Re-envisioning East Hampton Airport
The East Hampton Airport has long been the target of relentless resident criticism and complaints, following steadily increasing air traffic and noise as well as being the identified source point of PFAS pollution in local wells due to long term chemical storage on site. Many locals want the airport operations dramatically curtailed or closed altogether. Following the expiration of FAA grant assurances this last September, East Hampton Town has regained control over the property and now has the opportunity to re-envision its future use- recently announcing that the airport will close temporarily and reopen as a private, prior-permission use only facility, with future amendments to this use left on the table for consideration.
Not only is the airport currently the top carbon emitter in the town, airplanes and helicopters have been dusting the area with leaded fuel particulate for decades and creating relentless noise pollution for everyone in the flight path and surrounding area especially at high traffic times in the summer season. As the property lies squarely on top of our sole source aquifer, protection of this area is of utmost importance. Many believe closing the airport completely not only eliminates these problems but offers the chance to create notable benefits for the entire population through various repurposes:
UTILITY SCALE SOLAR:
The site’s primary use as a large utility scale solar farm is one of the highest priorities. The potential exists for at least a 2 - 3 megawatt installation that could power thousands of homes with renewable energy. The potential for solar on site regardless of its operation as an airport should be considered along the runways, and the site is free of trees and therefore little to no clearing would need to occur. Pairing solar arrays with shade-tolerant crop agriculture or grazing animals is a possibility as well, which could pair nicely if linked with a compatible use area or zone. The potential for this utility solar farm to power a microgrid for nearby residential housing (as proposed later in this document) is another important consideration, as microgrids acts as a hedge against grid failure in the case of an emergency or disaster and are increasingly being looked at as a useful climate change adaptation for municipalities.
AGRICULTURE:
Nearly 600 acres of cleared and level ground presents the opportunity for farming food crops organically. Soil remediation may need to occur due to years of pollution in some areas, and this could be achieved with fast growing cover crops, native grasses or by fungal means like oyster mushrooms which are adept at removing heavy metals from soil strata. As the site is over the main aquifer, great care would need to be taken in terms of irrigation, and pesticides and fertilizers used with extreme caution or not at all. In addition to traditional permaculture practices like crop rows, small individual garden lots could be established for nearby residents. An existing large hanger on periphery of the site could serve as a vertical indoor farming operation, using technology to provide highly nutritious year-round local produce in a highly controlled environment, and an on-site farmers market would be a natural addition to this use.
PARKLAND AND PASSIVE RECREATION:
Large open space in the town of East Hampton is greatly lacking, and if the airport is put to this purpose we could have walking/running trails, bike paths, barbecue areas, workout stations, playgrounds and/or dog parks and the like in a unique grassland setting. This passive recreational use encourages the public to exercise and explore the grounds with little to no development. Park usage could act as buffer space that also connects various use areas as illustrated in the aerial map above.
RESIDENTIAL (AFFORDABLE HOUSING):
Affordable housing stock in the town would greatly benefit from the addition of 10-30 or more units built on a dense site plan on the eastern edge of the site, with repurposed runways used to create through streets and parking connecting to Daniels Hole Road. Depending on the amount of units permitted, a small sewer collection and treatment system or individual low-nitrogen septic systems would control waste. This development could take the form of small single family units like cottages, “tiny homes”, apartments in row houses, or the like. Multi-family housing aka “co-housing” could be explored with buildings that offer shared amenities like community kitchens or gathering places. This new small development could be powered by the on-site solar farm as a microgrid.
COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL:
Maintaining the current commercial / industrial zoning, a compact area of development could be set aside for workshops, studios, storefronts, eateries and other commercial uses as an economic benefit to residents just next door. Additional parking would be provided in the rear of the lot. Existing hangers and garages could be easily retrofitted or renovated for these uses.
The above proposed uses for the airport site can work synergistically to create a new model for sustainable living on the east end of Long Island, or universally. With a residential development as the nucleus, space for recreation, food production and energy production becomes a module in line with self-sufficiency that can also be enjoyed by the greater population. These ideas are worth serious consideration and have tangible implications for our future.
