Hitting Pause

East Hampton’s housing shortage is real; the town can’t afford to ignore any potential long-term solutions. But the recent — and now scrapped — plan for a large employer-run complex on Three Mile Harbor Road raises too many questions that haven’t been fully answered.

The proposal, put forward by Kirby Marcantonio and an unnamed partner, would have created 79 units of employer-controlled housing, comparable to a project he has pitched on Pantigo Road. To make it happen, the East Hampton Town Board would have had to allow the project to sidestep the town’s 60-unit limit on affordable developments, and rezone agricultural land at the same time.

It’s easy to agree that adding affordable housing right now should be the priority, but both the scale and model of this proposal require more thought.

Employer-operated housing is not the same as traditional affordable housing that is designed for people to live in town year round. While it seems sensible that employers should have a way of providing housing for workers, tying a person’s dwelling tightly together with his or her employment brings a whole host of potential drawbacks. Without clear rules, these units often end up serving only short-term or seasonal workers, rather than creating stable housing for full-time residents. Housing isn’t just a place to sleep — it’s the foundation of an invested community.

Perhaps the formula for success involves some employer-operated housing. But for now, the Town Board was right to slow this project down. Any large development that isn’t “as of right” should operate under a framework that is already firmly in place to guide it. At the moment, no such rules exist — no standards for oversight, no tenant protections, and no way to ensure that the public benefits in the long run. Without that, approving a project of this size is simply premature.

Residents deserve clarity. Who would live in these units? For how long? How would nearby neighborhoods, schools and services be affected? What happens when an employee loses her job — will she also lose her dwelling? Who will monitor those situations to make sure housing isn’t being used as a cudgel to create unreasonable work demands?

High-density housing, meanwhile, can be part of the solution as well, but looking to exceed already established limits suggests one of two things: Either those limits are too low, or this project is too big. Again, the town must mindfully create guardrails and then require projects to stay within them. The impact on the rest of the year-round community is essential, and the current rules shouldn’t be waved off so handily.

East Hampton must expand housing opportunities while protecting the character and stability of its neighborhoods. Careful planning and clear policies are essential. In this case, the Town Board’s decision to step back offers a necessary pause — a chance to make sure future proposals have the rules and protections the community deserves before any approvals are granted.