2026 Mission for the Business Community!
We have written a letter to Supervisor Maria Moore. If you would like to add anything additional then please contact our Executive Director, Heather Schmalz.
October 22, 2025
Supervisor Maria Moore
Town of Southampton
116 Hampton Road
Southampton, NY 11968
Dear Supervisor Moore, I hope this message finds you well.
As Executive Director of the Southampton Business Alliance (SBA), I serve as a liaison for our diverse business community (300 plus members and their families and workforce) across Southampton Town and its incorporated villages. Through ongoing conversations and a recent survey conducted among our board members, we've identified several key areas of concern that we hope to prioritize as we look ahead to 2026.
The top five issues raised are:
1. False alarm fees being levied on restaurants and other local businesses.
2. The backlog in the building permit process, as well as the perceived lack of professionalism and respect within the Planning Department and Planning Board. We believe the newly instituted term limits for both the Planning and Zoning Boards is a wonderful and first step toward positive change. Other changes are still needed however in the building department, and more importantly, the planning department.
3. Ongoing traffic congestion east of the Canal, which continues to impact both residents and businesses alike.
4. Recommendations for Planning and Zoning Board members, with the aim of creating a more collaborative and solutions-oriented approach with a fairness balance is truly needed.
5. The treatment of the Shinnecock Nation, which remains a matter of deep concern and deserves respectful and proactive engagement by the Town and its departments.
I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with you in the near future to discuss these challenges in more detail and explore potential solutions together. The SBA Board and I are eager to be part of a collaborative effort, offering support, insight, and resources where we can.
I will follow up with a call to your office during the week of November 12th to schedule a time that works for you. I'm confident that, together, we can make meaningful progress on these important issues.
Warm regards,
Heather Schmalz Executive Director
Southampton Town Business Alliance
SBA Benefactors & Investors
The following are a list of financial investors and benefactors who support the Business Alliance in an ongoing way.
Larry Hoffman
William Wright
John Tortorella
Rocco A. Carrierio
Ann LaWall
Robert Strebel
Aram Terchunian
Legislative Alerts
Proposed Land Disturbance Town Code
There is a Southampton Town Work Session on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 10:00AM on this subject. We will attend and advise on details pertaining to this matter.
“NO DOCKS” Peconic Bay (proposed)
Waterfront lands in Little and Great Peconic Bays are regulated by federal and New York State authorities, not Southampton Town. Despite lacking jurisdiction, the Town is seeking to ban new private docks, a move that could reduce property values and restrict development rights for more than 350 shoreline properties. Homeowners currently hold long‑established rights to apply for docks, which are already thoroughly reviewed by state and federal agencies. A Town‑wide ban would remove these rights without proven public benefit.
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SBA’s mission is to promote and achieve an acceptable balance between the environmental, economic, and social needs within the Town of Southampton so that every business feels they can fulfill their full potential …
To achieve it’s mission, the SBA activates a strong voice in the decision-making process of various regulatory agencies, directly impacting the commercial landscape of eastern
Long Island …
When you join the SBA, you are joining a network of leaders committed to advancing and advocating for your business, your employees, and the
Town of Southampton community …