Neighbors Battle Over Sagg Agricultural Preserve

A decision on an application to construct an 8-foot-tall fence around the perimeter of a nearly 34-acre private agricultural preserve on Parsonage Lane was delayed by the Sagaponack Village Board at a meeting on Monday until an updated survey can be submitted.

The land’s owner, Kim Lippman, who owns a home adjacent to the property under 129 Parsonage Lane LLC, indicated in her application that she would like to have an organic farm on the property where she is growing berry bushes and fruit trees on the western portion of the field, according to Rhodi Winchell, the Sagaponack village clerk. The purpose of the fence would be to keep out grazing deer.

Village Mayor Donald Louchheim said the application was sent back to Ms. Lippman because it did not meet the criteria needed for the board—which has served as the village’s planning board since 2011—to effectively review the permit request.

“An updated survey was required,” Mr. Louchheim said, “including structures and encroachments on the property that was referred to by the applicant, and some other oddities about the parcel.”

Multiple neighbors of the property spoke out in opposition to the application, including Paul Brennan, who lives just across the street.

“I would have to look at it,” Mr. Brennan said, referring to the 8-foot-tall fence and stationary poles. “I now look across Parsonage Lane down to Hedges. It’s one of the last wonderful suites of farmland left, just like the way it was. I used to be able to see down to the ocean, but obviously that isn’t the case anymore. I recognize the fact that it is not my land, and I recognize the fact that they’d like to farm. What I don’t understand is the 8-foot fence. There has to be another solution.”

Mr. Brennan rents 45-acres on Lopers Path—real deer country"—where farmers grow corn. A 6-tiered electric deer fence surrounds that property.

“This is supposed to be farm country. We are supposed to have these views. But it’s slowly changing yet again because of large-scale deer fencing which limits the views,” he said. He noted that because the Lippmans live in Brooklyn, he doesn’t want the land to be used as an excuse to “play gentleman farmer,” suspecting the second homeowners won't keep up with the proposed agriculture use on the property.

The Lippmans could not be reached for comment.

John v.H. Halsey, founder of the Peconic Land Trust, a nonprofit that seeks to protect working farms and open space on Long Island, said he was not familiar with Ms. Lippman’s application, but “given the fact that deer consume many agricultural products, it makes sense to have a fence as long as the property is used for bona fide agricultural production.”

Ms. Lippman acquired the agricultural preserve and the residence on 1.5 acres in 2012. The combined $15 million price tag wasn’t for a quaint farmhouse, but rather an estate with eight bedrooms, three fireplaces, a double height living room, a gym, a tennis court, a putting green and a pool. Only a 2,500-square-foot barn sits on the preserve. The agricultural field was long part of the Foster family farm, zoned for residential use but preserved as a crop field, where potatoes, wheat, hay, beans, corn and more can be harvested. Ms. Lippman currently leases the northern portion of the field to a farmer.

“The case has been adjourned until next month when the applicant will submit sufficient materials for the board to make a decision based on the requirements needed for making a decision at this time,” Mr. Louchheim said.

"