Known as the premier player in the high-end resort residential niche, with 20 world-class projects in its portfolio, Discovery Land Company specializes in building luxury private club communities and resorts in the United States, the Bahamas, and Mexico.  Discovery communities are distinct with their own themes and architectural styles inspired by the natural environment and traditions of the project’s locale, and KDHamptons is excited to share that the next Discovery project, named The Hills, will be built right here on the East End.  The Hills will be located in East Quogue, and will incorporate a Tom Fazio designed golf course, family-oriented club amenities with 118 beautiful homes.

KDHamptons sits down with Discovery Land Company founder Mike Meldman [above] to learn more about this exciting project, and we also take an exclusive tour of the property with Mike’s son, Hunter, who is on the board of the Discovery Land Company Foundation and already ensconced in local youth and wellness programs.

As with the other Discovery properties, The Hills will offer world-class resort amenities, high levels of service and club programs that work in sync to create an idyllic Hamptons lifestyle and a culture that is focused on family.  Meldman shares, “I founded Discovery Land Company out of an enduring love of family and nature, and out of a deep personal desire to create intimate communities where families can forge lasting bonds, create intergenerational memories, and enrich their lives in exquisite and untouched sanctuaries.”

KDHamptons: Could you sum up what makes Discovery Land Company properties so magical?

Mike Meldman: Every decision we make is driven by one fundamental objective: To make the time you spend with the people you care about most not merely enjoyable, but memorable.  Our settings offer a casual and comfortable sense of community through outstanding clubhouses, premier golf courses, welcoming staff, world-class culinary offerings, and outdoor pursuits. We also focus on our natural surroundings and creating communities that are not only respectful of their environment, but sustainable for the long term.

KDHamptons: Can you please describe The Hills project? How much of the land will be preserved?

Mike Meldman: The Hills is a master-planned, seasonal resort development and golf course, set back behind the farms on hundreds of acres to the east of Lewis Road, and to the south of Sunrise Highway in East Quogue. The land is currently zoned for residential use with 1 unit per 5 acres which would permit 118 single-family homes in a regular subdivision with standard Hampton style lawns and limited restrictions on development. The Hills development will preserve 72% of the land. We will revegetate an additional 33 acres for a total of 457 acres in a natural state and 90 acres will be devoted for the golf course. Ninety-five percent of the land will be kept as open space, with only five percent of the land with roads or structures.

KDHamptons: As with all your properties, Discovery Land Company is eager to integrate with the community.  Can you share any plans to “give back” to the East End?

Mike Meldman: Sure, over 100 full-time equivalent jobs will be created through the development of The Hills. We hope to fill these jobs locally and see no reason why that won’t be accomplished. As part of the application, economic data has been produced and verified by the Town of Southampton and it shows that this should be an unprecedented boost to the community. In addition, we will commit over $1.5 million in water quality improvement initiatives, approximately $1 million in benefits to the East Quogue School, donating four acres of land for a new Suffolk County Water Authority well field, and over $700k in infrastructure improvements to the downtown East Quogue hamlet. Also, there’s no better place to start than with the Fire Department, who are a central part of every community. We have committed to finding and paying for three acres of land for the East Quogue Fire Department which will suit their needs for a sub-station.

Additionally, we will put in all of our own state-of-the-art project infrastructure and our residents will be restricted to seasonal use, so we will not burden the local school district while still providing an important tax base.

KDHamptons:  How will The Hills project protect our beautiful bays?

Mike Meldman: While a small amount of nitrogen in water is fine for humans, a small amount hurts aquatic life. While The Hills project has not and will not contribute to the problems in the Bay, we are working with Southampton Town leaders to help with Shinnecock Bay Restoration efforts and will contribute $1 million to a fund to subsidize advanced waste-water treatment systems in residences near the water to reduce daily nitrogen loading. We have created a plan that actually removes nitrogen from our water table and is well below what our current land rights allow.

KDHamptons: Who are some of the experts working with you on The Hills project?

Mike Meldman: We are working with a number of local experts including:  Paul Grosser, PhD, PE PhD, an expert in civil, environmental and geological engineering; Bob Grover, a bay/surface water expert; Chic Voorhis, a Certified Environmental Professional with expertise in water resource management; and Jeffrey Seeman, an environmental planner and golf course superintendent who is an expert in integrated turf health management. Our plans have also been reviewed by local and regional consultants hired by the town to quantify and verify all of the information we have collected, and is part of our Environmental Impact Statement.

KDHamptons: The East End is universally touted as the ultimate golfers’ paradise, boasting some of the most scenic, challenging, and historic courses to play in the world.  Can you share any details in store for the The Hills golf course?

Mike Meldman: Golf is such a great lifelong sport for the whole family.  Tom Fazio will be the designer of the golf course at The Hills, and this will be his first major undertaking in Long Island. Discovery and Fazio Design have a lasting commitment to creating not only beautiful courses that integrate perfectly into their surroundings, but are also environmentally friendly.  Golf courses provide open space for wildlife, promote ecological diversity, and improve land, air and water quality. Thankfully, the Town of Southampton leads the nation in overseeing the creation on environmentally friendly golf courses and we will be glad to be a part of the latest golf creation in the area.

The other great thing about the Golf Club will be the family based recreational amenities that will be available to our residents and members. All the great outdoor opportunities this beautiful area has to offer will be easily accessed through our Outdoor Pursuits program. Working with local service providers, we will open up the great land, sea and town lifestyle elements that make Southampton so special.

KDHamptons: Discovery Land Company golf courses are know for their incredible “comfort stations” along the links. Tell us about your favorite location?

Mike Meldman: I would say Sip Sip in the Bahamas. That’s the name of our comfort station at Bakers Bay where we have Kobe sliders, fish tacos, ribs and hot dogs off the BBQ, and Casamigos frozen margaritas.  There’s also a soft serve Sundae Station, an ice cream cart, old school candy bar, a juice bar, and a Bloody Mary station. The fruit stand at the Madison Club in La Quinta is also a favorite.  Given all the fantastic farm-to-table resources in the Hamptons, we’re already envisioning an incredible comfort station for The Hills.

KDHamptons: So how long will it take to go from Manhattan to tee time?

Mike Meldman: If traffic is clear, it will take slightly over 90 minutes from clearing the toll booths at the Midtown Tunnel to hitting your drive on the first tee of The Hills. Our location will be superb, and thankfully we won’t have the dreaded Hamptons traffic to deal with when getting to the course.

The application for The Hills project is currently under Town Board review by the Town of Southampton. Approval of the project depends upon support from the community at these public hearings. The hearings will begin on November 7th at 6pm at East Quogue Elementary School, located at 6 Central Ave, East Quogue. KDHamptons will be there to show our support for this fantastic project, please come join us!  Also, if you can’t make it to the meeting, please click HERE to simply add your email address which will simply show that you lend support as well. For more information on The Hills please go to www.thehillseq.com

*Photos of the The Hills property by Kelli Delaney