The Devilish Details
(Why the Village of Westhampton Beach got the “Smart Growth Award.”)

The Main Street project removed the roadbed to the dirt; a new water main was installed; utility wires were brought underground; failing rain drains were replaced and hydrodynamic separators were added to remove pollutants that otherwise would have drained to our bays; a check valve was added to the main rain drain to prevent storm surge from forcing seawater onto Main Street; permeable pavers were installed to filter rainwater; efficient LED street lights were included that conformed to Dark Skies objectives; trees were planted in structural soil designed by Cornell to prevent sidewalk heaves caused by tree roots; sidewalks were widened to allow for outdoor dining; pedestrian seating was increased; a raised cross walk was added along with two traffic circles, all designed to slow traffic and make Main Street pedestrian safe and friendly; sewer lines were propositioned for phase II when we provided wastewater treatment for both businesses and residents in the downtown district. The roadbed was removed in September 2019 and was serviceable to traffic before the end of December 2019. All other work was done before the summer tourist season of 2020, even though the pandemic struck in March of 2020.

In April of 2021 the village broke ground on Phase II of its revitalization which was to provide wastewater treatment through an intermunicipal agreement with Suffolk County. The village brought the county’s Gabreski Airport sewer treatment plant up to the highest standards and also added capacity to that plant. A conveyance system, including pump stations, was designed and constructed to bring wastewater upgradient to the improved and expanded sewer treatment plant.

Mayor Maria Moore has been the leader for all of this but she will not say it. Mayor Moore will be the first to give credit to each and every person who contributed to the project. The backhoe operators, masons, electricians… and yes the numerous politicians who used their public office to make our village a better place to live, work and visit.