Ag Reserves Under Fire
625 Butter Lane Ag Reserve
The owner purchased this property in 2015 knowing that the property had a Conservation Easement that permitted only commercial agricultural operations. For the last 8 years the owner has tried various legal methods to thwart the Conservation Easement to engage in non-commercial agriculture and build 3000 square feet of housing, outdoor kitchens and bathrooms and other hardscape that would permanently take a significant portion of this reserve out of commercial production. Having tried and failed to convince the Town, the owner is pursuing a lawsuit and tried to use the NY Agricultural Markets District laws to override the Conservation Easement. We, along with The Group for the East End and neighbors, continue to oppose this owner’s plans and insist that he comply with the terms of the Conservation Easement and Town Code as written.
North Edge Stables II
This property on the northeast corner of Lumber Lane and Scuttle Hole Road is protected by a Town purchase of development rights and a related easement, which permits private equestrian use but not a commercial operation. The property is for sale and the possible buyer at first said that she was planning to use this property to house 29 of her own horses and the required groomsman, proposing a huge block of two-story townhouses that can only be described as condo-like in nature. The owner has since admitted other horses other than her own will be housed, attempting to thwart the limitations on private use for a commercial boarding operation. A pre-submission report was adopted by the Planning Board including many of the public’s concerns. The potential buyer had until September 2025 to file a formal application. We are keeping a watchful eye.
Two Trees Farm
The new owners of this property expanded the number of horses well beyond the 89 permitted by prior Planning Board approval, resulting in overcrowded stables and riding rings. The owners attempted to build new rings without permits and to host a large horse show series. The owners have expressed their desire to make Bridgehampton “the Wellington of the North”. For those that do not know Wellington, FL, it is the winter home of equestrians. Our position is that we do not wish Bridgehampton to become the summer home, with all the extra traffic and infrastructure pressure that would bring. The Planning Board seems poised, though, to grant the owners the relief requested, which is to increase the number of horses to the density limit of 107 and add two new sand rings. We have requested covenants that would limit through traffic on that part of the parcel that is protected by a private scenic easement and that ensure that the stables and on-site labor housing, individually and as a whole, are not overcrowded.
First Blue East Horse Farm
First Blue East operates the horse farm on the north side of Scuttle Hole Road between Lumber Lane and the Bridge-Sag Turnpike. It is currently a riding academy and boarding operation. First Blue sued the holder of its Conservation Easement, Peconic Land Trust, also to build ag labor housing even though it is residential structures are prohibited by the Conservation Easement. In a decision issued in the fall of 2022, First Blue lost with the court ruling that the Conservation Easement prohibited such housing, a huge victory for those of us fighting hard to enforce these Conservation Easements!
Now, they are asking the Planning Board to allow them to build a tennis court for use by their customers. We plan to oppose this as the parcel was envisioned to remain agricultural in use, with only compatible recreational activities, which we believe are things like hiking, biking, nature paths, etc.