East Hampton Town is moving toward a multimillion-dollar purchase that could dramatically change the future of a large former sand mine in Wainscott, New York.
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that → move → Wainscott
The East Hampton Star first reported the proposed $36.3 million acquisition on October 1, while Long Island Life & Politics reported this week that the town sees the purchase as a way to preserve the property while retaining part of it for future municipal needs.
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town → report → needs
The town is seeking to acquire 38.3 acres of the 70.5-acre property at 104 Wainscott Northwest Road.
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town → seek → Road
Under the proposal, about 33.3 acres would be designated for parks, recreation and open space, while roughly five acres would be reserved for municipal purposes.
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acres → designate → purposes
The town has not yet determined a specific use for that smaller portion.
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town → determine → portion
The property sits in the middle of Wainscott’s commercial area, north of Montauk Highway and near the headwaters of Georgica Pond.
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property → sit → Pond
Its location has made the site a particularly significant piece of undeveloped land in a densely watched part of East Hampton.
A major change from earlier development plans
The proposed acquisition would mark a sharp departure from plans that have occupied East Hampton’s planning boards for years.
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that → make → years
The property was the subject of the Wainscott Commercial Center proposal, which sought to divide roughly 70 acres of the former sand and gravel mine into 50 commercial-industrial lots.
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which → seek → lots
East Hampton’s own planning documents describe the site as a reclaimed 70.51-acre sand and gravel mine in a Commercial-Industrial zoning district.
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documents → describe → district
The development proposal became one of the most contentious projects to come before the town.
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proposal → become → town
A public hearing in 2023 lasted eight hours and was split into two sessions, according to The East Hampton Star.
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hearing → last → Star
Earlier discussions also highlighted the unusual environmental characteristics of the property.
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discussions → highlight → property
The former mine has very shallow groundwater in places, with an earlier town discussion noting depths of as little as 2.3 feet.
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discussion → have → feet
Officials and residents had considered how redevelopment could affect groundwater, drainage and the broader watershed around Georgica Pond.
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redevelopment → consider → Pond
What the $36.3 million would cover
The proposed purchase would be the second-largest amount East Hampton Town has spent on a single parcel, according to The East Hampton Star.
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Town → cover → Star
The town paid $56 million for a 30-acre property on Wainscott’s Main Street in late 2024.
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town → pay → 2024
The financing would be split between two sources.
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financing → split → sources
About 86.95% of the purchase would come from Community Preservation Fund money for the open-space portion, while 13.05% would be financed through bonds for the five-acre municipal section.
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% → come → section
The town is also expected to amend its management and stewardship plan for Community Preservation Fund properties as part of the transaction.
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town → expect → transaction
A public hearing on the proposed acquisition is scheduled for October 15 at 6 p.m., giving residents an opportunity to weigh in before the purchase moves forward.
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purchase → propose → opportunity
A 2022 environmental impact statement prepared for the commercial-center application described the property as a reclaimed former sand and gravel mine and examined the consequences of turning it into a large commercial subdivision.
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statement → prepare → subdivision
The Wainscott hamlet planning process had previously considered a range of alternatives for the property, including open space, recreation, shared parking, affordable housing, renewable energy and transportation improvements.
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process → consider → space
The latest proposal would preserve most of the 38.3 acres rather than divide that portion into commercial lots.
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proposal → preserve → lots
For now, the five-acre municipal section remains the biggest question mark.
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section → remain → ?
The town would retain flexibility over its eventual use while placing the overwhelming majority of the acquired land under open-space and recreation purposes.
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town → retain → purposes
If approved, the deal would transform a property that spent years at the center of a commercial development battle into one that is largely intended to remain open, giving East Hampton control over one of Wainscott’s largest remaining tracts while leaving a smaller area available for future public needs.
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that → approve → needs
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