With the new affordable accessory apartment code fresh on the books, the Town of Southampton received an award today from Vision Long Island at its annual award ceremony. Supervisor Jay Schneiderman accepted the award on behalf of the Town. The Town recently amended the Accessory Apartment law to permit accessory apartments on smaller lot sizes.
“It’s difficult for any municipality to create affordable housing but imagine what it’s like in the Hamptons to find a way to create this commodity,” said Supervisor Schneiderman. “The new law allows a lot of property owners the opportunity to create an affordable accessory apartment as of right, without having to go through major obstacles.”
“This new accessary apartment code will give teachers, nurses, hospital workers and trades people a chance to live closer to where they work and reduce traffic,” said Diana Weir, Director of Housing and Community Development for the Town of Southampton. “It will create small apartments in homes where the owners can now afford to stay. That’s how we protect our seniors and give young people a chance to live in the communities where they grew up.”
The 18th annual Vision Long Island Smart Growth Awards was held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY on Friday June 14, 2019. This year’s event honored leaders in government, the private sector and the community that exemplify Smart Growth principles in such areas as affordable housing, transit oriented development, mix of land uses, transportation, small business development, community revitalization and wastewater infrastructure.
The Town of Southampton’s new affordable accessory apartment law requires the lot size be at least ½ acre; the rent shall be set at fair market rent prices and the home must be owner occupied.