Dodson & Flinker wins 2019 BSLA Award for Montauk Hamlet Master Plan

Phase 1: Vulnerable businesses are relocated inland to reduce risk of damage from storms and flooding.

Phase 2: Oceanfront hotels closest to the water are removed via Transfer of Development Rights.

Phase 3: Downtown expansion continues uphill, while former hotel sites are returned to open space to serve as a buffer for flood protection.

Dodson & Flinker’s “Montauk Hamlet Master Plan” was recognized at the 2019 BSLA Awards Gala in May with a Merit Award in the Analysis and Planning category. Montauk’s master plan was one of a series Dodson & Flinker completed to envision the economic future of each of East Hampton, New York’s five hamlets. Its pristine ocean beaches, dramatic bluffs, Tudor Revival hotels, and vibrant social life attract tens of thousands of summer visitors annually, a dramatic transformation for a hamlet home to some 3,000 year-round residents. As a result, East Hampton, and the hamlet of Montauk in particular, faces ongoing challenges created by seasonal swings in population and activity, with related impacts on traffic, parking, housing, water supply, and wastewater treatment. Montauk’s commercial centers also face a growing threat from climate change and rising seas. Hundreds of residents and stakeholders participated in a series of multi-day public design charrettes to envision their community’s future. Hundreds of residents and stakeholders participated in a series of multi-day public design charrettes to envision their community’s future.  This plan, reflecting this public input, lays out a comprehensive strategy for managed retreat from vulnerable beachfront, and nature-based strategies for protecting Montauk’s historic working harbor, all while building economic vitality and reinforcing the community’s unique landscape character.