The sands of time have not been kind to the former site of Westhampton Mining Aggregates.
Southampton Town officials are discussing the future of the former sand mine, 27East reported. The land is newly owned by Grant Hendricks and Frank Amicizia, but will need a zoning change for them to take advantage of its potential.
The property spans seven parcels and 47 acres off North Summit Boulevard in Westhampton. One of the parcels is adjacent to a Long Island Rail Road station and isn’t zoned for anything beyond a 5-acre residential development. Although sand is coveted in the Hamptons, a lack of water to go with it makes housing a grainy proposition.
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One idea being considered is a renewable energy hub, such as a battery storage station, or a composting area. It’s a quarter mile from the Westhampton transfer station.
Another idea floated by a council member is an all-terrain vehicle park. ATVs aren’t allowed on area trails, but the former mine is below grade and could help contain noise from the accident-prone vehicles. Town planning and development administrator Janice Scherer noted an ATV park likely wouldn’t need all 47 acres.
Various industrial uses, such as warehouses, have also been pitched for the land. One option is for the town board to create an industrial reclamation zone.
First, however, the owners need to get rid of the soil piles at the defunct salt mine. That must be done under the watch of the state Department of Environmental Conservation; the new owners can’t regrade the property without the agency’s approval.
In East Hampton, the town planning board is standing in the way of a proposed commercial development on the site of a former mine in Wainscott. In December, the board unanimously ruled the draft environmental impact statement for the proposal was incomplete.
[27East] — Holden Walter-Warner