Sag Harbor Partnership Announces 2 Meetings To Garner Public Input On Main Street's Future

SAG HARBOR, NY — The Sag Harbor Partnership has launched a new initiative focused on preserving the unique character, diversity, and long-term vitality of Sag Harbor's Main Street Business District.

And now, they'd like the public to weigh in.

In response to growing concerns about maintaining the distinctive mix of independent businesses, welcoming atmosphere, and local identity "that make Sag Harbor such a special place to live and visit", the Partnership said it is pursuing two complementary strategies: regulatory measures and innovative economic solutions.

The regulatory approach, SHP said, seeks to address the proliferation of formula or chain stores through potential amendments to the village code, working in cooperation with the mayor and board of trustees.

To support this effort, SHP has engaged Dwight Merriman and his New York counsel to research regulatory approaches adopted by other municipalities and develop recommendations for possible code revisions, the group said.

The recommendations were shared with Sag Harbor Village Planner Rich Warren as part of the broader effort to explore regulatory solutions, complementing his own extensive research and planning work, SHP said.

Rich Warren will present the findings of his comprehensive planning study to the Sag Harbor Village board of trustees and the public at a meeting on Thursday, October 29, at 4 p.m. at Sag Harbor Village Hall, with Zoom participation available.

The public is strongly encouraged to attend and participate, SHP said.

The economic approach, the second strategy, focuses on developing innovative financial models to help sustain key independent businesses and "anchor" retail operations that serve the community and contribute to Main Street's distinctive character, SHP said.

To explore those opportunities, SHP said it commissioned a report examining economic models and practical methodologies for preserving important retail uses and representative buildings.

The study was prepared by Eric Rothman, an economic impact consultant and former head of HR&A Advisors, an international economic development consulting firm, SHP said.

The initiative envisions a public-private partnership, facilitated through a nonprofit organization, that could provide a framework for supporting and sustaining those essential elements of Main Street, SHP said.

Together, the approaches aim to address both the regulatory and financial challenges of maintaining a vibrant, diverse, and economically sustainable village center, SHP said.

In addition, the Sag Harbor Partnership will host a public meeting on Sunday, November 8, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Church, located at 48 Madison Street in Sag Harbor, to discuss the Main Street Initiative and its proposed strategies.

At that meeting, members of the SHP-led task force will present the initiative's objectives and explore opportunities for community participation and public-private collaboration.

Panelists will include John Alschuler, founding member and former chairman of HR&A Advisors, an international economic consulting firm; April Gornik, chair of the Sag Harbor Cinema restoration effort and co-founder of The Church; Susan Mead, land-use attorney, a founder of the Sag Harbor Cinema restoration effort, and current co-president of the Sag Harbor Partnership; Fred Thiele, former New York State Assemblyman and a principal advocate for the creation of Suffolk County's Community Preservation Fund and Community Housing Fund; and Shawn Sachs, partner and CEO of Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, a global strategic communications and public relations firm.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to learn more about the initiative, ask questions, and participate in the discussion about the future of Main Street, SHP said.