Frequently asked questions

What is the Marsden St Project? 

Since 2022, the Sag Harbor School District has been trying to acquire Marsden Street land to develop a full size athletic field and a 72 car parking lot with toilet facilities - in a residential area within the Historic District of Sag Harbor. In the months leading up to the vote, the Board of Education changed plans and announced that they were open to other options for development, and would listen to the community to decide - but only once the land was acquired.

Will the land become McMansions if not acquired by the school?

There are alternative uses of the land that have been put forward by both the CPF and Southampton Town. One alternative is a Community Nature Park that would allow for recreational walking paths, fitness stations and kids’ play areas while preserving the majority of the trees and wetlands area. The school has rejected this proposal, in favor of the athletic facility plan. Additionally, the Sag Harbor Architectural Review Board last year turned down the developer’s plan for McMansions on this site. The school has taken the position that it does not need to abide by the Village boards, including the ARB. Additionally, this property has been on the market for years, if not decades with no buyers.

Sag Harbor Express. Mar 22, 2023.

“....the $9.3 million price tag only covers the acquisition of the lots, and that the district would need to spend another $3 million or $4 million, possibly more, to develop them at some point down the road, if the community approves the purchase. District voters in November approved the expenditure of $3.3 million from district capital reserves to partially cover the cost of the purchase, but the district will need to seek approval from voters again for the use of those capital reserves, — in addition to seeking approval for the $6 million bond--since the deal with the CPF is now off.”

Why has this project taken so long to be approved?

The School District was originally relying on funds from the CPF (Community Preservation Fund) to purchase the land. However, both the CPF and the Southampton Town Board raised serious concerns over drainage and proper environmental testing (SEQRA), postponing a vote until the testing requirements were met. Attorneys for the Southampton Town Council concluded that the District's SEQRA reporting did not comply with the law. The school decided to part ways with both CPF and Southampton Town, as the BOE did not want to wait 3-9 months for the proper environmental testing process, nor to abide by CPF environmental guidelines including no artificial turf. 

What did the Southampton Town Board offer the School district?

Southampton Town Board offered $6 million of CPF funds if the field was natural grass and less than 2 1⁄2 acres and complied with other stipulations such as Dark Skies lighting. 

Why doesn’t the school keep using Mashashimuet Park?

While the school has stated that the reason for developing Marsden lots is because Mashashimuet Park is 1) too far to walk, and 2) potentially “dangerous” - adding one athletic field in the midst of the Historic Village will not solve the school’s stated problem. The majority of students will need to continue using Mashashimuet Park regardless, now and in the future. To date, there has been no announced planning or ideas provided by the school that will assist students continuing to get to Mashashimuet Park safely, by walking or via shuttle bus.

Is the Marsden Street land ecologically sensitive? 

In the recorded history of the village, no buildings have ever built on the land except for sheds at the perimeter, including ice houses where ice blocks from a former kettle hole or pond were stored for use during warmer months. Newspaper accounts from the 1980s and1990s record the controversy caused by the owner of the land dumping imported fill materials on the property in order to raise the level of the land and to attempt to fill in the central portion of the property. This is presumed to have happened before NY State completed its mapping of wetlands on the East End. The fact that the site is lower than all surrounding properties makes it flood-prone because it is subject to significant stormwater runoff. The flooding is partially mitigated by dense vegetation. If the land is cleared (and more than 90% of trees would have to be cleared according to the school’s own plan) and leveled for a playing field, it will be subject to significantly increased flooding. There is no plan currently for what will happen with the runoff created.

Are the environmental problems fixable? 

This is as yet unknown. We can know this only after an Environmental Impact Study and Stormwater Drainage Plan are completed. The Town of Southampton Community Preservation Fund Advisory committee which is made up of land use experts has advised that the proposed use as athletic facilities is inconsistent with the natural constraints of the site

There is already a soccer field at the back of the school, why isn’t that being used?

The community has asked the school for usage rate on that field but has not had any answers. It is well known that the field is kept in poor condition by the school and is mostly underused. To date, the school has not come forth with a plan to utilize this space more efficiently. Additionally, a few years back the Village refused to allow the school to use artificial turf in that field- the current plan is a workaround by the school to obviate that vote.

What other financial needs is Pierson neglecting?

Much needed Gymnasium repairs, a larger gym space, air conditioning, storage and locker rooms on the main level of gym, a weight and cardio room, a marine biology wet lab, school- provided meals every day, as well as maintenance of the school’s current athletic fields.

Is the school able to manage expensive projects?  

Stella Maris was a big school purchase - it is now over + $2 million over budget and not being used to capacity. There was a promise by the BOE to rent space to host a district daycare for parents, and also a promise of a commercial kitchen that would be used for the district meals and also for a culinary arts program. Neither exists.

What does the school’s Marsden St plan look like?

(Marsden st wooded land (left) and proposed athletic field plan by H2M (right)

Because this is low-lying land, there will be an 18 ½ foot high retaining wall based on the school’s current plans. The wall will run along Division Street and wrap around the corner to Marsden Street. Here are examples of what they would look like.