Residents of Bridgehampton are opposing a proposal to develop a large horse farm, North Edge Stables, on land whose development rights were purchased by Southampton Town over 20 years ago to preserve it for agricultural use. Neighbors argue that the developer, Gabi Morris, and her representatives are misrepresenting the legal allowances of the agricultural covenants, stretching definitions of agricultural use to include a commercial horse boarding and riding instruction business, and downplaying the environmental impact to avoid a detailed review. They contend the project violates the original preservation intent and would disturb more land than claimed, demanding a full environmental impact statement.

The developer’s attorney counters that the 2002 preservation agreement explicitly permits equestrian uses, including housing for agricultural laborers, citing legal precedents that classify horse farms as agricultural enterprises. Supporters emphasize the property owner’s right to develop within those terms and note that similar horse farm projects have been approved in the past. The Planning Board has kept the public hearing open for further input, with strong community voices urging the board to uphold the spirit of farmland preservation and resist what they see as a commercial exploitation of agricultural protections.