Supervisor, Police Chief Speak With Public About Lavender Farm Traffic Concerns

EAST MARION, NY — With the first bloom of lavender making its appearance, Southold Town officials attended a meeting of the East Marion Community Association Saturday to give an update on efforts to control traffic congestion near Lavender On the Bay.

Traffic wasn't an issue over the past few days, though, said Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell on Monday morning. "It was quiet this past weekend. Because the harvest was in only partial bloom and the weather was overcast, we did not see the large crowds that we are expecting over the next few weekends."

That said, he and Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley met with residents at the East Marion Firehouse Saturday to discuss a new plan to corral traffic. "We shouldn't have any illusions. It's not going to make the traffic disappear. Our goal was to make it far less impactful," Russell said.

Flatley said the coming week should signal the start of increased traffic at the location on Route 25. After last year's traffic concerns, he said, "We've made the commitment that it won't happen again."

Over the past year, Flatley said, he, Russell and other town officials have met with the Southold Transportation Commission, residents, and the farm's owners to find some measure of relief.

Key weekends for lavender related traffic, Flatley said, should be the next two weekends, including the four day July 4 holiday weekend.

"The town has a stake in keeping Route 25 and the neighborhood open," Flatley said. Route 25, he said, is the single artery to the Cross Sound Ferry, Plum Island, and residents living to the east of town.

Flatley said a three man detail, including himself, will be onhand to deal directly with traffic problems. Last year, he said, a traffic control officer was "overwhelmed" at times by the crowd.

This year, two senior highway patrol officers will be onhand.

No parking on the roadway will be allowed on both sides of the roadway from Gillette Drive to Old Orchard Lane, and then, east of Old Orchard, parking will be allowed on the south side of Route 25 but restricted on the north side, he said.

The hope is that changes will ease congestion at Route 25 and Rocky Point Road, the chief said.

The concern remains, however, that even if "no parking" signs are posted, people may still not obey the rules.

One officer will be on a bicycle, and another, on a motorcycle, Flatley said, to make sure traffic flows. One officer will be stationed at Rocky Point Road and Route 25 and the other in front of the lavender farm, he said.

He also referenced the lavender farm's commitment to additional parking spots. "They've more than tripled their parking onsite," he said. "It will definitely help to alleviate the problem. The challenge is that the entrance and exit is narrow so they have to be sure to maintain both lanes."

The business owners, Flatley said, will need parking attendants to move the flow of traffic and show visitors where to park, to maximize use of the space.

The end goal, he said, "is to keep people moving on Route 25"; yellow police tape might be used.

Robin Imandt said one problem last year was that officers would stop traffic every time someone wanted to cross.

Flatley said now, the plan is to funnel pedestrians into one spot, advising them to wait and cross in a group.

Some residents said when cars are parked on the road, it's impossible to see to turn and advocated for no parking at all on Route 25.

"The problem is, when the lot fills up, what do you with them?" Flatley said. "You can't tell them to go home."

Mobile officers will help the situation, he added. Cars parking in spots where no parking is allowed will be ticketed and towed.

One challenge, Flatley said, is deploying officers to the area; during times such as the July 4 parades, the department will need to split its resources, he said.

If traffic gets too bad, Flatley said officers might shift Route 25 traffic to the north and create a righthand turning lane into the lavender farm.

He told residents that if they hear reports of visitors picnicking on lawns or engaging in other such activity, they should call the police department immediately to report the incidents.

One resident asked about shuttling; Flatley said the idea was not embraced by the owners of the business.

Another resident suggested guests buy tickets online in advance, mirroring another similar business in Rhode Island, so they "can control how many are coming."

One woman said there is no way to determine how many guest are coming and commended the business for addressing a Port A Potty situation.

Imandt suggested the owners of the business explain the new parking rules on their social media pages and website.

Owners reassure public

Meanwhile, owners of Lavender By The Bay are reassuring the public that steps have been taken to address last year's traffic woes.

According to Chanan Rozenbaum, vice president of the business and son of Serge and Susan Rozenbaum, more than an acre of land was removed this year to add 100 parking spaces to the farm.

"Hopefully, that will mitigate some traffic issues the community experienced last year," he said.

Currently, the first English lavender is in bloom; that first crop typically appears in mid-June, followed by the French lavender in July and a final, smaller bloom of English lavender in late summer.

Other measures taken this year, Rozenbaum said, including pricing of $5 to enter the field during the week and $8 on weekends and national holidays. Of that $8 fee collected on holidays and weekends, $1 will be collected to donate to local charities, he said.

"We're doing our best to help the community," Rozenbaum said, adding he and his family have met with the Town of Southold and the police department. "We've been very involved this year with trying to help the situation," he said.

That said, Rozenbaum said he's thrilled to see the fragrant fields alive with color. "We're excited for the season and we hope everyone enjoys it," he said.

Residents urged motorists to also be mindful of the traffic.

"The town has promised more police and traffic control officers to handle the lavender farm traffic, but when the lavender is in bloom driving through East Marion will be difficult. Consider doing your shopping and errands on weekdays from late-June till mid-July," ECMA members said.

Last year, residents begged for relief: "This is a very serious accident waiting to happen," one said at a town board meeting.

After the July 4, 2016 weekend, when gridlock residents say was sparked by the popular lavender farm left motorists at a dead standstill, the situation continued to worsen in July, neighbors said.

Anne Murray of the East Marion Civic Association stood up at last year's meeting with photos of the traffic woes. "This weekend was worse than last weekend," she said last year, adding that it's the third year in a row the community has had to deal with the backlash from the thousands who flock to the farm during the times when lavender blooms.

One photo depicted an ambulance with a police escort. "Had someone been in an accident, they wouldn't have been able to get through, even with an escort," Murray said. "People are afraid this is a life or death situation."

Bob Hanlon, president of the Orient Association but speaking as an individual resident, said a few years back his father had to be rushed to Eastern Long Island Hospital with a head injury but had that happened in the midst of stalled traffic, he wouldn't have been able to get there in a timely fashion.

Both Orient and East Marion ambulance and fire departments rely upon one another in the event of emergencies and need to be able to utilize the roadway, he said. "This is a critical issue. We are an island except for that road. If something happens to us, we cannot get out, except by plane or boat," he said.

Rozenbaum said he and his parents constantly promote other businesses, including restaurants and shops, on the North Fork.

"It's not a yearly issue," Rozenbaum said last year. "It's four to six weeks of blooming each year and two weekends of traffic due to holidays."

Others, however, don't mind the traffic woes and say Lavender By the Bay is the highlight of their visit to the North Fork.

"It's just beautiful," said one woman who was visiting from Europe.

Some supporters have said that one business alone cannot be blamed for traffic on a holiday weekend, and reminded that the pumpkin season brings gridlock traffic to bucolic North Fork roads.

Patch courtesy photos.