Southampton Supervisor Proposes New Landmarks Law

At the town's regular board meeting Tuesday night, Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst proposed a new law that would safeguard all historic structures in the town by granting the town's Landmarks and Historic Districts Board, as well as individuals, the ability to request that a historic structure be designated as a historic landmark.

It is a proposal that members of the Town's Landmarks and Historic Districts have been waiting for, not to mention opponents of a real estate developer's plans to demolish the Canoe Place Inn in Hamptons Bays to make room for a housing development.

Once a structure has landmark status, said Throne-Holst, restrictions are placed on the property.  For example, the structure can never be demolished unless a hardship is claimed. 

According to Assistant Town Attorney Joseph Burke, current town regulations say that only a property owner can voluntarily ask for a historic designation.

"This proposal will eliminate the owner consent requirement to designate a landmark or a historic district," said Burke.

Burke explained that under the proposal, which will be subject to a public hearing, the Landmarks and Historic District Board will have the ability to review all landmark status requests and then submit them to the town board for a public hearing and final determination.

"It is interesting that we are one of the oldest towns and the only town in Suffolk County that doesn't have this type of legislation on the books," Throne-Holst said. 

With the historic designation proposal, Sally Spanburgh, member of the Landmarks and Historic District Board, said the town will be able to protect nearly all its historic resources.

Already, the Landmarks and Historic District Board have a working list of historic buildings and houses in the town that should be deemed historic landmarks.

In Hampton Bays alone, she said, there are some 150 historic structures, is among them.

"Canoe place is has been named one of the most significant structures in the whole town," said Spanburgh.

Canoe Place Inn, which has a history that dates back to around 1635, has been a community concern for some time now. It was feared that Gregg and Mitchell Rechler, owners of the property, would demolish the historical treasure.  

They currently have a demolition permit filed with the town.

However, in the last week, the Rechlers have amended their plan for the property and say they are looking to preserve the inn.

In an open letter to the community, they wrote, "We hired a world-class architect who specializes in renovations of New England coastal historic structures. We have plans to use state-of-the art technology to help us restore the Inn so it will be as close to the original as possible, inside and out. We have an extensive landscaping renovation planned as well, with flower-lined paths leading to the site's five cottages (which will also be restored), a great lawn in front where weddings and other events can be held under a tent and an overall gardening scheme that will make the outside as beautiful and inviting as the inside."

The Rechlers are hoping to have a community discussion about their new plan that also includes the construction of townhouses on their property that lies on the east side of the canal.

Southampton Councilman James Malone, who has taken the lead on the issue, said he is looking to set up a community meeting to discuss the Rechlers' new proposal in the next month and a half.

A public hearing on the new landmarks law will be held on Jan. 11 at 1:00 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.