Advocates Urge Historic Districts Amendment

With one exception, a public hearing last week on in Southampton Town was dominated by supporters of the resolution.

The legislation, which would lower the amount of property owners in an area who need to consent to historic district designation from 100 percent to just 20 percent, comes at the urging of the town's Landmarks and Historic Districts Board. Such designation makes it more difficult for homeowners within the district to demolish or drastically alter the architectural character of their houses.

The town currently has no historic districts, Landmarks and Historic Districts Board members pointed out. More historic structures will be lost forever without this law, they argued.

Ann Lombardo, a member of the board, said she moved to Southampton from North Hempstead because of its historic character. She said she witnessed North Hempstead, where she grew up, slowly lose its character over many years as historic buildings disappeared.

“Its almost like a silent killer," she said. "You don’t see the little things that change.”

Farmer John White of Sagaponack said the legislation is a no-brainer. “I find it difficult to fathom why we’re even having this conversation,” he said.

“Do it quickly, before we lose anything else,” said Jay Diesing, a resident of Southampton Village and president of the Southampton Association.

But Jim Maran of Water Mill told the board that accepting just 20 percent owner consent is much too low.

"I thought that we lived in a democracy, where majority rules," Maran said, suggesting 51 percent consent instead.

Sally Spanburgh, the chairwoman of the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board, countered that the legislation was democratic, because designation requires the majority consent of the elected town board.

Southampton resident Frank Lomento wanted to do away with owner consent altogether. “I don’t think 20 percent consent is enough," he said. "It should be zero.”

Lomento, who described himself as an "architectural tourist," said residents are stewards of ever street they walk down, and the town will be in a crisis of huge proportions if the same type of demolitions are allowed to continue to make way for new construction.

"There seem to be ample opportunities to build something huge and grotesque without distroying a historic structure," Lomento said.