Citizen Group Legal Representation

Citizen Group and Environmental Organization Representation; Public Service Attorney

Carolyn Zenk is one of Long Island's top Environmental Attorneys and Citizen Group Advocates. She was the sole General Counsel for 10 years with Group for the East End- the East End's leading environmental advocacy group.

She has represented Surfrider Foundation, North Fork Environmental Council, and numerous civic, environmental, and citizen organizations & associations.

She specializes in development opposition, cases involving the State Environmental Quality Review Act, Article 78s against the government, review of Environmental Impact Statements, and citizen organizing.

She is likely the only Environmental Attorney on Long Island who earned a Certificate in Environment & Natural Resources Law & a Certificate in Ocean & Coastal Law.

She has a biology degree from Colgate University with studies in Marine Biology, Limnology, Environment & Energy, Botany, and Zoology. Combined with her experience as a Southampton Councilwoman for four years, and her biology degree, she is a formidable opponent. 

Zenk was chosen as Chairwoman of the County Executive's Environment, Energy, & East End Issues Committee from all Suffolk County attorneys to advise him on these important issues.

Carolyn has worked with zoning and land use issues on L.I.'s East End for over 30 years. She knows the area, its natural resources, and its problems well.

Carolyn served as an Environmental Analyst & Land Use Planner for four years w Group for the East End, working on local environmental & community issues and working with the State Environmental Quality Review Act. (SEQRA).

She's critiqued dozens of environmental impact statements. She grew up on the Great South Bay where she boated, fished, and caught crabs. All these experiences give her the expertise to review complex environmental and land use issues, especially when it comes to natural resources and marine resources.

Carolyn has advocated for clients repeatedly before town boards, planning boards, and zoning boards of appeal. She's fought and won for her clients before the Suffolk County Legislature on issues like the Bottle Bill and Plastics Bill. She has the expertise to work on issues before the Department of Environmental Conservation. 

If you need a permit or a variance, you can rely on Zenk.

Most Long Island attorneys represent developers. There is only a handful who represent environmental organizations, citizen associations, and neighborhood groups. Carolyn Zenk is a natural leader in her field with over 30 years of experience you can put to use for you and your group! 

Call Carolyn Zenk Attorney & East End Mediation Center for an appointment.

Carolyn worked with Group for the East End, the Pine Barrens Society, and East Quogue Civic Association to oppose a golf course, "Hills at Southampton," It was proposed to be placed "up water" from East Quogue's public water wells and bleed carcinogens and neurotoxins into them.

Carolyn opposed the Union Carbide Corporation, whose pesticide "Temik" polluted wells on the South Fork of Long Island. She helped ban pesticide use and helped citizens get carbon-activated filters and filter replacements to protect their health. 

Protecting Farmland and Saving the Local Fresh Food and Views You Savor

Carolyn helped upzone the farm fields of Southampton & pass an Open Space or Cluster Law, which has saved thousands of acres on the South Fork without spending taxpayer dollars.

Protecting the Bays, Harbors, and Beaches You Love and Enjoy

Carolyn helped to research and write East Hampton's Harbor Protection Overlay District, which keeps the beautiful harbors and waterways in East Hampton clean.

As a Councilwoman, & Ocean & Coastal Attorney, Carolyn helped strengthen Southampton's Coastal Erosion Hazard Area Law so you could enjoy beautiful beaches unobstructed by ugly shore-hardening structures.

Carolyn opposed shore-hardening structures in Bridgehampton by defending the Zoning Board of Appeals for standing up for our beaches and in Montauk by lobbying the government so citizens could enjoy beautiful, natural beaches & not be obstructed by twenty-foot steel walls while walking down the seashore.

Carolyn worked hard to strengthen & preserve Southampton's wetland law by increasing setbacks of houses & septic systems from the water and increasing the size of naturally vegetated buffer areas near the water, which helps keep the water clean.

Protecting the Fresh Water Bodies You Love and Enjoy

Carolyn helped preserve the Long Pond Greenbelt in Bridgehampton, a beautiful series of fresh-water ponds enjoyed by residents for hiking, horseback riding, boating, and beauty.

Carolyn convinced the Southampton Town government to purchase land around Wehrman Pond in Flanders with Community Preservation Fund dollars & established a new headquarters for the Bay Keeper Program.

Stopping Developers From Grabbing Whole Areas of the South Fork to Overdevelop and Ruin Them

While a Councilwoman, disgruntled out-of-town second homeowners tried to grab five miles of the coast to form their own one lot linear "Dune Hampton Village" on the shoreline so they could ruin local beaches. 

Councilwoman Zenk packed the record in the lawsuit to make sure that the Judge in charge of the case knew that the real reason for the formation of the Village was to avoid environmental regulations. Sagaponack ultimately beat the new Village, and the coast was left natural and beautiful as it had been. 

Zenk and friends also helped to beat the proposed Pine Valley Village formed by developers to downzone the Pine Barrens and contaminate the water supply.

Protecting Small Town Hamlet Charm & Local Businesses

Carolyn successfully convinced the United Artists Theater Company to revamp an abandoned supermarket downtown into a local movie theater rather than letting her neighborhood be the victim of blight. She loves protecting Mom and Pop establishments from big-box corporations.

Saving Recreational Resources

Carolyn has worked hard to save the areas you love. As a Councilwoman, she voted to purchase the Poxabogue Golf Course in Southampton so local families could play affordable golf.