In a Letter to the Editor published on October 26 [“Horse in the Barn”], Marilee Foster recommended that Southampton Town enact a moratorium targeting agricultural reserves. Ms. Foster argued that reserves were created decades ago as part of a visionary movement to preserve farming, but back then no one fully realized how ownership would evolve.
In a document titled “An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cluster Zoning in the Town of Southampton, NY,” published in 2001, the author described the zoning code that created many of Southampton’s reserves as “a rather confusing map of overlapping ordinances.” In other words, Southampton’s zoning code didn’t support its vision.
In 2020, I wrote to the Pine Barrens Commission opposing a golf course resort in East Quogue (known as the Lewis Road PRD). The resort contained reserves. Here’s what I wrote:
“I’m not affiliated with any political party, civic association or citizens advisory committee. After reading (the developer’s) latest submission (to the Pine Barrens Commission) dated October 9, 2020, prepared by Nelson Pope Voorhis, I believe the Pine Barrens Commission might consider creating a special task force to pursue a forensic investigation into land use on the Lewis Road corridor …
“For years, land use along the Lewis Road corridor has been either reported incorrectly or ignored, even though all of the information is public. I believe the unpublished information has allowed (the developer) to obscure its impact on the area.”
I support Marilee Foster’s proposal.
Susan Cerwinski
East Quogue
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