Uploaded March 2011 | Updated September 2026, 29 minutes ago
Housing, Open Space & Taxes: A Question of Balance -- A roundtable discussion concerning the interrelationships affecting housing, open space and taxes.
Since 1970, Town Planners have recognized that overdevelopment increases property taxes and school taxes. "The Best Buy is Open Space" was the title of a paper detailing the findings of L. I. Hammer, in his study of the increased services and infrastructure necessary to serve a fast-growing population in East Hampton.
The study showed that more build-out meant more subdivision roads needed to be maintained and plowed, emergency service vehicles and firehouses needed to be expanded, schools were bursting at the seams and required expansion and more teachers, and the costs to truck increased garbage and septic waste were escalating. In addition, the needs of an increasing senior retiree population called for additional services. All of these services are paid for by taxpayers.
Additional significant infrastructure costs that are paid for by taxpayers, like public water extensions and sewers were going to be needed if the rapidly increasing growth and overdevelopment of East Hampton were to continue.
Residents realized that protecting our only supply of drinking water, preserving East Hampton's beautiful natural resources and halting runaway overdevelopment could reduce property taxes while continuing to support a healthy second home and tourist economy.
The updates of the 1984 and 2005 Comprehensive Plans achieved those goals. Groundwater aquifers are protected, significant farmland is in production and contributes to East Hampton's rural character, scenic areas of significance are identified and will remain and 100 miles of East Hampton's coastline are protected from unwise new development.
East Hampton's stunning coastline and scenic beauty attracted a metropolis of millionaires just 90 miles to the west. Their investment in residential lots increased the value and selling price of properties with the deleterious result that young people wanting to put down roots in our community were priced out of the market.
This roundtable discussion will take a hard look at the costs of preserving open space, providing realistic affordable housing opportunities and the impact of both on the taxpayer.
The public is encouraged to attend, and the event will be televised on LTV. Any questions and comments may be addressed to ehfinancialreport@gmail.com.
Housing, Open Space & Taxes: A Question of Balance -- A roundtable discussion concerning the interrelationships affecting housing, open space and taxes.
Since 1970, Town Planners have recognized that overdevelopment increases property taxes and school taxes. "The Best Buy is Open Space" was the title of a paper detailing the findings of L. I. Hammer, in his study of the increased services and infrastructure necessary to serve a fast-growing population in East Hampton.
The study showed that more build-out meant more subdivision roads needed to be maintained and plowed, emergency service vehicles and firehouses needed to be expanded, schools were bursting at the seams and required expansion and more teachers, and the costs to truck increased garbage and septic waste were escalating. In addition, the needs of an increasing senior retiree population called for additional services. All of these services are paid for by taxpayers.
Additional significant infrastructure costs that are paid for by taxpayers, like public water extensions and sewers were going to be needed if the rapidly increasing growth and overdevelopment of East Hampton were to continue.
Residents realized that protecting our only supply of drinking water, preserving East Hampton's beautiful natural resources and halting runaway overdevelopment could reduce property taxes while continuing to support a healthy second home and tourist economy.
The updates of the 1984 and 2005 Comprehensive Plans achieved those goals. Groundwater aquifers are protected, significant farmland is in production and contributes to East Hampton's rural character, scenic areas of significance are identified and will remain and 100 miles of East Hampton's coastline are protected from unwise new development.
East Hampton's stunning coastline and scenic beauty attracted a metropolis of millionaires just 90 miles to the west. Their investment in residential lots increased the value and selling price of properties with the deleterious result that young people wanting to put down roots in our community were priced out of the market.
This roundtable discussion will take a hard look at the costs of preserving open space, providing realistic affordable housing opportunities and the impact of both on the taxpayer.
The public is encouraged to attend, and the event will be televised on LTV. Any questions and comments may be addressed to ehfinancialreport@gmail.com.
