Final design for Georgia Pond (Route 27) rest stop stormwater abatement presented; $500,000 DASNY grant awarded
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Summary
Engineers and town staff detailed a multi-site stormwater abatement design at the Route 27 rest stop adjacent to Georgia Pond, including porous pavement, below-grade treatment, bioretention and native plantings; the project has a pending $500,000 DASNY grant and will use CPF funds for the local match and maintenance.
Town engineers presented final plans on Tuesday for the Route 27 rest stop stormwater abatement project, which aims to capture and treat runoff before it reaches Georgia Pond, a priority water body for East Hampton.
Tom Schafer of D&B Engineers and Architects walked board members through the design for three study areas (the rest-stop parking area, Old Montauk Highway pull-off and adjacent Peconic Land Trust parcel). Proposed measures include a new concrete curb and porous asphalt for the rest-stop parking lot, a below-grade stormwater treatment unit, permeable pavers and bioretention plantings, a riprap diversion from Old Montauk Highway to a bioretention area, native vegetation to stabilize soils, and a split-rail fence and permeable pedestrian walkway to a lookout point.
Schafer said the water-quality treatment components are sized to treat the "90% rainfall event," with overflow features designed for the 10-year storm. He outlined a five-year maintenance requirement for the contractor (covered in the construction contract), after which the DOT and town will assume responsibility for maintenance within their respective rights-of-way; the Peconic Land Trust will maintain plantings on its parcel.
Funding is in place for design and partial construction: a $500,000 award through the New York State Dormitory Authority (DASNY) is pending final contract, and the town anticipates a CPF water-quality contribution as the local match. Bids were scheduled for advertisement soon; town staff said the project should be awarded by summer, with construction starting after Columbus Day and final plantings expected in spring 2027.
Board members praised the design and emphasized maintenance planning and historical-signage coordination; staff said the team had coordinated permitting with DEC, Army Corps, Department of State and DOT and that the town would solicit feedback from stakeholders before bidding.
