Southampton Town Board set to Vote Jan 13, hearing starts at 6PM Dear Friends of the Shinnecock Canal, My thanks and appreciation for your part in opposing the rezoning of the Historic Shinnecock Canal. A consensus that reflects a majority of Residents and Visitors. And Southampton Town Planning Board Members who voted NOT TO endorse the resolution. Planning Board Members understand, which our Supervisor and Council should this Tuesday, Jan 13th: that public lands are not THEIRS to give away. Nor endanger wetlands with exceptions to a 50 ft setback (you can receive a pdf of this info by request as photos can’t be posted here)…facts that cannot be repeated enough. Including this high density private development is not appropriate along the South Shore Estuary Reserve (SSER) Watershed. The Canal is also located within the Peconic Estuary Critical Environmental Area. A myriad of Town Plans, facts and reasons why this application for zoning change must be denied, including that “the alternative chosen by the Developer’s in building the Townhouses has significant adverse impacts that have not been mitigated:" 1) Townhouses do not conform to the community character. 2) This mpd zoning change does not enhance as required by law. 3) Nor public consensus on community benefits. 4) The Townhouse plan does not adhere to wetland laws, asking for exceptional exceptions to one applicant. 5) Proposed traffic changes do not improve nor change the traffic flow…and include public land giveaways. 6) This application connects parcels of land (CPI to shore of Shinnecock Canal to eastern parcel) that make no sense to do so. 7) This application for a mpd/pdd flouts all other existing laws and Town Plans and Studies. If Town Board Members give serious thought to these reasons their conclusion must be to VOTE NO this Tuesday. They serve the interests of the public: this zoning change does nothing to improve public heath and safety. At the very least they should postpone the vote until all issues cited by the Planning Board and others are fully investigated in an open forum when public comment is reopened. “WE” hope our Town Supervisor and our Town Council consider the far reaching effects of this important vote. That voting NO reflects the consensus shown in both “our" petitions this past month: over 1000 great friends of the Historic Shinnecock Canal signed. Please pass this forward! Yours, Hope