Noyack residents want parking limit lifted

A dispute over parking restrictions on a Noyack street has grown into a public-access issue, with residents packing the town board room last week to request the limits be lifted, and prompting the town to rethink its original position.

Noyac Bay Avenue, which dead-ends at Noyack Bay, had "no parking" signs installed when a previous town board agreed to the restrictions after residents complained about vandalism and burglaries.

The town board's public hearing on June 28 was on a plan to allow parking in as much as 100 feet along one side, enough for about four cars. The proposal was considered a compromise, but at least 10 residents spoke against any restrictions, saying it would set a bad precedent for other water-view homes that want to restrict parking on their blocks, even though beachfronts up to the high-water mark are public property.

The town considered a permit sticker, much as is done on the ocean beach roads in the summer months, but that involved legal issues. Instead, it passed the resolution giving the 100 feet of parking, with the understanding that at the July 12 meeting another public hearing will be held to consider repealing the parking limits entirely.

Lisina Ceresa, 65, of Sag Harbor, said she has been using that beach for 35 years and access to beaches needs to be available on all roads. She said no other roads leading to the bay in that area have parking restrictions.

"We live in a beach community because we want to go to the beach," she said.

It is not clear whether the beach is private, but the town is now researching who owns the beach beyond the high-water mark.

Joanne Staffa, secretary of the Northampton Colony Yacht Club, located at the end of the block on the beach, spoke on behalf of the organization, saying the 100 feet was a good compromise as long as there was room at the end for emergency vehicles. The club has been opposed to a complete lifting of the restrictions.

"It's a waterfront community," James Malone said during the meeting. "When we roll back and restrict access to our beaches and waterways and vistas that we have, I think we do a great injustice."

Councilwoman Bridget Fleming said she was not going to vote for the 100-foot extension but voted yes since the public hearing to lift it entirely will be held in two weeks.

"I feel there shouldn't be any restrictions to beach access," she said, but she wants to be mindful of safety concerns of the residents.

The town wants to ensure that free access is maintained, said Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, noting that public hearings are for this sort of airing out of disputes.

"I think, in the end, the compromise wasn't an adequate one," she said. "I don't think the 100 feet was enough."

Public hearing scheduled

What: Public hearing on lifting the parking restrictions on Noyac Bay Avenue.

When: July 12, 1 p.m.

Where: Southampton Town Hall, 116 Hampton Rd.

FYI: Each speaker gets 3 minutes to testify on the issue.