North Sea Beach Colony Residents Approve Erosion Control District

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A South Fork community voted Saturday to approve a coastal erosion district.

Residents of the North Sea Beach Colony voted 65 to 14 to begin taxing themselves to replenish their disappearing beach, town officials said. Homeowners will tax themselves over a five-year period to repay the town the $406,000 needed to complete the project, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said in a release.

Those living closest to the water along Little Peconic Bay will pay a larger share of the expense; 12 homeowners will pay an increased tax rate of $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed value, Schneiderman said. The average waterfront homeowner could see an increase of approximately $1,000 per year.

Meanwhile, 50 homeowners who live farther from the coastline will pay .70 per $1,000; those homeowners will see on average an increase of about $500, the supervisor said.

The North Sea Beach Colony is located at the end of North Sea Road and loses about 7,500 cubic years of sand each year, the town said.

The North Sea Colony Beach erosion control district is the fourth such district created in the Town of Southampton, including those at Tiana Beach, Bridgehampton Beach, and Sagaponack Beach. Residents at Hashamomuck Cove in Southold Town are also weighing the decision to create a similar district to help fund a beach renourishment project.

The beach sand replenishment project for the North Sea Colony Beach Erosion District could begin by the end of the year, Schneiderman said.

Patch file photo.