‘Pristine Dune’ by State Park Threatened
The owners of a 2,529-square-foot vacation house on Cranberry Hole Road in Amagansett, which is on a lot identified by the East Hampton Town Planning Department as “pristine dune land,” sought a permit Tuesday before the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals to add another 1,464 square feet plus decking.
The board was told that Bernal J. Vargas III, a British national, and his wife, Alexandra, who bought the property in 2009, need more room for their two young boys. Their architect, Bailey Heck of BHH, a Brooklyn firm that has designed a number of South Fork residences, told board members that the couple also want a garage to protect their cars. They propose to move and replace their septic system, which is currently located where the expansion would take place, he said.
Laurie Wiltshire of Land Planning Services also addressed the board in support of the project.
The house was built in the 1980s, on just under an acre of land that borders Napeague State Park. Mr. Heck told board members that 61 percent of the property was not buildable.
Brian Frank, East Hampton Town’s chief environmentalist, described the lot as “characterized by pristine, secondary dune land beyond the existing clearing limits.” If the application is granted, he said, it would increase building coverage on the property by 68 percent.
“The board should note that existing clearing limits and area calculations do not appear to be accurate,” he wrote in a memo. He told the board it was impossible to recreate the undulating dune through landscaping, adding that the only way to protect it was to “limit land clearing to the minimum area practical.” Should the board grant the requested approval, he said, it should do so only with extensive mitigation attached. “I would describe this redevelopment as aggressive,” he said.
Ms. Wiltshire argued that the clearing proposed was minimal, and compared the proposal to development on neighboring properties. She pointed out that the applicants were not asking for variances, only a permit to build the extension.
Mr. Frank, in turn, advised the board to consider the town code’s section regarding “natural resources special permits,” stressing that dunes are considered a protected resource.
David Lys, a board member, questioned the location and amount of clearing. John Whelan agreed, saying that the survey submitted for consideration was unclear as to the exact location of the clearing. He asked that an updated survey be presented before any deliberations are held, and the board agreed to keep the record open for that purpose.