Southampton Town Board Rejects Proposal To Purchase Bel-Aire Cove Motel With CPF Money

A proposal to purchase the Bel-Aire Cove Motel in Hampton Bays using Community Preservation Fund money failed to gain the support of five Southampton Town Board members on Tuesday, despite an overwhelming response from the community to preserve the parcel instead of using $1,060,000 in taxpayer dollars to clean it up and put it back on the market.

Town Board member Christine Scalera proposed the CPF purchase after previous hearings to purchase the blighted motel under the community development program were bombarded by residents who said CPF was the better solution. She did not win any of her four colleagues over to the idea.

Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman originally proposed purchasing the Bel-Aire Cove Motel, leveling the building, putting in the proper zoning and permits that would attract a buyer, and putting it up for sale after working with the community to come up with a plan for the land.

That plan, Mr. Schneiderman has said, could consist of another 22-unit motel that would be beneficial to tourism, or 10 condominiums, which would increase the tax base.

The current 22-unit motel has a value of just over $1,000,000 and brings in nearly $20,000 in property taxes each year. Mr. Schneiderman said if 10 condominiums were built there and each sold for $750,000, the town would collect much more in taxes.

Although many in the community spoke up during numerous public hearings, and said they would rather see the parcel purchased with CPF money, the Town Board chose otherwise.

On Tuesday, Mr. Schneiderman suggested tabling Ms. Scalera’s proposal to purchase the property with CPF to consider a third proposal—this time to implement an urban renewal plan to clean up the property and restore it as a hotel or resort.

But Ms. Scalera argued that as the bill’s sponsor, only she could table her resolution. She insisted that it move forward. “I think we’ve been kicking this can down the road long enough,” she said. “It doesn’t make any sense to keep dragging it along.”

When asked for a second for the motion, none of the other board members stepped up—and her proposal failed.

Ms. Scalera thanked the community for speaking out at the numerous public hearings, “even though it fell on deaf ears.”

When the public hearing to use CPF money was set in December, Town Board members had already said how they planned to vote, and nothing was different on Tuesday.

Board member John Bouvier said he did not want to set a precedent by purchasing the Bel-Aire Cove Motel because he has seen too many properties purchased with CPF and then become neglected.

Board member Tommy John Schiavoni said he was ready to vote “no” on the purchase because he would rather see more money added to the tax base. If the property were to be purchased using CPF money, it would result in the town paying $20,000 to the Hampton Bays School District in the form of a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT payments. Board member Julie Lofstad said she would have voted against a CPF purchase because people in the community have told her the town needs to increase the tax base and stop buying properties with CPF.

Mr. Schneiderman said the town has done a lot of investing in trying to rebuild Hampton Bays. Some of the projects include creating a pier from the old Ponquogue Bridge, upgrading the Ponquogue Beach Pavilion and facilities at Hot Dog Beach, and restoring the Tiana Lifesaving Station.

All of these things, Mr. Schneiderman has said, will help tourism, and when the town is working to increase tourism, it does not make sense to tear down a hotel.

“I’m listening,” Mr. Schneiderman said, adding that he was initially told not to use CPF money to purchase the property. Instead, he said, he would rather see the property benefit the tax rolls.

Even though Ms. Scalera’s proposal was shot down, it could be revisited later, at which point another public hearing would need to be rescheduled.

Mr. Schneiderman’s resolution to purchase the property for community development was ultimately tabled and a new public hearing to consider an urban renewal plan for the property was scheduled for February 26 at 6 p.m.