With an eye toward public safety, the Southold town board will consider a local law that would green light a stop sign at the intersection of Bayview Road and Baywater Avenue in Southold.
A public hearing will be held at Tuesday night's Southold town board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.
Currently, there is a yield sign at the intersection, which is located near the Southold Fire Department substation.
The existing yield sign, which is located on Baywater Avenue heading east at the intersection with Bayview Road, would be replaced with a stop sign.
At Tuesday's work session, the board noted that a stop sign once existed at the intersection, which is located near the Southold Fire Department's sub-station.
Councilman Chris Talbot said a driver heading southeast to the intersection would have no difficulty with a full view to the left, but the right view, he said, is blocked by trees.
The stop sign that once existed at the site was taken down, he said. "Neighbors got irate," he said.
Councilman Bill Ruland said he was not prepared to vote on the measure until he'd heard what the public had to say. He said he might like to send the matter back to the transportation commission; Ruland had questions about how many accidents have occurred in the past.
"That's a factor," he said, adding that stop signs are often erected after "calamities."
The board agreed to reach out to the Southold Town police department for information on accident statistics at the site.
Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flatley said that he could not recall the last accident at the site.
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he had received a request from a resident for a stop sign at the site. He added that after review, the town's transportation committee had recommended a stop sign at the intersection.
"I don't know the answer," Ruland said. "I'd like to hear what the people have to say."
Do you think there should be a stop sign at Bayview Road and Baywater Avenue? Tell us why or why not in the comments section.
