Seek Input on House Sizes

Changes in the East Hampton Town zoning code that would set limits on the size of houses in keeping with the properties they are on, and other construction details, will be the subject of a hearing before the East Hampton Town Board at Town Hall next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A fact sheet on the proposal can be found on the town’s website.

The purpose of the law, according to town officials, is to reduce the number of houses that are out of scale with their lots and neighborhoods. The size of a residence may now be 12 percent of the lot area plus 1,600 square feet or a maximum of 20,000 square feet, whichever is less. If the proposal is approved, the limit would be 10 percent of the lot plus 1,600 square feet or a 20,000 square foot maximum, whichever is less. 

Among the changes that would affect construction is the definition of gross floor area. Areas where ceilings are lower than five feet high would no longer be included in the calculation of the total area, but areas where ceiling heights are higher than 15 feet would be counted twice.

Another code change would affect the size of cellars. If passed, cellars would not be allowed to extend beyond the outside foundation walls of a building’s first floor by more than 10 percent of the gross floor area. Cellars would also be prohibited from being more than 12 feet high. 

The final zoning code change proposed would hone the definitions of building coverage and lot coverage. Buildings with the lowest floor raised above ground level would count toward coverage and cantilevered structures and overhangs larger than 24 inches would also be included in coverage calculations.