Two years after adopting a law that prevented East Hampton Village's historic inns from holding special events outdoors, the village's planning and zoning committee is exploring ways to relax it. The committee is also looking to crack down on short-term rentals.
"We have to come up with a way for the inns to have some events and make some money," said Arthur Graham, a village trustee who, in May, was appointed chairman of the committee by Mayor Richard Lawler. Mr. Graham is a candidate for mayor in the upcoming village election.
The existing special events law takes direct aim at the historic inns, which had been popular venues for weddings and other large gatherings, by prohibiting events from being held "in whole or in part outdoors or in a tent, on property containing a legally pre-existing nonconforming business use in a residential district."
It was adopted in April 2018 after months of debate. At a public hearing on the matter, Patricia Handal, who lives next door to the Hedges Inn on James Lane, lauded the effort to put an end to the noise and crowds caused by such gatherings. During one such celebration, she said, “Our house was literally shaking. I had a glass of water in my bedroom and that glass was wiggling.”
Those who worked for the inns countered that the prohibition would be financially catastrophic. Jenny Lilja, the general manager of the Hedges Inn, said events there "represent a significant percentage of our annual revenue. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Mr. Graham voted for the law, which also set strict guidelines for large gatherings at private residences, but said he was not in favor of the provision related to the inns.
The planning and zoning committee has been "toying around with the idea of 10 events per year," he said recently. The current proposal would allow for two events each (only one of which could be held on a weekend) in June, July, August, and September, and two more during the rest of the year.
Mr. Graham conceded that 10 "seems like a lot," but said a final number would be determined after the village board and the public weigh in on the proposal.
The inns would have to apply for permission to hold events, and the village administrator, the code enforcement office, and Police Chief Michael Tracey would determine whether to grant approval. Effective soundproofing measures would have to be in place for each event. "There are a lot of ways to have events while keeping our neighborhoods peaceful," Mr. Graham said. "We've got to keep these quiet."
He has spoken to Ms. Handal about the committee's deliberations, he said, and reached out to inn owners as well but never heard back from them. Beth Baldwin, the village attorney, is currently drafting legislation of the committee's recommendations, he said, and it will soon be circulated to board members.
To address the proliferation of illegal short-term rentals in the village, the committee has been meeting with companies such as Host Compliance that specialize in helping municipalities monitor the online rental sites. "We want to hire one of these companies and have them do the surveillance," Mr. Graham said.
The code only allows for monthlong rentals or two weeklong rentals per year. According to one company's assessment, there are 132 homes in the village listed on rental sites, and 2,902 in East Hampton Town.
Cracking down on those breaking the law, Mr. Graham said, would cut down on crowds and noise in the village, reduce traffic congestion, and also help out local businesses. "Sites like Airbnb are killing the inns," he said.
