Parking banned on rest of street near popular Surf Lodge in Montauk

The East Hampton Town Board has passed an ordinance banning parking on the west side of South Edgemere Street near The Surf Lodge, a popular hotel, bar and restaurant in Montauk.

The ban, approved Thursday after a public hearing, is part of ongoing efforts to curtail disruptive summertime crowds in the hamlet.

Parking on the east side of the street was prohibited several years ago.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo has said the South Edgemere Street problem involved taxis picking up and dropping off passengers in the vicinity of The Surf Lodge, a destination for young visitors partying in the hamlet.

The hearing lasted about 30 minutes. No one from The Surf Lodge attended. Residents and officials who spoke expressed concerns about the current parking and traffic situation on the street.

"We're charged with protecting the lives and property of the people of Montauk," said Joseph Dryer, chairman of the Montauk board of fire commissioners. "Someone's going to get run over or killed," he added, noting that people park in a shoulder area and then "walk two or three abreast on the street. It's a catastrophe that's taking place."

But Montauk Fire Chief Joseph Lenahan raised concerns about what would happen when the ban takes effect. "Once that's done, where's that parking going to end up?" he asked.

Lenahan questioned whether those vehicles would cause congestion in other parts of the community.