How Quogue Compares
Across the East End, neighboring communities have already adopted preservation protections and more meaningful design standards. In every category examined, Quogue falls short. SAVE QUOGUE is asking the Village to catch up.
The comparisons below include the neighboring Villages of Southampton, East Hampton and Sag Harbor, followed by the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton. Hamlets such as Bridgehampton, Water Mill, Amagansett and Springs are represented through their respective Town governments, both of which are included in the comparison below.
Together, they show how other Hamptons communities protect historic buildings and guide new construction to preserve their distinctive character.
Neighboring Villages
First, how Quogue compares with neighboring incorporated villages.
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| Issue | Quogue | Southampton Village | East Hampton Village | Sag Harbor Village |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Preservation Framework | Quogue does not have a comparable dedicated historic-preservation chapter. Its Design Review Code does not establish specific protections for historic buildings or contributing structures - and does not mention the Quogue Historic District or use the terms “historic” or “historical.” Article VIIA, Design Review | Southampton Village has a dedicated Historic and Landmark Preservation law administered by its Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation, addressing designation, certificates of appropriateness, preservation criteria, hardship, maintenance and enforcement. Chapter 65 | East Hampton Village has a dedicated historic-preservation law governing historic landmarks and historic districts, including designation, certificates of appropriateness and hardship. Chapter 176 | Sag Harbor has a detailed historic-preservation and architectural-review framework governing its historic district, landmarks and contributing buildings. Article XIII |
| Demolition of Historic Buildings | Article VIIA does not establish a separate, express historic-demolition standard for contributing structures. Demolition therefore lacks the detailed historic-specific review framework found in neighboring jurisdictions. Article VIIA | Demolition of property covered by the Village's preservation law requires a Certificate of Appropriateness and is reviewed under specific historic-preservation standards and procedures. Chapter 65 | The Village's historic-preservation law establishes a specific review framework for protected historic properties and historic districts. Chapter 176 | The Code expressly provides that no contributing building or landmark, or portion of one, shall be demolished, subject to specified exceptions. Replacement plans must be submitted and approved before demolition can be approved. Article XIII |
| Demolition & Replacement Review | Quogue does not have a historic-preservation process expressly requiring review or approval of proposed replacement construction before a contributing historic building may be demolished. Article VIIA | Southampton Village expressly provides that demolition of a contributing resource may be approved only in connection with approval of a replacement project. Chapter 65 | East Hampton Village places both demolition and new construction within the same Certificate of Appropriateness framework for landmarks and properties within historic districts. Chapter 176 | Sag Harbor expressly requires plans for proposed new construction or other use of the site to be submitted and approved before demolition of a contributing building or landmark can be approved. § 300-13.5 |
| Presumption in Favor of Preservation | Article VIIA contains no express direction that contributing historic buildings be retained or preserved. § 196-36.3 | The Code expressly requires contributing properties in a historic district to be retained, with their historic features altered as little as possible. Chapter 65 | The Code expressly requires contributing properties in a historic district to be retained, with their historic features altered as little as possible. Chapter 176 | The Code provides that no contributing building or landmark shall be demolished except under specified exceptions, and directs that important contributing buildings and landmarks be retained on their original sites. § 300-13.5 |
| Hardship / Exception for Demolition | Article VIIA contains no historic-specific economic-hardship procedure establishing what an owner must demonstrate to justify demolition of a contributing historic resource. Article VIIA | The preservation law contains a specific hardship process and criteria, providing a defined route for an owner seeking relief from historic-preservation requirements. Chapter 65 | The Code provides a defined preservation process, including hardship provisions for owners seeking relief from preservation requirements. Chapter 176 | Demolition begins from an express preservation standard and may be permitted only through specified exceptions. The Code also contains a hardship procedure. Article XIII |
| New Construction & Architectural Character | Quogue gives the DRB broad authority over exterior design and neighborhood character, but establishes no historic-district-specific standard requiring new construction to be compatible with Quogue’s historic character. Its Code provides relatively little guidance for determining architectural compatibility. § 196-36.3 | New construction in a historic district must be compatible with the district. The Code requires review of design and character, scale and visual compatibility, texture, color, materials and the relationship to surrounding properties. Chapter 65 | All new construction within a historic district must be compatible with existing development. The Code provides specific criteria governing design, scale, materials, facade proportions, windows, roof form, setbacks and streetscape rhythm. Chapter 176 | The Board must reject plans it finds incompatible based on style, materials, scale, form, rhythm, proportion, mass, detail, placement and relationship to surrounding buildings and landscape. Article XIII |
| Scale & Massing | Quogue requires the DRB to determine that a building’s height and scale are appropriate to its lot. But in practice, zoning compliance appears to substitute for that separate determination. Its Code and brief Guidelines also provide limited guidance on massing, proportion and architectural composition. § 196-36.3 | The Code specifically requires consideration of scale and visual compatibility in relation to the property itself, surrounding properties and the neighborhood. Chapter 65 | Published design guidance supplements the Village's review framework with more detailed treatment of architectural character, scale, massing, proportions and related design elements. East Hampton Village Design Guidelines | Scale, form, rhythm, proportion, mass, placement and compatibility are addressed within the Village's preservation and architectural-review framework. Article XIII |
| Design Guidelines & Specificity | Quogue’s newly adopted June 2026 Design Review Guidelines are only one page and provide significantly less guidance than neighboring communities. They address a range of design elements, but in a much more abbreviated form than the detailed codes and guidelines used elsewhere. Quogue DRB Guidelines — 1 page | Southampton Village supplements its Code with separate, detailed Architectural Design Guidelines for Historic Districts & Landmarks - substantially more extensive than Quogue’s one-page Guidelines. Southampton Village Design Guidelines | East Hampton Village supplements its Code with separate adopted Design Guidelines addressing architectural character, scale, massing, proportions, materials, rhythm and other elements of building and site design. East Hampton Village Design Guidelines | Sag Harbor's Code itself contains detailed architectural criteria addressing style, materials, scale, form, rhythm, proportion, mass, placement and compatibility. For historic properties, the Board must also use the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines. Sag Harbor Preservation Standards |
| Professional Expertise | Quogue does not require an architect, preservation professional or other design professional to serve on or advise the DRB. Members are appointed based on training, experience or civic interest. Article VIIA | Southampton Village may designate a registered architect to advise and participate in the Board's deliberations when a registered architect is not already a member. Board members are also subject to training and continuing-education requirements. § 116-31, Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation | East Hampton Village expressly authorizes its Design Review Board to employ staff and professional consultants as necessary to carry out its historic-preservation duties. Chapter 176, Historic Areas, Preservation of | Sag Harbor directs the Trustees, when reasonably able, to seek an architect familiar with local historic buildings for Board membership. The Trustees may also designate a licensed architect and other professional consultants to advise the Board. § 300-13.2, Membership |
| Written Decisions & Transparency | Article VIIA does not expressly require full-Board DRB determinations to be issued in writing, state findings or reasons, or be filed as written decisions. Article VIIA | All BARHP decisions must be in writing, sent to the applicant and filed with the Village Clerk for public inspection. The decision must state the reasons for approving, denying or modifying the application. Chapter 65 | All Design Review Board decisions must be in writing, sent to the applicant and filed with the Village Clerk. Decisions must state the reasons for denying or modifying an application. Chapter 176 | Every decision must be by resolution and contain a full record of the Board's findings. Decisions are filed with the Village Clerk for public inspection, and reasons must be stated for denials or modifications. Article XIII |
Neighboring Towns
The same issues can also be compared with the preservation and design standards adopted by the Towns of Southampton and East Hampton.
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| Issue | Quogue | Southampton Town | East Hampton Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Preservation Framework | Quogue does not have a comparable dedicated local historic-preservation chapter. It relies principally on the general powers of its Design Review Board under Article VIIA, which does not mention the Quogue Historic District or use the terms “historic” or “historical.” Article VIIA | Southampton Town has a dedicated Landmarks and Historic Districts framework governing protected historic resources, historic districts and Certificate of Appropriateness review. Article XXVIII | East Hampton Town has an Architectural and Design Review framework for historic landmarks and historic districts, supplemented by district-specific preservation guidelines incorporated into the Town Code. East Hampton Town Code |
| Demolition of Historic Buildings | Article VIIA does not establish a separate, express historic-demolition standard for contributing structures. Article VIIA | Demolition affecting protected historic property is subject to the Town's Certificate of Appropriateness and historic-preservation review framework. Article XXVIII | Historic-district demolition is subject to the Town's architectural-review framework and district-specific standards. In Amagansett, the guidelines establish preservation standards for historic buildings and address demolition and proposed replacement construction. Amagansett Historic District Guidelines |
| Demolition & Replacement Review | Quogue does not have a historic-preservation process expressly requiring review or approval of proposed replacement construction before a contributing historic building may be demolished. Article VIIA | Southampton Town places demolition and new construction affecting landmarks and historic districts within the same Certificate of Appropriateness framework, with both reviewed by the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board. § 330-322 | East Hampton Town's Amagansett Historic District Guidelines expressly require plans for proposed new construction or other use of the site to be submitted and approved before demolition of a contributing building can be approved. Amagansett Historic District Guidelines |
| Presumption in Favor of Preservation | Article VIIA contains no express direction that contributing historic buildings be retained or preserved. § 196-36.3 | The Code expressly requires contributing properties in a historic district to be retained, with their historic features altered as little as possible. § 330-323 | The Code expressly requires the historic character of landmarks and properties within historic districts to be retained and preserved. Its special historic-landmark guidelines further state that historic landmarks should not be demolished. Article VII | Appendix E § E-5 |
| Hardship / Exception for Demolition | Article VIIA contains no historic-specific economic-hardship procedure establishing what an owner must demonstrate to justify demolition of a contributing historic resource. Article VIIA | The Town's preservation law establishes procedures and criteria governing hardship claims within its historic-preservation framework. Article XXVIII | East Hampton Town's preservation framework includes specific review procedures governing protected historic resources, supplemented by district-specific preservation and demolition provisions. East Hampton Town Code |
| New Construction & Architectural Character | Quogue gives the DRB broad authority over exterior design and neighborhood character, but establishes no historic-district-specific standard requiring new construction to be compatible with Quogue’s historic character. Its Code provides relatively little guidance for determining architectural compatibility. § 196-36.3 | New construction within a historic district must be compatible with the district. The Town requires review of design and character, scale, materials, facade proportions, windows, roof shape, setbacks and streetscape rhythm. Article XXVIII | East Hampton Town requires harmonious design and supplements that standard with district-specific rules. In Amagansett, new buildings must be compatible with historic buildings and district character, while contemporary designs are expressly encouraged when they respond to the district’s architectural traditions and character. Amagansett Historic District Guidelines |
| Scale & Massing | Quogue requires the DRB to determine that a building’s height and scale are appropriate to its lot. But in practice, zoning compliance appears to substitute for that separate determination. Its Code and brief Guidelines also provide limited guidance on massing, proportion and architectural composition. § 196-36.3 | Southampton Town's preservation framework is supplemented by area-specific guidelines that address scale, proportion, form, massing, orientation and the relationship of new construction to its surroundings. Bridgehampton Historic Hamlet Review and Design Guidelines | The Amagansett guidelines address setbacks, orientation, spacing, scale, height, massing, window proportions, roof form, materials and the relationship of new buildings to surrounding historic buildings. Amagansett Historic District Guidelines |
| Design Guidelines & Specificity | Quogue’s newly adopted June 2026 Design Review Guidelines are only one page and provide significantly less guidance than neighboring communities. They address a range of design elements, but in a much more abbreviated form than the detailed codes and guidelines used elsewhere. Quogue DRB Guidelines — 1 page | Southampton Town supplements its Code with detailed area-specific preservation and design guidance. Its Bridgehampton Historic Hamlet Review and Design Guidelines address new construction, size and scale, proportion, form and massing, orientation, rhythm, openings, architectural details, materials, textures and streetscapes. Bridgehampton Historic Hamlet Review and Design Guidelines | East Hampton Town incorporates five separate sets of historic-preservation guidelines into its Code: Amagansett, Bluff Road, Springs, Montauk Association and Special Historic Landmarks. The Amagansett guidelines alone address preservation goals, historic residences, commercial buildings, new construction, scale, materials, architectural details and demolition. East Hampton Town Historic District Guidelines |
| Professional Expertise | Quogue does not require an architect, preservation professional or other design professional to serve on or advise the DRB. Members are appointed based on training, experience or civic interest. Article VIIA | Southampton Town requires its Architectural Review Board to designate a registered architect to advise and participate in deliberations unless a registered architect is already a member. Its Landmarks and Historic Districts Board may also recommend professional consultants needed for its work. Article XIX, Architectural Review | East Hampton Town requires its Architectural Review Board to designate a registered architect to advise and participate in deliberations unless at least one registered architect already serves on the Board. § 255-7-20, Architectural Review Board |
| Written Decisions & Transparency | Article VIIA does not expressly require full-Board DRB determinations to be issued in writing, state findings or reasons, or be filed as written decisions. Article VIIA | All decisions of the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board must be in writing and filed with the Town Clerk. Hardship decisions must also state the reasons for granting or denying relief and be provided to the applicant. Article XXVIII | The Architectural Review Board must follow Article IX procedures, which require a final written determination on applications. Site-plan recommendations must also be transmitted in writing. East Hampton Town Code |
Sources
Village of Quogue Code - Article VIIA, Design Review
Village of Quogue - Design Review Board Guidelines (June 2026)
Southampton Village Code - Chapter 65, Historic and Landmark Preservation
Southampton Village - Architectural Design Guidelines for Historic Districts and Landmarks
East Hampton Village Code - Chapter 176, Historic Preservation
East Hampton Village - Design Guidelines for the Village's Commercial Districts
Sag Harbor Village Code - Historic Preservation and Architectural Review
Southampton Town Code - Article XXVIII, Landmarks and Historic Districts
Southampton Town - Bridgehampton Historic Hamlet Review and Design Guidelines
East Hampton Town Code - Zoning and Architectural Review
Southampton Village - Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation
East Hampton Village - Historic Areas, Preservation of
Southampton Town - Architectural Review
East Hampton Town - Architectural and Design Review
East Hampton Town - Amagansett Historic District Guidelines
Code provisions and published guidance reviewed September 2026.