Town Board Votes to Ban Parking on Montauk Street

The East Hampton Town Board voted unanimously to ban street parking on part of South Edgemere Street in Montauk by a popular local bar, The Surf Lodge, at a hearing on Thursday.

The ban, which will be in place in about two weeks, will prevent parking on a quarter-mile long section on the west side of the street, which fits about 100 to 200 cars, according to Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

Parking on the east side of the street was banned several years ago.

“It’s a very dangerous street,” Cantwell said. “Hundreds of cars can park there, it’s a very narrow street and when a car door opens, it opens into the lane of travel, which is a hazard.”

In addition, the street is located near the Montauk Fire Department, which makes it difficult for fire trucks or ambulances to drive through and creates pedestrian safety issues, Cantwell said.

At the hearing between 50 and 60 local residents as well as several members from the local fire district attended to show their support for the proposal, according to Cantwell.

No one from The Surf Lodge spoke during the meeting.

Cantwell said he has been working with the owners of the bar to try to get them to use the front portion of the property to allow cabs and buses to drop off customers so they are off the road as well.

While there are no specific plans to ban parking on any other street in the area, Cantwell said part of Montauk Highway by Cyril’s Fish House is also dangerous.

However, the street is a New York State Road and is regulated by the state, which “refuses to make adopt a no parking zone in that area,” Cantwell said.