Southold amends code to limit size of new homes in bid to preserve town's 'character'

The Southold Town Board has passed a law limiting the size of new single- and two-family homes in a half dozen zoning districts, a change supporters said will help preserve the rural sensibilities and characteristics of areas where large homes have been constructed in recent years.

Supervisor Scott Russell said Tuesday after the 6-0 vote that residents and civic groups have told town officials that large house sizes had “fundamentally changed the character of so many communities out here that they wanted [code changes] done.”

“The local community has over the last year or so been saying ‘What are you doing about this?’ ” Russell said. 

The board will amend Chapter 280 of the town code, which outlines maximum dwelling size, or the sum of floor areas in a building. The affected zoning districts are A-C, R-40, R-80, R-120, R-200 and R-400. The new code now states that lots measuring up to 10,000 square feet can contain a home no larger than 2,100 square feet. All lots in excess of 200,000 square feet can contain homes that are a maximum of 10,100 square feet plus 1% of any additional lot area.

The updated code states that any new construction, reconstruction or improvement of a dwelling will be limited by the code’s established standards, or by a variance not to exceed the average gross floor area of dwellings in the immediate area as determined by the zoning board of appeals.

Existing dwellings that go beyond the maximum gross floor area outlined in the code will be deemed nonconforming, which would require homeowners to go before the zoning or building departments for a variance. 

Margaret Steinbugler was one of several residents who spoke at the meeting supporting size limits. Steinbugler said the North Fork Civics of Southold coalition compiled a survey in Southold this year with more than 1,000 responses. Of the respondents, 75% said limiting house sizes was essential to preserving the town’s rural character, she said.

“It seems to me the survey results indicate a very strong community support for this code change,” Steinbugler said.

Other residents, like Southold attorney Patricia Moore, opposed the code change.

“I hope you don’t adopt it, but if you do, I hope you will monitor it very carefully because right now at the zoning board, it’s crazy the line you have to stand on to get a hearing, and when you’re there…the review you’re getting is very difficult,” Moore said. “If you take your own house and apply this, you may find your own house nonconforming.”