Voters Approve Fire District Land Buy In Hampton Bays; No Plans To Develop, Fire Department Says

Voters overwhelmingly approved the $2.5 million purchase of two developed parcels located adjacent to the Hampton Bays Fire Department property on West Montauk Highway on Tuesday, March 29.

Just 17 voters in the district said “no,” compared to 274 who voted in favor of the acquisition. There was one blank ballot cast.

The parcels, 73 and 77 West Montauk Highway, were offered to the fire district by owner Pat Dunn, Hampton Bays Fire District Commissioner Robert King explained. He said she had reduced the purchase price from its $2.8 million appraisal for her preferred purchasers.

“The proposed purchase is at a price below the fully appraised value and has been in negotiation with the owners who are also deeply committed to this community and want to sell first and foremost to the district,” the Board of Fire Commissioners said in a March 21 statement released ahead of the vote.

According to town records, 73 West Montauk Highway, the home of Advance Auto Parts, is approximately 0.9 acres, and assessed at $2.1 million, with D&C Realty of Hampton Bays LLC listed as its owner. The second parcel, 77 West Montauk Highway, is 0.6 acres, and assessed at $450,000 with Roadside Realty LC listed as its owner. Both parcels run from Montauk Highway to Good Ground Road.

Outlining the purchase during the meeting of the Hampton Bays Civic Association on Monday night, district officials emphasized that there are no immediate plans for development of the property. Tenants there, including the auto parts store, will have their leases honored, with rent from the store, two houses and a pool company located on the parcels used to defray the purchase price.

The district plans to keep the parcels for fire department use, but there are no immediate plans for the land, they emphasized. The goal of the acquisition is long-term planning.

“We have zero plans to sell this to a developer or flip it to anybody,” Commissioner Kevin Kenny said during the HBCA Zoom meeting. “And we have zero intentions to build a casino on it,” he added dryly, mentioning a rumor he’d heard.

Chances to buy Main Street properties don’t come up often and the district wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. “We may never see it again,” Kenny said. “This will ensure we can remain in the middle of town.” The central location offers the best access to each end of the hamlet.

The district has set aside a $250,000 down payment and the owners will finance the $2.25 million at 5 percent for five years, with payments starting in 2023. There will be no prepayment penalty. Money in reserves is available, as are operating funds, plus the rental income, Kenny said.

“We’re not looking to overdevelop,” he said. “We’re looking to just take on this land and help us with the needs of our fire department.”

On Wednesday morning, King offered a message of gratitude from his colleagues: “The Board of Fire Commissioners and the members of the fire department thank all the people who took the time to come out and vote. Their effort is greatly appreciated and will benefit the community in the future.”

In 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau listed the population of Hampton Bays at 14,848. According to the department website, in 1930 the Hampton Bays Fire Company Inc. was chartered by New York State to serve the nearly 800 families living in the hamlet year round. The company boasted 38 volunteers and later that year, the firehouse that still stands today was built.

The all-volunteer department boasts 100 members, according to its website, and last year responded to 558 alarms.