By Lindsay Press
The Town of East Hampton recently approved a change to the zoning code regarding the gross floor area (GFA) of newly constructed residences in the town. The measure passed, 3-1-1, with
Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, Deputy Supervisor Cate Rogers — who introduced the amendment — and Councilmember David Lys voting in favor, Councilmember Ian Calder-Piedmonte voting against the amendment, and Councilmember Tom Flight abstaining.
“I did notify all my colleagues that I was going to make a suggestion, which is to allow some of the allotted garage space to be used for livable space on smaller lots,” Calder-Piedmonte said during an East Hampton town meeting on March 18. “I’m not proposing any larger structures than what are already allowed.”
Calder-Piedmonte backed up those comments during another town meeting on March 20, “I do disagree with this particular legislation based on the fact that it doesn’t allow for flexibility within the structure that is the same size as this law does allow.” Calder-Piedmonte went on to discuss his worries that without the ability to move forward with flexibility, there could be unintentional consequences of harming working families and working people.
The town said the amendment acknowledges the Town Board’s commitment to making sure that East Hampton’s land use policies align with the Comprehensive Plan, balancing growth, environmental protection, and the preservation of community character.
As of July 1, the amendment alters Section 255-11-10 of the Town Code, changing the maximum allowable gross floor area (GFA) for single-family residences: The new GFA formula sees 7% of the lot area plus 1,500 square feet or 10,000 square feet, whichever is less. The previous standard was 10% of the lot area plus 1,600 square feet.
In 2024, East Hampton limited new construction mansion sizes to 10,000 square feet. Currently, the largest mansion in East Hampton, built in 2003, sits at about 64,000 square feet, with a total floor area of 110,000 square feet.
“Over the last two years, over 50% of the permits issued indicated GFA that are being built to exceed 75% of current maximum allowable GFA,” said East Hampton Public Information Officer Patrick Derenze. According to Derenze, the average permitted GFA for a newly built home grew 5.8% year overyear to 4,034 square feet in 2024. Last year’s GFA was 19.3% larger than it was in 2017, when the average visible GFA was 3,380 square feet.
“More than half, or 52% of new construction permitted yield to date in 2024, was for houses with a GFA larger than 3,500 square feet, compared to 47% last year and 40% of the total in 2017,” Derenze stated. “These house sizes, and the continuing increase, are incompatible with the Comprehensive Plan and the Purposes of zoning and compromise sustainability of the town and the community across many parameters.”
“As leaders, we carry the responsibility of making decisions that reflect not only the needs of today, but the values that have shaped East Hampton for generations,” Burke-Gonzalez said, “This amendment is about protecting the character of our community, our sense of place, ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of what makes this place so special. It’s a values-driven decision rooted in our love for this town, and our belief that thoughtful, principled leadership can preserve its character while planning wisely for the future.”
“This amendment is the result of thorough analysis, community engagement, and collaboration,” said Rogers. “The Zoning Code Amendment Workgroup provided valuable recommendations, and I thank them for their hard work, and the Town Board carefully considered all factors including intense public engagement before making its decision.”