a Letter to the Editor of the East Hampton Star

August 10, 2020

Dear David:

I write this in my private capacity, and not as a representative of the town or the town planning board, which I chair. I write this as a resident of Wainscott for over 26 years.

In the Peconic Bay Region, perhaps the single most important means by which community character is preserved is the application of money made available through the community preservation fund. Money from C.P.F. — which is collected upon the transfer of real estate in the five East End towns — is used for the establishment of parks, nature preserves and recreation areas, as well as for the preservation of open space, agricultural lands, lands of exceptional scenic value, wetlands and wildlife refuges, as well as the preservation of historic places.

When considering incorporation, Wainscott residents should bear in mind that nearly every time a parcel of land is sold anywhere from Town Line Road to Montauk Point, the East Hampton C.P.F. increases its wealth and a good deal of that wealth finds its way to Wainscott.

Over the past 20 years, East Hampton town boards, through Democratic and Republican administrations, have utilized $52 Million in C.P.F. money and voted to preserve over 517 acres of land in Wainscott, including the historic Conklin House, the development rights for the Babinski Farm and the Dankowski Farm and, recently, the purchase of the former Star Room site, which will soon be re-invented as Wainscott Green, to be enjoyed by families in Wainscott for years to come.

Likewise, hundreds of acres of land within the area bounded by the intersection of Route 114 and Stephen Hands Path, and continuing west to Town Line Road and north to the border with the Incorporated Village of Sag Harbor, have been purchased with C.P.F. money and will remain as open space, never to be developed, protecting Wainscott’s ground water in perpetuity.

On their webpage, the Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott argue that an incorporated village of Wainscott will “protect our unique agricultural heritage, better advocate for our local farmers, and preserve the unique, bucolic characteristics through more responsive zoning.” Leaving aside Citizens for the Preservation of Wainscott’s failure to explain how they would achieve these laudable goals, the supporters of incorporation appear to be unaware that an Incorporated Village of Wainscott would have absolutely no control over the use of preservation fund money. As required by New York Town Law 64-e, the right and ability to disburse the vast amounts of money available from the C.P.F. resides solely with the Town of East Hampton, as well as the other East End towns. Incorporated villages can request that the town purchase property, but the final authority to decide on whether to make acquisitions with C.P.F. money rests exclusively with the town.

An incorporated village of Wainscott would have no legal authority to determine how this single most important source of money — the intent of which is, of course, to protect Wainscott’s “unique agricultural heritage,” and “preserve [its] unique, bucolic characteristics” — would be spent. That power would still be with the town, which, to judge by the quantity and quality of acquisitions made with C.P.F. money, has done pretty well for Wainscott.

Very truly yours,

SAMUEL KRAMER