East Hampton Airport's Future On Table; Public Input Sought

EAST HAMPTON, NY — The public will be able to weigh in the future of East Hampton Airport as a revisioning process continues.

The East Hampton town board will take public comment on Tuesday, July 6, from residents who either attend in person or remotely; the work session will be televised by LTV.

For years, East Hampton Airport has sparked an outcry on the East End as residents railed against helicopter noise, safety concerns, and quality of life concerns posed by the facility. A series of forums have been held on the North Fork, for example, with many livid residents asking that the airport be shuttered altogether.

However, due to the fact that the town had limited options due to Federal Aviation Administration grant assurances, the ability to potentially close the facility was moot until this year — when, in September, those FAA grant assurances are set to expire, leaving the fate of the airport in the hands of the town.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc has said that the town will move forward to discuss potential outcomes and provide the public with the chance to be heard.

At the July meeting, the town will provide additional materials to assist the public with fact-finding, and to facilitate consideration of the future use of the airport property.

To that end, the town will present a preliminary air quality report addressing emissions of greenhouse gases, prepared by Dr. Donald J. Wuebbles.

There will also be an addendum addressing jet traffic prepared by HMMH, environmental and transportation planning consultants.

In addition, a preliminary report detailing zoning, planning, and environmental conditions of the airport property will also be discussed.

All reports can be viewed in advance here.

For years, residents and elected officials alike on the North Fork and in Riverhead have demanded answers from the FAA on helicopter noise that disrupts residents' quality of life and also poses danger, as helicopters and seaplanes fly over fuel storage tanks at Northville. They have cried out for an all-water route that would keep helicopters and seaplanes from flying over East End communities.

At one protest held in Jamesport in 2018, New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele said it was heartening to see both South and North Fork leaders gathered together to address the issue.

"This is nothing new," he said, adding that the woes with the FAA go back years. Thiele called for an all-water route on both Forks as well as "reasonable restrictions" on the East Hampton airport.

"We are unified," he said, adding that the five East End towns need to keep working together. "We're not going to stop until we get the change we need."

Suffolk County Legislators Al Krupski and Bridget Fleming also spoke. Fleming said while she recognized many faces, there were also many that were no longer present, families who'd moved away after being so deeply impacted by helicopter noise they'd left the community.

"We want an all-water route and we want to actually be heard. Let's keep fighting the good fight until we reach a solution," she said.

Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio, town board liaison to the helicopter noise committee, spoke. One problem, he said, is that the FAA assumed East End residents consider helicopter noise "background noise." But, he said, unlike city residents who may be used to helicopter noise, on the bucolic East End that noise shatters quality of life. "To us, this is a life-altering problem in the summer," Ghosio said. "It's a barrage. It changes the way you are living your life."

Riverhead Town Councilwoman Catherine Kent said she wanted to send a clear message to the FAA: "We will be relentless," until change takes place or the "East Hampton Airport is shut down. Our quality of life should not take a nosedive" become some can afford to fly to the East End from New York City, she said.