Sustainability

East Hampton’s natural beauty is so much more than a backdrop—it’s our lifeline. The Board will always strive to preserve the character of East Hampton neighborhoods, while we protect our natural resources.

Montauk Dune Restoration 

  • After being battered by three consecutive nor’easters in 2024, Ditch Plains Beach was left severely eroded. Using a $2.5 million grant from New York State, combined with local funding, the Town rebuilt the dunes in 2025 to protect this vital area.

FIMP

  • The completion of the Fire Island to Montauk Point (FIMP) project is a transformative achievement for our coastal resiliency. This effort brought in nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sand to rebuild Montauk’s downtown beaches, which were critically eroded, and has been placed on a four-year replenishment cycle.

Zoning Code Amendments 

  • By focusing on smaller, more sustainable development, we will preserve the character of East Hampton neighborhoods, while we protect our natural resources.
  • In March 2025, the Board voted to revise the gross floor area (GFA) allowances for single-family residences.  New GFA Formula: 7% of lot area plus 1,500 square feet, or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less.  

Completion of South Fork Wind 

  • The 12-turbine, 132 megawatt wind farm, located around 35 miles off Montauk Point, was completed in March 2024. It provides clean, renewable electricity sufficient to power around 70,000 average-size houses.

Land Preservation

  • Through the CPF Program in 2024, the Town has preserved 15 properties comprising 48.3 acres at an approximate cost of $67 million.
    • Springs: 3 parcels, 2.44 acres & approximately $3.235 million
    • Amagansett: 1 parcel, 2 acres & approximately $1.55 million
    •  Wainscott: 1 parcel, 28 acres & approximately $56 million
    • Montauk: 10 parcels, 13.85 acres & approximately $6.075 million
  • The Town is in contract on 7 additional parcels comprising 23.8 acres at an approximate cost of $11.08 million.

Sustainable Landscaping

  • All landscape maintenance performed on Town properties is done without the use of chemicals or pesticides. 
  • The Town of East Hampton enacted legislation to have a seasonal ban on gas and diesel leaf blowers from May 20th through September 20th. 
  • Town Parks Department staff use battery electric lawn mowers on our Town Hall campus. 
  • Through a collaboration with Changehampton, their organization installed a pollinator garden at Town Hall. 

Planning for Montauk’s Future

  • In 2023, the Town won a $600,000 grant from the New York State Regional Economic Development Councils to plan for the sustainable future of Montauk’s downtown.

Town Wide Composting Program

  • In 2023, the Town in collaboration with ReWild Long Island, launched East Hampton Compost, a community food scrap drop-off program.  

Climate Change

  • The Town of East Hampton is a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community and a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community