East Hampton Wants Smaller Lots Available For Affordable Apartments - 27 East

Real Estate News

Real Estate News / 1391511

East Hampton Wants Smaller Lots Available For Affordable Apartments

author27east on May 28, 2019

East Hampton Town has proposed reducing the minimum lot size required for a homeowner to create an accessory apartment in a detached structure, like a garage, in hopes of spurring the creation of more “affordable” rental housing options.

The proposal, which will be the subject of a public hearing at Town Hall on Thursday, June 6, would reduce the minimum lot size for detached accessory apartments from 40,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet, or about three-quarters of an acre.

The reduction in the minimum lot size would make more than 1,400 additional residential parcels townwide eligible as sites for detached accessory apartments, either in an existing structure or through the construction of a new one.

The law will still allow a maximum of only 20 new accessory rental apartments to be created in each of the town’s five school districts, and 100 overall. Rents are capped according to a federal affordable housing pricing structure.

“All we are doing is allowing more property owners to potentially take advantage and provide affordable housing,” Councilman David Lys, who sponsored the legislation, said. “I don’t think decreasing the minimum lot area will change the character of the communities that we are trying to help here.”

The town created the detached apartment allowance in 2016 in hopes of boosting participation in an already existing accessory apartment initiative.

The original law allowed accessory apartments only within owner-occupied homes. The original law had found only a smattering of homeowners willing to create the new apartments—which required bringing structures up to date with new building codes—and the addition of the accessory allowance spurred only a few more.

“It’s been three years, and we got three apartments—so I think this is going to be really helpful,” Councilwoman Sylvia Overby said at a recent Town Board discussion of the new proposal, which was introduced by Mr. Lys. “We’ll see if that is the right balance, so that we can get more affordable apartments in residential zones.”

When the town introduced the detached accessory apartment law in 2016, it drew criticism from some who feared it would create nuisances for neighbors akin to overcrowded housing, and environmental concerns about septic flows. The town increased the original minimum lot size from half an acre to 40,000 square feet and put a cap of four on the total number of cars allowed at a property.

The apartments may not be less than 300 square feet in size or more than 600 square feet, and the main house on the property must be owner-occupied. The accessory structure, if it is newly constructed, must conform to all town zoning setbacks and other restrictions.

The law does allow an owner to live in the accessory apartment and rent the main house, but it cannot be on a seasonal basis.

Town Housing Director Tom Ruhle said that just 22 accessory apartments have been created townwide since the town began allowing them in the 1980s, with a few more “in the works” but not yet constructed.

“This change, albeit one word, will make the underlying law more effective,” Mr. Ruhle said, “and, hopefully, get to those caps.”

You May Also Like:

REI Hosts Fall Luncheon November 19: Communities Before and After Multifamily Development — Exploring Empirical Data

The Real Estate Institute at Stony Brook University College of Business will explore the evolving landscape of solutions to Long Island’s housing crisis during its fall luncheon, titled, “Communities Before and After Multifamily Development — Exploring Empirical Data.” Taking place on November 19 at Heritage Club at Bethpage, in Farmingdale, the event aims to bring together industry experts and thought leaders to share their perspectives on the future of multifamily development on Long Island and bring insight into the intricacies of Long Island’s success stories with multifamily development. “As housing paradigms shift, this event will dissect the emerging trends, technological ... 28 Oct 2024 by Staff Writer

Southampton Village Gambrel With Pool, Tennis Sells for $13.3 million

A gambrel-style residence in the Southampton Village estate section recently sold for $13.28 million. At ... 22 Oct 2024 by Staff Writer

East Hampton Home of Former WABC Reporter Doug Johnson and Late Lobbyist Liz Robbins Is for Sale

Former WABC Eyewitness News reporter Doug Johnson has put his East Hampton home on the ... by Staff Writer

After More Than a Year, Unwanted Occupants Evicted

Thirteen months after he and his wife allowed a couple with four young children to ... 15 Oct 2024 by Brendan J. O’Reilly

East Hampton Village Residence Sells for $5 Million

An East Hampton Village residence named the “Seaglass House” that recently went through a gut ... 14 Oct 2024 by Staff Writer

Sagaponack, Water Mill Have Two of the Top Three Most Expensive Zip Codes in the U.S.

Sagaponack’s 11962 and Water Mill’s 11976 are the No. 2 and No. 3 most expensive ... by Staff Writer

Agency News: Sierra Hope Joins Town & Country

Sierra Hope, who began her career in the real estate industry in 2015, has joined ... by Staff Writer

New Build Overlooking Noyac Golf Club Sells for $5.3 Million

A new build in Sag Harbor with views of the Noyac Golf Club and deeded ... 10 Oct 2024 by Staff Writer

Fed Rate Cut May Bolster Real Estate Market

The Federal Reserve’s move last week that lowered interest rates by 50 basis points was ... 3 Oct 2024 by Joseph Finora

New Build With Interior Design by James Michael Howard Enters Contract in East Hampton

A new build in East Hampton Village, with interior design by James Michael Howard, has ... 1 Oct 2024 by Staff Writer