President's Welcome

Welcome to the Cold Spring Harbor Area Civic Association, Inc.'s Website!

The Civic Association is organized to promote the welfare of the Cold Spring Harbor area and its vicinity. We are here to foster and encourage interest and support in the Cold Spring Harbor, Laurel Hollow and Lloyd Harbor communities (defined as School District No. 2); to preserve their natural beauties and historic sites; to protect our groundwater and harbor from all forms of pollution; to encourage citizen participation and involvement in community programs and in local and in state government; to hold and organize meetings, discussions and forums to consider community opinion; and, generally, to endeavor to promote beautification and preservation of the entire Cold Spring Harbor area for future generations. This summary excerpt from the Civic Association's by-laws succinctly describes our purpose. Anyone who shares these interests is welcome.

This is an exciting time to be a resident of the Cold Spring Harbor area. We have one of the most picturesque locations anywhere and one of the best places to live and raise a family. Our excellent school system, the exciting new library, the charming historic Main Street area, the excellent stores and restaurants, and the beautiful beaches, parks and maritime activities are a combination unrivaled on Long Island.

Like all attractive locations in an era of population and economic growth, our Cold Spring Harbor home is subject to many pressures to change. Some of the current issues we face include: the increasing use of our harbor, roads and parking areas; the removal of the Exxon-Mobil Oil tanks and the future of that 8 acre waterfront site; the desire of 105 Harbor Restaurant to add a large outdoor bar and restaurant area; the renovation and expansion of numerous Main Street buildings into larger and more intensely used properties; the desire of outside developers to build on nearly every available parcel of land, including much that was formerly believed to be unbuildable (e.g., because of steep slopes); the need for more space by the Cold Spring Harbor Lab; the LIPA Bridgewater barge; the shortage of parking for commuters; the proposed C 6 zoning change which would allow residential apartments above stores (which we opposed and which has been temporarily enjoined by the courts); the continued pressure to allow ferry service to the mainland for people and cargo, etc. It is a role of this organization and a purpose for this web site to help advise you about changes, hopefully, before they occur and in time for you to express your opinions to the decision makers in the Town of Huntington. If you learn of important projects which you do not see mentioned on this site, please contact us and make us aware. We will respond.

Finally, the Cold Spring Harbor Area Civic Association has made great efforts over the last few years in investigating the possibility of incorporating into a new village which would comprise those portions of CSH School District No. 2 which are not already incorporated as the Villages of Laurel Hollow or Lloyd Harbor. Despite our recent oppositions to various development projects, we are finding that it is increasingly difficult to stop the Town of Huntington from allowing these increased usages. CSH is fortunate in that, unlike new villages in Nassau County, it still would obtain control over its zoning if it incorporated. Ultimately, incorporation seems to be the only way to assure control over change and development pressures which are inevitable and to assure creation of a well thought out master plan which will be harmonious to the existing community. Please click here for more information on incorporation.

We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Cold Spring Harbor Goose Hill Road school building. All meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend. We are a charitable corporation and all donations are tax deductible pursuant to IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). I hope you use and enjoy this site and find the information you need. If you have any questions or comments, please contact any of the officers, directors or feel free to call me.

Clayton A. Prugh, President