Mixed Views Expressed at Hearing on Hills; Town Vows to Consider Preservation

Nearly as many residents voiced support for a project to bring a championship 18-hole golf course and 82 homes to 400 acres on Lewis Road in East Quogue as community members who oppose it, but one thing is clear — the Town of Southampton plans to continue to work toward preserving the property in perpetuity.

During a public hearing on the project's pre-application, held on Oct. 8 at town hall, Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said that while the town has, in the past, made an offer on the property, which was rejected, it will continue to seek funds to buy the land.

"We have very little leeway on what we can offer the landowner, but we have reached out to county and state officials to see if there is a way to pool our resources to meet financial requirements," she said. 

However, to date, she said, those funding sources have not been forthcoming — She also acknowledged that the town isn't even sure that if funds become available, the landowner would be willing to sell.

In the meantime, the town closed the hearing on the pre-application for the proposed Planned Development District, which triggers the start of a formal application process.

Residents and organizations, who oppose the plan, including the Group for the East End and the East Quogue Civic Association, argue that the project will be detrimental to the environment, especially because the property sits within the Pine Barrens ecosystem. They said they fear that the project will have negative effects on water and wildlife — pointing to sewage impacts, as well as chemicals that will be placed on the golf course.

Meanwhile, those who support the project, including the East Quogue chamber of Commerce and a number of residents, stated that they support the project because it will be a boon to the community, both in terms of tax revenue and because those expected to live in the homes will patronize local shops and not be a burden on the school district.

If the town is unable to fund the conservation of the project, Throne-Holst said that the town does have the opportunity through the PDD process to "slice and dice" the project and make demands to request, for example state of the art septic and sewer systems.

"We can try to address all the concerns of the community as well as our own, said Throne-Holst.

The developers, are also offering several public benefits, if their project is approved, including sidewalks in East Quogue for school children and land that they own south of the tracks for the historical society and/or for affordable housing. 

The town will accept written comments on the project until Oct. 22.