Issue no. 3 - 21 December 2024

Read this month’s Science Explained to learn how local zoning regulations impact the climate and our local environment.

6 minute read

CALL TO ACTION! East Hampton’s zoning codes are being amended, and your voice is vital. As the Town Board prepares for a public hearing after the holiday break, key decisions remain about the total mass and scale and environmental footprint of properties in our town.

Visit this link to access a template to help you write a letter to our town officials, urging them to prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship in these important updates, both now and in the future. Email your letter to

Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez: KBurke-Gonzalez@EHamptonNY.Gov

Deputy Supervisor Cate Rogers: CRogers@EHamptonNY.Gov

Councilmember David Lys: DLys@ehamptonny.gov

Councilmember Ian Calder-Piedmonte: ICalder-Piedmonte@EHamptonNY.Gov

Councilmember Tom Flight: TFlight@EHamptonNY.Gov

How will writing a letter help?

Local feedback directly informs and influences councilmembers' decision-making as they work on the issue, ensuring that policies reflect the community's priorities and values.

What is zoning code and why does it matter?

Zoning code is a set of laws that organize how land in a particular area can be used and developed. Zoning regulates land use—like parks, housing, or businesses—sets population limits, and guides new developments, essentially directing how and where development happens. Zoning is important because it ensures local livability by promoting public safety, protecting land from destruction or devaluation, preserving culturally and environmentally significant areas, and guiding sustainable growth to meet community needs.

Why do we plan?

Before we dive into environmental impacts, we’ll take one step back to understand how our local zoning regulation is designed.

As codified by New York State, town zoning laws must be adopted in accordance with the town’s comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a long-term guide that captures the goals and vision of the community and sets a binding course for future development that keeps the best interests of the community in mind.

The comprehensive plan is the result of a detailed planning process that involves a thorough data analysis of current issues, development trends, local resources, and community needs.

 Zoning laws are “one method… for carrying out the comprehensive plan” (NYS DOS 2024).

When zoning laws are in accordance with the comprehensive plan, they will serve the general welfare of the community. 

Environment in East Hampton Town Plans

Environmental considerations are a cornerstone (ranking among the top three goals) in East Hampton Town’s comprehensive plan, showing how central the environment is for our community. Let’s outline some of the key elements, and then take a closer look at two of the most significant ones:

The comprehensive plan calls for preserving East Hampton’s unique natural areas and advocates for “forceful measures” to reduce human impacts. Key recommendations include protecting water resources—particularly groundwater—safeguarding coastal ecosystems like dunes and wetlands, maintaining biodiversity, improving air quality, conserving open space, and minimizing energy use.

It also stresses the importance of scaling back the size and impact of building projects to align with sustainable development principles.

Climate Updates to Comprehensive Plan

In 2017, the Town significantly expanded its long-term environmental goals by incorporating a Climate Action Plan (CAP) into its comprehensive plan. Local governments across the U.S. are implementing CAPs to address the climate crisis and meet statewide emissions reduction requirements, as many state governments also adopt CAPs.

The town’s CAP focuses on mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce climate impacts), shifts to renewable energy and energy efficiency, enhancing climate resilience (the ability to successfully cope and bounce back from disruptions), preserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable development practices (practices that create opportunities for the environment, the economy, and social equity to grow together).

East Hampton Town is also a bronze-certified Climate Smart Community in New York State, meaning it’s involved in a program dedicated to taking considerate action to enhance climate resilience. 

Development Impacts on Our Local Environment

Let’s highlight some key environmental considerations, including the impacts of higher mass and scale of development on groundwater flow and energy use in relation to climate change goals.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll take a deeper look at these issues to grasp their full impact. Have a question now?

Bottom line; while individual factors can vary, the cumulative effect of greater resource use, disruption of natural water systems, increased energy consumption, and higher emissions in larger homes contributes to a more substantial environmental impact compared to smaller, more efficiently designed residences.

Disruption of Groundwater Flow

Reducing the scale of development is crucial to protecting our vital groundwater systems. On Long Island, all of our drinking water comes from limited underground aquifers, which are replenished by groundwater moving through the soil. When soil is disturbed or compacted by development, it disrupts the flow of water, hindering the natural recharge of aquifers and increasing the risk of water shortages and contamination.

This disruption can also introduce harmful microorganisms and chemicals, threatening human health. Since our shallow aquifers are both our only source of drinking water and located close to the surface, it is essential to protect them from further stress caused by development to ensure clean and sustainable water for our community.

Increased Impervious Surfaces

The more mass of development we allow, the fewer surfaces remain for water to recharge into ground systems. Adding mass and scale increases impervious surfaces — materials like concrete, asphalt, or buildings that block water from soaking into the ground. Instead of water being absorbed, it runs off these surfaces, which disrupts the natural water cycle and can lead to flooding, water pollution, erosion, and less water being able to naturally recharge our underground water sources.

Higher Resource Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

According to 2024 data, the residential buildings sector alone accounts for almost a quarter of total US energy consumption, and the commercial buildings sector accounts for approximately 18%. Higher emissions make it more difficult to achieve the climate goals outlined in East Hampton Town’s CAP, which align with New York State’s targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050.

Studies have shown that the bigger the house size, the greater the carbon emissions. For instance, wealthier Americans living in spacious houses in upscale neighborhoods are responsible for 25% more emissions on average than lower income residents living in smaller houses.

Increased development leads to higher resource use, both during construction and throughout a building’s life. This includes more energy for heating and cooling, materials like concrete, cement, and steel that generate high greenhouse gas emissions, and greater water use:

Increasing Strain on Aquifers

Larger developments put additional pressure on Long Island’s aquifers, which are already "under stress" due to water use that is 70% higher than the national average, according to an eight-year study released this year by the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation. Additionally, rising sea levels from the climate crisis increase the risk of saltwater intrusion, further threatening our freshwater supply.

The Town of East Hampton is currently in the process of amending our local zoning code to close loopholes in the code and regulate the scale and impact of residential development while balancing our community priorities to preserve our land.

CCOM supports the implementation of these code amendments as an essential first step toward fostering environmentally sustainable, community-focused, and equitable development that aligns with the vision and values of our town's locals. See here for the latest presentation on amendments and our newsletter recaps. The town must adopt development policies that align with the sustainability commitments in their Climate Action Plan.

What’s next?

Stay tuned for the upcoming date of the zoning amendment public hearing, where residents will have the opportunity to voice their opinions in person or by mail on proposed projects or policies. Public hearings are town board meetings where the community can present feedback directly to the board before final decisions are made.

Recent Discussions on the Environmental Impact of Large Homes

Financial Times

How luxury property owners are putting eco concerns at the heart of their dream home

The Wall Street Journal

American Towns Are Rebelling Against Megamansions

Thanks for exploring with us,

R Holloway