NEWS RELEASE

March 11, 2011

Contact: Ryan Horn

(631) 702-2477

Town Cites Illegal Transfer Station

Dumpsters, Debris, and Three Businesses at Priscilla Ave Site

As part of an ongoing investigating of alleged violations, Southampton Town code enforcement, fire marshals, and police executed a search warrant at 52 Priscilla Avenue in Flanders this morning.

Believing an illegal transfer station was operating there, officials entered the site at 9:00am to find 15 roll-off dumpsters stored on the property. With some as large as 40 cubic yards, other receptacles were found on adjourning public lands owned by the Town.

“It wasn’t just an illegal transfer station either,” said Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, who also serves as a liaison to Code Enforcement. “Residents using Town parkland would have to contend with a masonry business, landscaping operation, and makeshift carting facility.”

According to various state and local laws, operations such as these are restricted to commercial locations with permits required from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Town records show the 1.08 acre property as being zoned residential for a two-family home.

“It appears dumpsters were brought first to this site, and the contents were then shipped to other disposal locations,” reported Councilwoman Nancy Graboski.  “Some of them contained building demolition debris and others had landscaping debris.”

In addition to the change of use from residential to commercial, officials noted other alleged transgressions, including the storage of commercial materials without the proper placards posted on the storage buildings. 

“Egregious property misuse drastically impacts a neighborhood’s quality-of-life and surrounding environment,” concluded Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst.  “This is yet another example of the type of illegal operation a strong code enforcement team can address.”

The associated charges will be filed with the Town Justice Court in anticipation of a future arraignment. Meanwhile, the property’s owner, Frank Fisher, said he will immediately begin bringing the property into compliance.  Code enforcement’s Chief Town Investigator David Betts has said the investigation will continue.

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