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A humble bungalow bulldozed for a dream beach house. Quaint cottages cleared away for luxury living. It’s a familiar scene that plays out in the Town of East Hampton, but officials are hoping to discourage the trend of oversized houses with a new regulation set to take effect in July. Tara Smith reports in NEWSDAY that the code change sets a new formula for calculating a home's maximum square footage, reducing what can be built by a range of 13% to 27%, according to estimates provided by the town.

Deputy Supervisor Cate Rogers said she spearheaded the policy change in response to building trends across East Hampton Town.

“We had people buying quite a few properties up in town and knocking down the older houses, the traditional houses on the smaller lots,” said Rogers.

Larger, multimillion dollar homes were rebuilt on those lots, causing year-round residents who grew up in East Hampton to be priced out of the neighborhood, she said. “For me, that’s the loss of the heart and soul of our community and a big change in our community character,” Rogers said.

The new formula is the latest in a series of zoning changes intended to deter overdevelopment in East Hampton Town. Proponents of the bill say the measure still allows for spacious — though not supersized — homes to be built that retain a rural charm. Smaller homes use less energy and are better for the environment, backers of the bill point out. But opponents say the legislation isn't targeted enough. The restrictions could limit owners of modest-sized homes, including less affluent town residents, from expanding.

So, to summarize, the Town of East Hampton’s new house size law reads as follows:

Effective July 1, the formula for maximum house sizes in East Hampton will change. The home can be 7% of the lot area, plus 1,500 square feet.

That's down from the prior formula of 10% of the lot size plus 1,600 square feet.

East Hampton Town will exempt property owners if their permits for work were approved before July 1.

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Beginning this coming Monday, March 31, the Southampton Town Police Department, in conjunction with the Southampton Town Highway Department, will again launch the Canoe Place Traffic Reduction Program in Hampton Bays, aimed at addressing the ongoing seasonal traffic congestion.

The program will be implemented on weekdays between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Beth Young in EAST END BEACON reports that the traffic light at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Canoe Place Road will be set to flash, and no left turns will be permitted at that intersection. Other traffic lane modifications will also be deployed to facilitate traffic flow through that intersection in Hampton Bays.

The program schedule will be put on hold during the spring school break week of April 14 – 18. Weather considerations that impact traffic volume may also affect the schedule.

The Police Department will communicate this information through its website (www.southamptontownny.gov/1805/police), and by the use of roadside message boards.

Southampton Town Police officers will be posted to assure motorists’ safety, and Highway Department staff will be posted as well to deploy traffic cones, signage, and electronic message boards to alert and inform motorists traveling through the intersection.

The town is encouraging motorists to support these efforts by adhering to traffic laws, practicing defensive driving, and being mindful of pedestrians and other road users.

Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore emphasized that the Town Board is committed to maintaining this program as...