With applause ringing throughout the Southampton Town Board room on Tuesday afternoon, an amendment to the town's historic landmarks law passed with four board members voting in support.
Councilman Jim Malone abstained from the vote, saying he wanted to see more results from a $45,000 town survey of historic structures that was commissioned to help provide information for the amendment.
The amendment, which has been in the works since this time last year, seeks to preserve additional historic properties in town by lowering the number of property owners necessary to sign off on designating their neighborhood as a historic district from 100 percent to 20 percent.
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A public hearing component is also included in the legislation.
Southampton Town, which is one of the oldest municipalities in the United States — settled in 1640 — previously had no mechanisms for preserving its vast history.
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"I want to thank the landmarks committee for coming forward with this," said Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst. "Without it, we would not be doing anything to safeguard these historic resources."
Councilwoman Nancy Graboski seconded Throne-Holst's sentiments, saying "This really has been a labor of love and I thank the historic districts committee for coming up with it."
Under the amendment, owners of historic structures are eligible for financial incentives for voluntarily applying for landmark status.
RELATED: In a Patch Poll 70 percent of respondents said they are in favor of the landmarks amendment.
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