Land Planners

Joel Halsey is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a degree in Biology. He was born and raised on the east end of Long Island in the hamlet of Water Mill. He grew up working on his family's farm, The Green Thumb, in Watermill. This instilled a hard working ethic. Joel was employed within the Town of East Hampton's Planning Department for ten years. As the Senior Environmental Analyst for the Town he was charged with reviewing and assessing projects within the Town's jurisdiction of Natural Features. He left the Town in 2012 to form Lighthouse Land Planning with local attorney, Andy Hammer. Joel is best known for his attention to detail, local knowledge and quick turnaround.

Tara Burke is a full time resident of Montauk.  She is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo with a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies.  She is also a graduate of Western Washington University, Huxley College of Environmental Science with a Master of Science in Environmental Resource Management.  While in graduate school she was the recipient of multiple grants and scholarships for her research work on Natural Disasters.  As a child she spent summers in Montauk, was a local lifeguard, and even did an internship with the Town of East Hampton Natural Resources Department in high school. After obtaining her M.S.  in Washington State she went on to work for Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and eventually came back to the east end of Long Island, as a Principal Planner for the Town of East Hampton Planning Department for nine years.  While working for the Town she helped develop proactive legislation, reviewed and assessed projects for both residential and commercial development, and worked as a part of the technical analysis staff for the Town Planning Board.  Shortly after leaving the Town she began consulting for local attorney, Andy Hammer, and subsequently in 2012, Lighthouse Land Planning was formed.  Tara is a mother of two girls in the Montauk School, and active within the local community.  She functions with integrity and brings to the table her formidable work ethic, strong ability to multitask, attention to detail, extensive local knowledge, and her ability to work well in a team setting.