Councilmember Iasilli Succeeds in Passing Landmark Legislation • Southampton, NY
SOUTHAMPTON—On March 12th, in a 4-1 vote, the Southampton Town Board officially voted to enact a new law, “Land Disturbance Ordinance,” Res. No. 2026-0826, adding Article XIIIA to Chapter 330 of the Town Code. Spearheaded by Councilmember Michael A. Iasilli, and co-sponsored by Councilmember Tom Neely, this landmark legislation establishes a comprehensive permitting process for the removal of natural vegetation and significant topographic changes town wide.
The ordinance was developed to manage how forests and natural land areas are altered to serve the built environment. By regulating the removal of healthy forests and significant trees, the Town aims to protect public health, reduce soil erosion, and prevent damage to drinking water supplies. Woods and natural features are an integral and irreplaceable part of the Town’s character, as the legislation notes, emphasizing that the preservation of the environment is a priority and a responsibility of the entire community.
Town Councilmember Iasilli stated, “We have heard the constant refrain from the community asking for the Town to deal with overdevelopment. Finally, after years of advocacy from environmentalists and community activists, we have landmark legislation that will aim at curbing indiscriminate clear cutting and land alterations that harm neighboring properties, the environment, and other critical ecosystems.”
The law applies to both residential and commercial properties based on specific size and disturbance thresholds: Specifically, it applies to lots 20,000 sq. ft. or larger where land disturbance exceeds 2,000 sq. ft. or grade changes exceed two-foot contours. For undeveloped forested property, any disturbance on these properties in residential or commercial districts now requires a permit.
Under the new code, a building permit will not be authorized unless a land disturbance permit has been approved. Both can be achieved concurrently. The Department of Land Management will utilize GIS mapping and field inspections to assess the impact on ecological communities and significant trees.
Bob Deluca, President of Group for the East End, commented that “the indiscriminate clearing of land is a serious problem in Southampton Town. As such, we applaud the work of Council Members Iasilli and Neely, and the Town Board majority, who have led the effort fairly and transparently to create a reasonable and enforceable law, which will better preserve the environment and impact to excessive clearing. More so, this law will begin to reverse the troubling trend of site-specific overdevelopment, that is slowly but permanently altering the beautiful and historic character of Southampton Town.”
Janice Scherer, Administrator of Town Planning, stated, “Creating a permitting process for land disturbance protects the public by ensuring development happens responsibly and safely, and with up-front accountability for erosion, drainage, and habitat preservation.”
“This is a significant step forward in our effort to protect our environment and avoid over clearing. As a former member of the Planning Board, this legislation will help to address the back-end issues of revegetation and other impacts made by over clearing. I was happy to co-sponsor the bill,” commented Councilman Tom Neely.
“This is a great start to protect the environment and protect the people. I am happy we got this done,” said Councilman Bill Pell, who supported the legislation.
Key standards for issuing a permit include:
- Native habitat and topography must be preserved to the furthest extent practicable, utilizing previously disturbed areas for development before clearing new land.
- “Significant Trees” defined as healthy trees at least 25 feet tall or with a trunk diameter of at least 18 inches—must be preserved.
- Habitat assemblages must be linked between adjacent properties to maintain natural processes and canopy cover.
The proposal went through two Work Sessions and three Public Hearings, where community input was gathered. To ensure the law does not unduly burden routine property care/ownership, several activities remain exempt from permit requirements. These include the removal of hazardous or diseased trees, ordinary gardening and landscaping, clearing within 20 feet of a structure for wildfire safety, and the removal of invasive species.
“I also want to thank Councilmember Tom Neely, who cosponsored this effort with me and helped with many community discussions, as well as Town Planning Administrator Janice Scherer, former Assistant Town Attorney Sean Cambridge, and Public Safety Director Ryan Murphy for their assistance in devising a piece of legislation that is clear, strong, yet fair to all,” Councilmember Iasilli continued.
The passage of this legislation is the result of collaborative efforts and has earned the endorsement of a wide coalition of environmental advocates and regional leaders. Supporting organizations include:
- Group for the East End
- Citizens Campaign for the Environment
- The Pine Barrens Society
- The Peconic Baykeeper
- Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt
- Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Center
- Quogue Wildlife Refuge
- Humane Long Island
- Jackson Dodds
- Long Island Progressive Coalition
The policy has also been championed by several prominent elected officials, including Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker (LD-2), Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski (LD-1), East Hampton Councilwoman Cate Rogers, and Brookhaven Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (shared with Eastport hamlet).
The proposed legislation recognizes the balance between the right of the property owner to reach their development objectives with the responsibility of the entire community to protect our water quality, conserve wildlife habitat, and maintain community character.
~ Legislator Ann Welker
By regulating the removal of native vegetation and healthy forests, we are protecting the natural filters that keep nitrogen and sediment out of our bays… Dr. Gobler’s research makes it clear: there is “no time to waste.” To protect our residents and children, and our economy, we must treat our land and our water as a single, connected system, especially here in Southampton.
~ The Pine Barrens Society
We thank Councilmember Michael Iasilli… Establishing the Town’s first land disturbance permitting framework is a practical and necessary step toward preserving the character of the community and protecting the air, land, and water.
~ Christina Lizzo, Program Associate for Citizens Campaign for the Environment
Councilman Iasilli and I share jurisdiction in the hamlet of Eastport… We established a special task force in 2024. Of particular concern at our meetings is mass clearing of trees… These regulations are essential to preserving the health, character, and environmental balance of the community.
~ Brookhaven Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig
Southampton’s wildlife and natural habitats are vital to our environment, our health, and the character of our community. I commend Councilmember Iasilli for strengthening protections against indiscriminate clearing and helping ensure that pollinators, songbirds, and local ecosystems can thrive for generations to come.
~ John Di Leonardo, Executive Director of Humane Long Island
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As the law gets implemented in the next several months, the Town Board intends to convene with the Department of Land Management at a future Work Session to review how the law has been rolled out, its effects, and other related updates.