“Farm to Table” Becomes “Farm To Town”

East Hampton Town to use $28 million in CPF funds to purchase 33 acre Bistrian farm in Amagansett.

The current pandemic era has caused a land rush on the East End, resulting in a short supply of sizeable tracts suitable for development. The need to escape urban areas to avoid crowding, and to breathe our fresh sea air have intensified the continuing conflict over land use…should we preserve farms or allow structured subdivision? The Town of East Hampton’s “Right to Farm” legislation of 1982 and later adoption of “Agricultural Policy #26” have demonstrated the Town’s commitment to our farmers. 

Organizations like the Peconic Land Trust have played a major role in the preservation of Amagansett Agricultural Land. For example, P.L.T. activist and supporter Maggie de Cuevas saved from development the 7.7 acres behind the legendary Amagansett Farmers Market (est. 1956 by Pat Struck) in 2008, by purchasing the market and turning the farmland over to Amber Waves Farm’s Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin, who became owners in 2016.

One of the most contentious farm properties for many years has been the 33-acre Bistrian Farm immediately north of the public parking lot in Amagansett. In 1971 Peter Bistrian sold 2.3 acres of the land to East Hampton Town to allow for the construction of a parking lot. Since there would be a continuing need for farm equipment access, part of the deal was the obligation that the Town build a road from adjacent Windmill Lane to the Bistrian farmland. The NYS Supreme Court nullified that obligation in 2018. Ironically, it was the lack of such an access road that prevented the division of the acreage into lots for luxury homes, previously planned by the Bistrian family. 

After many years of uncertainty and appraisals, East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc was recently pleased to announce that the Bistrians and the Town have structured a historic arrangement about the Farm, ending the continuing controversy. “I cannot be more pleased that this land, and the ability to continue to farm it, will remain protected in perpetuity.” In the largest farmland expenditure in its history ($28 million of Community Preservation Funds), the Town will purchase 17.5 acres (5 of the 9 lots) and would acquire a permanent agricultural easement for the remaining 15.1 acres. In case parking lot expansion or a playground are planned, the Town would become owner of the adjacent 1.25 acres north of the current parking lot. 

Most people agree that it is good to have a doctor in the Family, to get a quick informal check on occasional aches and pains, but the Bistrians are fortunate to have a land use expert in the Family to check on their occasional “acres and plains”. Britton Bistrian (Britton PD Bistrian—Land Use Solutions) reported the personal side of the story. Her grandfather Peter Bistrian planted a special tree near the center of the farm, one which he hoped would remain as a monument to the natural world and to continued farming. In addition, Britton noted that, as part of the contract of sale, like the “Reutershan Lot” in East Hampton, the Amagansett lot would be officially named “The Peter and Mary Bistrian Lot”.

According to Supervisor Van Scoyoc, the preservation of the Bistrian Farmland is part of Amagansett’s establishing its own unique identity. It will be interesting to see the next milestones.