In a major policy move aimed at rebalancing the regional real estate landscape, the Southampton Town Board enacted a floating zoning mechanism, the Community Housing Fund Overlay District (CHOD), to spur small- to mid-scale affordable developments across the town’s eastern hamlets. By lowering the required minimum lot size from 220,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet, the updated zoning regulations unlock commercial and residential parcels historically restricted from high-density housing applications.
The discretionary tool enables the Town Board to review and approve proposals ranging from 10 to 35 workforce units on a case-by-case basis. Designed to work directly alongside Southampton’s voter-approved Community Housing Fund (CHF), the overlay provides a streamlined approval process for projects receiving municipal funding allocations. Planning models highlight local developments like the Sandy Hollow Cove Apartments in Tuckahoe as aesthetic benchmarks, demonstrating how multi-unit residential footprints can incorporate traditional East End architecture while fitting into surrounding neighborhoods.
By permitting targeted workforce development east of the Shinnecock Canal, municipal leaders aim to reduce daily commuter congestion along major traffic corridors while establishing housing options for year-round local workers and essential service personnel. Excluded from the overlay are properties directly fronting County Road 39, ensuring future developments align with long-term regional traffic management and land-use priorities.
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