Southampton Town Board members approved the acquisition of 5.29 acres of land using $2.45 million of Community Preservation Fund money on Tuesday, and have their sights set on acquiring even move land with the fund.
The largest of the two land acquisitions was a 4.8-acre property in Shinnecock Hills, at a price of $1.8 million. The property is being sold by Riad and Nabila Shahin.
The land is comprised of four lots on Chivas Court that are north of Montauk Highway and back up to the Long Island Rail Road tracks.
The property is also located in the Shinnecock Hills Greenway, which according to the resolution passed by the board, “is one of the last vestiges of natural Shinnecock landscape.” Along with the greenway, the property could also serve as critical linkage for the Paumanok Path, a trail that stretches from Rocky Point to Montauk, and spans 125 miles.
Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said Shinnecock Hills was once used by the Shinnecock tribe as a burial ground, and preservation of these lands is crucial for anthropological reasons.
The smaller of the two properties acquired on Tuesday was a 0.49-acre parcel in North Sea owned by the Estate of Eila E. Jonas, for $650,000.
The parcel is located at the end of Wolf Swamp Lane and is adjacent to both Big Fresh Pond and a nature preserve.
Town Board members agreed to purchase the property for wetland preservation.
All five board members unanimously agreed to purchase both properties.
On October 10, the Town Board will hold four public hearings to consider purchasing an additional 6.47 acres of land, along with the enhanced development rights of 23.6 acres, using CPF money. The cost of the properties was not disclosed in the public hearing notices.
The owner of the 23.6-acre property located on North Main Street and North Sea Mecox Road in North Sea, Robert E. Schaefer, has expressed interest in selling restrictions on his farmland that go beyond what is in place now — the development rights were sold previously, according to the public hearing notice, and the property is already preserved.
Two of the other two properties being considered for acquisition — a 4.1-acre parcel in North Sea that is owned by Brocard Development Inc, and a 1.7-acre piece of land in Hampton Bays that is owned by Thomas and Susan Leavey — are considered to be critical links for the Paumanok Path.
The fourth property is a 0.67-acre parcel in Westhampton that is owned by Kenneth and Shawn Bossung. The land is located on Montauk Highway.
All four public hearings will take place at the Town Board meeting on October 10, at 1 p.m.
Greg Wehner on Sep 10, 2019