Board schedules May hearing after residents raise environmental questions about proposed housing-site purchase

The East Hampton Town Board on April 16 set a public hearing for May 7 on a proposed acquisition of about 13.5 acres at 454 and 550 Wainscott/Wayne Scott Northwest Road for community housing, listing a proposed purchase price of $3,975,000 plus standard closing costs.

Callers and in-person speakers urged the board to clarify how environmental protections, clearing limits and infrastructure needs will be addressed before acquisition or development proceeds. Christopher Kozak, a homeowner adjacent to the parcels, said approving acquisition before any defined project—density, layout, or planned infrastructure—could limit meaningful public input and leave unclear the project’s impact on groundwater, wildlife, traffic and community character.

Kozak told the board that the parcel lies within a groundwater recharge area and the town’s Water Recharge Overlay District, which limits clearing to about 45,000 square feet; he said that restriction would constrain buildings, parking and septic infrastructure and that multifamily scenarios would likely require variances or clearing flexibility.

“Approving the acquisition first without deferring environmental review and development details limits meaningful public input at this stage where it matters most,” Kozak said. Supervisor Kathy Brooke Gonzales explained that the resolution on April 16 set a public hearing date and that the public record would reopen for comments at the May 7 hearing.

The board’s scheduling vote does not itself approve purchase funds or a development plan; the May 7 hearing will allow additional public testimony and written comment to be added to the record, after which any resolution to purchase or proceed would return to the board for formal action.