THE REAL STORY
The Dunes East Hampton is a for-profit, luxury drug rehabilitation clinic operating without the proper permits and approvals in a single-family residential zoning district.
It appears that the operators of The Dunes rehabilitation clinic made misrepresentations to local authorities that were calculated to avoid being required to submit zoning applications for Special Permit review, Site Plan review, and a semipublic facility in a residential neighborhood. The operators inaccurately represented to local authorities that The Dunes would function exactly as a single-family residence, with residents remaining for 11 months or longer while living, cooking, and eating together as a single family. They also stated that no clinical services were to be provided on-site.
In reality, the property operates with a full-time staff of 15-20 that includes 2 chefs and offers clinical services in-house. Clients can stay as little as 30 days, and at any given point, 30-40 people can occupy the property.
Authorities noticed the discrepancies and issued a new letter stating that The Dunes, indeed, needed a special permit to operate.
When The Dunes offered no response, the East Hampton Building Department sent them a letter stating they were in violation of Town Code.
To this day, they continue to operate and, in fact, have filed a discrimination suit against the Town in what appears to be an effort to intimidate them.
The Town of East Hampton has yet to act in enforcing their Codes.
THE HORROR STORY
Their continuing operation has caused great distress to both the lives of residents of the area and the lush environment of the region, such as:
- Huge increase in traffic flow down private driveways
- Overspill parking on the nature trail and adjoining roads
- Early morning deliveries
- Frequent loud outdoor therapy sessions
- Increased litter
- People smoking on the nature trail
- Widened road and altered areas surrounding Jason’s Rock without Trustee's permission
- Landscaping outside their property, extending the “scope of their property”
THE COMMON-SENSE HAPPY ENDING
Without zoning enforcement, unauthorized businesses can pop up anywhere, including in a home near you.
Please help us fight this unscrupulous behavior and protect yourself from suffering the same in the future.
WE STRONGLY URGE THE TOWN TO MOVE TO SHUT DOWN THIS ACTIVITY WHILE THE DUNES FILES FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL AND A SPECIAL PERMIT.
Special Permit/Site Plan review would address all issues including traffic, parking, noise, septic, fire, and safety and would provide for reasonable notice and a public hearing to fully analyze all planning issues.