Letters

Having lived in Sagaponack for more than three decades, it has become increasingly clear how essential it is to protect not only our open spaces but also the agricultural heritage that defines this region. Over the years, many residents, including myself, have advocated for safeguarding our remaining farmlands, wetlands and native habitats, which are vital to both our ecosystem and local history.

Recently, discussions around the future use of the Bauer property, also known as Poxabogue Field, have underscored the tension between maintaining agricultural designations and converting land to a general open space status [“Fate of Southampton Town-Owned Poxabogue Field, Within Sagaponack Village, Is Debated at Town Board Meeting,” 27east.com, September 10].

While both outcomes are preferable to residential subdivisions, especially considering that up to six large homes could have otherwise replaced these fertile acres, the true intent of Geri Bauer, who generously opted to sell her land to the town below market value, using Community Preservation Fund resources, must not be overlooked. Her explicit wish was that these lands remain actively farmed, as they have been for generations.

Altering the agricultural covenant attached to such properties is not a mere technicality — it sets a precedent that could deter future landowners from making similar conservation-minded gifts. Already, municipalities across Long Island have seen a sharp decline in donated agricultural land since the early 2000s, and only approximately 25 percent of Sagaponack’s famed farmland is still under cultivation today. Tragically, this figure is decreasing, with experts estimating that less than 700 acres remains in active use, compared to more than 3,000 just a few decades ago. Skyrocketing land values, combined with pressures from development, create fierce competition for these remaining spaces.

As a member of the broader preservation community, I am aware that reevaluating established easements may jeopardize ongoing negotiations with current farm owners about preserving additional parcels, a concern shared by conservation leaders throughout the South Fork. Furthermore, changing the status of farmland after a charitable acquisition could make it harder to attract private and public funding dedicated to preservation efforts, potentially putting the last remnants of Sagaponack’s agrarian landscape at greater risk.

Farmers today face more obstacles than ever before, from climate unpredictability to costly operational overhead and shrinking markets. With each passing year, it becomes more challenging for young people to pursue farming as a career, threatening the long-term viability of local food production and our community’s treasured rural identity.

If we wish to ensure Sagaponack remains more than just a memory of its past, supporting working farms, by both policy and through everyday actions like choosing local produce, remains crucial.

For the sake of our future and to honor those who have invested in the land’s legacy, it is imperative that we think carefully before making decisions that could have lasting consequences for generations.

Mark Landis

Sagaponack