Lazy Point Residents and Trustees Clash
Residents’ anxiety over being priced out of the modest houses they own on land they lease from the East Hampton Town Trustees at Lazy Point in Amagansett was evident during a lengthy and sometimes tense meeting on Tuesday night, with accusations heard that the members of the panel were continuing to be adversarial and belligerent.
The trustees had previously announced their intention to raise annual leases to $6,000 per lot per year. Leaseholders now pay $1,500 per year.
As Lazy Point residents crowded the meeting room and spilled into the hall of the Donald Lamb Building in Amagansett, Rick Drew, acting as a spokesman, presented a counterproposal.
Agreeing that the lease fee had historically been low, Mr. Drew noted that it had more than quadrupled since 2005, from $350 a year to $1,500. “A lot of people bought in and paid a lot of money for these little houses because the leases were low,” he said. “When you switch things up, it changes the whole game.”
He proposed a modest increase for the coming year, coupled with doubling the 2-percent lease transfer fee now charged, while the trustees and lessees agree to pursue a new, longer-term fee structure.
“We can work on this until next fall and really make a plan, and next January start having a better discussion,” he said. “I think it’s going to take six to eight months. Get something down for this year, and let’s go to work.”
The trustees have said that the Lazy Point leases and 2-percent transfer fee account for roughly half their annual revenue and do not reflect the privilege of living in a pristine, shorefront community. They argue that residents benefit from services the trustees provide, such as shoreline protection and environmental initiatives such as eelgrass restoration.
Residents counter that they lack the benefits of homeownership elsewhere. “Yes, they’re waterfront,” Linda Badkin said of the houses, but “the main point is that we don’t own it, and therefore it does not have the same value that even a comparable lot size would have in another community.” The trustees, she said, should keep that in mind “when you’re thinking about us paying our fair share, which you obviously don’t think we’re paying at the moment.”
It was not the board’s intent to drive residents, many of whom are over 60 years old and living on fixed incomes, out of their houses, Diane McNally, the presiding officer, or clerk, said. “All we’re trying to do is be fair with what’s comparable for our community, and recognize the uniqueness of Lazy Point.”
Residents remained skeptical. “These people are blue-collar workers,” Elaine Jones said, “and if you do what you say you’re going to do, you’re going to force these people out.”
“Elaine,” Ms. McNally answered, “didn’t I start this conversation by saying that’s not what we are trying to do?” “It sure sounds like it,” several residents said angrily.
Among the options Mr. Drew presented were a 10-percent increase over the current fee, possibly to be revisited next year, a 20-percent increase to be in place for two years, or a 33-percent increase that would be in place for three to four years. Coupled with a doubling of the transfer fee, the trustees would realize significantly more revenue, he said, and all parties would benefit.
Mr. Drew said he would call Ms. McNally the following day to schedule a meeting, and, after a nearly two-hour discussion, the Lazy Point residents stood to leave. “Diane,” said Carol Bennett, “I would like to thank you and the rest of the board for hearing our concerns tonight.”