Greenport Votes Down Parklets For New Season

GREENPORT, NY — The Greenport village board voted unanimously Thursday night to reject a proposal to bring back the outdoor dining "parklets" for the 2022 season.

The vote came after impassioned pleas from both sides of the debate. At last week's work session, members of the business community implored the board to bring back the parklets, which they say brought life and vitality, and were a veritable lifeline, to the village economy during the pandemic.

Earlier in the month, Greenport Business Improvement District President Rich Vandenburgh hosted a Zoom to garner public input.

While many in the business community came out in support of the measure, some longtime residents voiced objections Thursday.

Pete Harris said while the parklets served a great need during the pandemic, "Personally, I feel it's time for Greenport to get back to being Greenport."

Linda Kessler, who owns a business in the village and sits on the Greenport Business Improvement District, said she was in favor of the parklets, which she believed helped the village to "stand out" from other communities.

Also, she said, she believes that a new strain of the coronavirus could be coming and the pandemic wasn't yet in the past. "It's still here," she said.

Kessler also said she believes the parklets helped to slow down traffic and illegal U turns.

Vandenburgh addressed the board and said he believes leadership is hard, with strong leadership requiring clear vision. "Visionary leadership has to be able to challenge the norm and stand apart from the shadow of doubt. I think this board embraced it in 2020, exercising courage and faith at a time when we needed it most."

During the time the parklets were set up, the village saw 50 percent less accidents, a fact he said Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley confirmed.

And, he said, because of the parklets, "Our businesses were able to survive — and thrive."

A study by the Rausch Foundation indicated that Greenport recovered from the pandemic in a way. that was unlike other downtowns, due to the parklets, Vandenburgh said.

Meanwhile, Chatty Allen, who said she does not believe COVID-19 is over and still wears a mask, said she believe the issue has evolved into an "us versus them" debate. "We're the bad guys, the ones that get negativity thrown at us because we raise concerns about first responders. Our first responders need to be at the top of the list, every time. They need to be heard, and from Day 1, they haven't been heard."

Pointing to the photos of two firefighters who lost their lives in a horrific blaze, she said, "I don't ever want to see another first responder go through that."

She also said restaurants could still be supported through take-out options.

Emily Demarchelier, who owns a business in Greenport, spoke in support of the parklets, which she said make the village attractive to everyone.

"The parklets should stay, that's all," she said.

Last week, Greenport Village Trustee Mary Bess Phillips said she was not in favor of the parklets this year, citing parking concerns.

Trustee Julia Robins, who sits on the BID, said the decision was a "tough one. I'm conflicted." But, she said, her concern wasn't parking, it was safety.

Sitting at a parklet once, she said she was alarmed when a "big tractor trailer was coming at me. It wasn't a pleasant experience for me."

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard said he'd gotten letters on both sides; the BID said the parklets tied in with the vision of Greenport as a walking village. Other residents, he said, told him that they'd personally like to be able to pay a fee to secure a parking spot, as the businesses did for parklets."I can't say I disagree," he said.

Last week, a steady stream of business owners voiced support and gratitude for the parklets, which they said had kept them afloat during the pandemic.

The outdoor dining plan was born during the pandemic to boost the Greenport economy. The "parklets" in Greenport were outdoor spaces created by sections of timber designed to create seating and allow outdoor dining to expand out onto the street.

The parklets were unveiled in August, 2020 as a public/private partnership and an innovative vision for change to help shepherd the business district through the turbulent months of the coronavirus.

In order to create the parklets, the Village of Greenport leveraged 51 parking spaces to create 9,000 square feet of space. Also, a portion of Front Street traffic was directed one way for the duration of the program.