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Health & Fitness

Southampton Sustainability Plan Hearings Closed

Sustainable East End on WPKN 89.5 FM / wpkn.org

Sustainable East End looks at issues of land and energy use, water resources,  transportation and the food industries on the north and south forks of Long Island with host Francesca Rheannon. 

It airs on the 2nd Thursday each month at 12 Noon
and programs are archived at http://EastEndReport.blogspot.com

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October 10, 2013 

Here is an update to our talk with Dr. Scott Carlin about Southampton Town's 400+ Sustainability Plan.
We first spoke with Scott Carlin in June (scroll down to listen).

On Tuesday this week, the Southampton Town Board closed the public hearings on the Plan with all 4 members present voting in favor. Written comments can still be sent to the Board for the next 30 days.

During the hearings which started in the spring, many community members wanted the plan to be "less aggressive". So the language in the plan was softened. For instance "Adopt," was changed to "Consider".  Many specific recommendations were deleted.

Details can be found in the revised document dated October 10, 2013 on the Town web site.

It is possible that the Town Board could adopt the plan in November (although the November 5 election may change the composition of the board).

Dr. Carlin notes that
“The sustainability planning process is supposed to be inclusive.  The public hearing process clearly demonstrated that aspect.  Town citizens and regional stakeholders identified a number of concerns with the initial draft plan.  The Town reviewed those comments and amended the Plan, where appropriate. 
In particular the latest draft gives more attention to affordable housing and policy incentives. "
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ALSO: The Southampton Sustainability "Green" Committee will host
A Watershed Event” on Friday, October 25 from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Stony Brook Southampton’s Library on Montauk Highway in Southampton. 
The evening’s speakers will Identify the key challenges and priorities facing the Town’s ground and surface waters. 
Town Board Member Christine Scalera will discuss the Town’s storm water management program and Bob DeLuca of the Group for the East End will describe the new Long Island Clean Water Partnership.
Also architect Bill Chaleff will review the Town’s Sustainability Plan 
More info can be found here.

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June 13, 2013:

We talked with Dr. Scott Carlin, co-chair of  the Sustainable Southampton Advisory Committee (aka the “Green Committee”) about the committee’s  Sustainability Plan for the town and the controversy it has generated.

Dr. Carlin, formerly of Southampton College of Long Island University teaches about sustainability issues at LIU's C.W. Post campus in Brookville.

The Town's sustainability plan has been criticized in a letter to the Southampton Press as recommending policy that would diminish property owners' rights and 
that the plan was part of a United Nations plan called Agenda 21.  

In our talk Carlin explains how the plan was developed by dialog between the committee and local individuals and groups.   

Listen here




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