Two eight-bedroom houses under construction in Springs are alarming neighbors. They are alleged to be future dormitories for Ross School students. Each 3000sf house, on Manor Lane South and Cedar Ridge Drive, will have 1000sf on the lower level, which would contain two of the bedrooms. The buildings could house up to 18 students plus two adult house parents. Town code prohibits more than four unrelated people from cohabiting in a residential zone, although East Hampton ruled that students living with house parents was the functional equivalent of a family in 2009.
Late Tuesday, the Ross School issued a press release stating that students of the school would not be occupying the two houses. David Buda, of The Springs Concerned Citizens, told Curbed, "The cryptic one sentence press release reportedly issued on behalf of the Ross School is clear as mud. The school owes the community a full and detailed explanation of its boarding student housing program (past, present and future). The two limited liability companies that are the owners of the 8-bedroom houses under construction on half-acre lots at 50 Cedar Ridge Drive and 49 Manor Lane South owe the town and all residents of The Springs a comprehensive narrative of how they will insure the structures will be used by 'a single family' as defined by our zoning code."
According to the East Hampton Star, the town may revisit a 2009 decision that allowed student housing in single family homes. Town Councilman Fred Overton, quoted in the Star, said, "The town board is taking this seriously and we're going to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't happen again, and to do whatever we can to stop what's going on."
· Town to Reconsider 2009 Decision That Okayed Ross School Dorm Houses [EHS]