Careful earthwork for a hilly, wooded village that has protected its open land since 1928.
Excavation, Grading & Demolition Services in Head of the Harbor
Residents petitioned to incorporate Head of the Harbor in 1928 so they could control land use and restrict development, and the village's zoning still excludes commercial building. What resulted is roughly three square miles of homes, farms and woods between pristine Stony Brook Harbor and the hamlet of St. James, with two-acre zoning across much of the village and some one-acre parcels south of the Deepwells estate. Suffolk County's hazard mitigation plan describes the village as heavily wooded, with many steep hills, isolated valleys and highly erodible soils. On ground like that, every cut, fill and new grade changes where rain goes, so we plan earthwork around the slope first and the equipment second.
Village rules shape almost every job here. Removing any tree requires a village permit, a 25-foot natural buffer must stay uncleared around each property, and nothing may be cleared within one hundred feet of a ridge. Clearing, demolition, driveways and wetland disturbance all need permits through the Building Inspector, so owners should start there. Once plans are approved, we take on tree and shrub removal, selective land clearing, excavation for additions, garages and in-ground pools, and demolition of old sheds and outbuildings. Runoff deserves real attention: the county plan notes that Hitherbrook Road washed out in a 7-inch rainfall and that Cordwood Road suffers from erosion. Regrading, swales and underground drainage pipe, finished with sod or seed, help keep soil in place.
Planning site work in Head of the Harbor? Call for an estimate.
Places Around Head of the Harbor
Village Hall sits on Route 25A, and nearby the 1845 Deepwells mansion stands at the corner of 25A and Moriches Road. Farther along Moriches Road, the St. James General Store occupies an 1857 building at Harbor Hill Road. Residents reach the water at Cordwood Park, where Cordwood Path meets Harbor Road, while Stanford White's 1885 Box Hill estate remains private. Just over the line in Stony Brook, Avalon Nature Preserve offers about five miles of trails along Harbor Road, opposite the Grist Mill.
A few village landmarks and the preserves and estates just beyond its borders.
- Village of Head of the HarborThe village government's site lists the Building Department and boards that review clearing, demolition and new construction.
- St. James General StoreBuilt in 1857 at Moriches Road and Harbor Hill Road, the store was bought by Suffolk County Parks by 1990.
- Deepwells Farm County ParkAn 1845 mansion built for Joel Smith, a descendant of Richard "Bull" Smith, at Route 25A and Moriches Road.
- Avalon Nature PreserveRoughly five miles of trails at 200 Harbor Road, with extra parking on Shep Jones Lane for the Forest Sanctuary.
Map of Head of the Harbor
Head of the Harbor Excavation & Demolition FAQs
Do I need village approval before removing trees on my Head of the Harbor property?
Yes. The village requires a tree removal permit for any tree, and residents are advised to consult the Building Inspector first. The 25-foot border of every parcel must stay natural, and nothing may be cleared within one hundred feet of a ridge. Once you have approval, we handle the tree and shrub removal, haul away the debris and regrade or seed the disturbed ground.
How do you keep runoff from eroding a steep, wooded lot?
We start by tracing where water enters the property and where it wants to go. On hillsides with erodible soil, that may mean reshaping the grade, cutting a swale to carry water around the house or running underground drainage pipe to a safe outlet. We limit how much ground is open at once and finish with sod or seed so roots hold the soil before the next heavy storm.
Can you excavate for a pool or addition on a large Head of the Harbor lot?
Yes. Excavation for foundations, additions, basements and in-ground pools is core work for us, and larger lots usually give us room to stage equipment away from mature trees. Plans in the village go through the Building Inspector, the Architectural Review Board and the Planning Board, so confirm approvals first. Call New York 811 before digging so underground utilities are marked.
Will you take down an old barn, garage or shed?
We demolish sheds, detached garages, decks, concrete and full structures, then clear the debris and leave the area graded for whatever comes next. Head of the Harbor requires a permit to demolish any structure, so check with the village Building Department before scheduling. Make sure utilities serving the building are shut off and disconnected, and we will plan truck access along the narrow country roads.
What should I know about work near Stony Brook Harbor or a wetland?
Disturbing a wetland requires a village permit, and the waterfront is covered by a joint program that Head of the Harbor administers with Nissequogue through a Joint Coastal Commission. Ask the village what applies before any grading near the shoreline or a tidal area. Once approved, we keep equipment and stockpiles back from the water and stabilize exposed soil quickly.
Nearby Areas We Serve
Call Superior Earthworks for Head of the Harbor excavation, grading and demolition.