A discussion on phasing out nonconforming sand mines from residentially-zoned areas in the Town of Southampton was held on Tuesday, January 28 at 1 p.m. at Town Hall.

Councilman Pell stated at the Town Board meeting that the Town received comments back from the ZBA and Pine Barrens Commission, but not back from the Planning Board yet, so he would like to hold off the hearing until February 25th (a night meeting), but people were allowed to make comments. Click here to view the meeting video.

*Amortization is a process that provides mine owners a defined length of time in which they must end operations and begin site reclamation. That time period, ranging between one to seven years, is based on existing permits from New York State. Once reclaimed, mine owners will still have rights on the property that are consistent with current, low-intensity, land use standards. As a result, the town’s drinking water reserves will be better protected, and the character of individual neighborhoods will be better preserved for the future.

The town outlawed sand mines in 1972. The state passed a law in the early 1990s giving towns on Long Island the special authority to regulate mines over that of the DEC. We urge the Southampton Town Board to support the proposed local law regarding the amortization of nonconforming sand mines (Article XXXII) and enforce its zoning laws.

Email the Southampton Town Board with your comments.

For more info and history on this issue, go to: Noyac.org/action-items-listings/sand-land-mine