Southampton Town Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara wanted people in the industries to have a say. In fact, giving tradesmen a voice in government was a plank in her platform when she campaigned last fall.
During the Town Board’s June 14 meeting, she sponsored a measure creating a Trades Advisory Committee . . .
“While other types of business councils have come and gone, the Trades Advisory Committee offers the Town Board a unique perspective from the workers with literal boots on the ground,” stated committee appointee Sheryl Heather, Southampton Business Alliance executive director and representative for the swimming pool industry, in a release announcing the initiative. “The building trades don’t need help improving business, we need help improving our ability to serve the community.””
With State Regs on Tap, Southampton Town Moves Ahead With Retail Pot Shop Zoning Rules – 27 East
“Following board discussion, Schneiderman decided to put forth a revised version of the code regulations that will allow the shops in highway business and shopping center business zones, removing them from the village business and light industrial zones.
Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara said she couldn’t support allowing retail in the light industrial zone, since it’s so scarce and was designed to provide contractors space.”
Volunteers Tried To Open Mecox Cut By Hand To Offer Temporary Relief To Bayfront Residents – 27 East
Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara, Trustee Ann Welker and Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy all pitched in. . . .
Those working knew that, thanks to the empty nest, heavy equipment could be deployed in just a matter of days — but it was a long holiday weekend, and they hoped to provide some relief for area homeowners.
The bay is a watershed for rainfall, and when the depth rises, the water starts to lose its salinity, which is bad for the shellfish that make the bay their home. It also means the groundwater rises and inundates the cesspools buried on properties bordering the pond, releasing contaminants into the waterbody. Crops on nearby farms drown in the saltwater. Water also begins to flood basements, and the road runoff, which includes fertilizers from neighboring lawns and farm fields, adds to the pollution in the bay.
League Of Women Voters Holds Forum For Young Women Interested In Government – 27 East
“McNamara, the mother of two teenagers herself, said she enjoyed being with the young women. Each table seemed to have one participant who led the charge and got the others going, she said.
“The biggest question they asked me was, “Can we really make a difference now?” the lawmaker related. McNamara told the girls the story of young people speaking at a public hearing about an affordable housing project. They seemed to have an impact on the feeling about the project, she believes. “You can’t vote yet, but you can still speak, McNamara told the girls. “People really need to hear from you.””
Southampton Town to honor vets with Hometown Heroes banner displays – Newsday
“Southampton Town will pay tribute to military service members and veterans next year with a new “Hometown Heroes” program in Hampton Bays.
The town has partnered with Westhampton VFW Post 5350 on the initiative to honor town residents who have served their country.
“We’ve been thinking about doing something for our veterans beyond parades for a long time,” said Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara, a liaison to the town’s veterans affairs committee. . . .
“I think it brings it home when you see faces and names and it’s people in your community who you know,” McNamara said.”