Government

Town to East Hampton on helicopters: ‘Stay away from us’

east end helicopter noise long island

Southold Town has once again drafted a resolution to urge East Hampton Town to tighten its restrictions regarding aircraft noise in response to complaints of helicopters flying over the North Fork en route to the Hamptons.

The resolution was discussed at a Town Board work session held on the eve of a major public meeting regarding helicopter noise to be hosted in East Hampton Wednesday.

The Town Board is expected to approve the resolution, which is similar to one approved last May, at its meeting tonight.

The resolution requests that East Hampton adopt a comprehensive aircraft access restriction policy. It also asks that East Hampton impose curfews at its airport and requests that East Hampton refuse an extension of its agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for subsidy funding when the agreement expires in December 2014.

Town attorney Martin Finnegan said this year’s letter to East Hampton Town is similar to the one approved last year, but takes on a more commanding tone.

“Last year it included provisions about them doing a study,” he said. “This year it’s more ‘stay away from us.'”

Following several heated public meetings earlier this month regarding helicopter noise over the North and the South forks, the East Hampton Town Board has decided to host a special meeting for residents to speak out against the growing impact of noise, “especially from increased traffic of helicopters landing and departing at the East Hampton Airport,” according to a statement from East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell.

The meeting, scheduled for this Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m., is being held at LTV Studios, located at 75 Industrial Road in Wainscott, instead of Town Hall in order to accommodate the large number of expected protestors.

Southold Town officials do plan to have a presence at the meeting.