Our History

Save Sag Harbor was founded in 2007 when concerned citizens banded together in opposition to the proposed arrival of a big-box retailer on Main Street. We galvanized the community, raised funds for lawyers and consultants, and worked with our elected officials to change the Village code and set limits on the allowable size of retail stores.

 Since then, we have led efforts to strengthen and support the enforcement of Sag Harbor’s commercial and residential zoning codes, and to change them when necessary to protect our historic character and economic vitality. In 2022 we led community opposition to Local Law 12, a zoning change that would have allowed out-of-scale commercial development in the heart of Sag Harbor, and we went to court, successfully, to have that law overturned.

Our goal has always been to ensure that residents and locally-owned, independent businesses can continue to thrive in Sag Harbor; to preserve the human scale of our buildings, streets, waterfront, and interior and exterior spaces; to celebrate the non-uniform aesthetics of our storefronts and signage; to protect our coastal environment; and to safeguard our diverse, historic heritage for residents and visitors alike.

 The “little things” of our village mean the world to us