Suffolk County's bid to save North Fork preserve falls through

Suffolk County’s bid to preserve nearly 10 acres of undeveloped land in South Jamesport has fallen through, according to County Executive Edward P. Romaine.

The county had sought to purchase a 9.6-acre vacant parcel along Peconic Bay Boulevard, just west of the East Creek Marina, which is run by Riverhead Town. The sale would block development at the property, where there are approvals to build a four-lot residential subdivision.

The property’s owner, Peconic Farms LLC, notified the county it is no longer entertaining the offer, Romaine spokesman Michael Martino said in a text message to Newsday.

“This is a missed opportunity to preserve more farmland on the North Fork,“ Romaine said in a statement. “We very much appreciate the owner’s decision to not sell the property to Suffolk, as is their right, and would remain open to any further discussion in the future.”

A representative from Peconic Farms LLC could not be reached for comment.

Suffolk County had asked Riverhead Town to manage the site for passive recreation. Last week, some town board members expressed concern that preservation could adversely affect the surrounding neighborhood, Newsday reported. The Riverhead Town Board voted last week to support the preservation bid, but only if the property were protected “as open space without improvement.”

Suffolk County Legis. Greg Doroski (D-Mattituck), who backed a sale, called the outcome disappointing.

“This really should have been a home run for everyone,” Doroski said in an interview. “It should have been something that we all came together on and really tried to figure out how to get it done.”

The Riverhead Town Board “was combative from the word go,” which contributed to the controversy surrounding the proposed acquisition, Doroski said.

Town board members raised concerns about whether the site would expand public access in a residential area, as well as the cost of maintaining the property, as county officials had proposed.

“The idea that people were going to use this parcel to access the beach — where you'd have to walk half a mile to get to the beach — is crazy. The idea that they would put in 30 or 40 parking spots there is just absurd,” Doroski said.

Riverhead Supervisor Jerry Halpin, in an interview on Friday, said he was “disappointed that this plan couldn’t come through.” He said he respects the landowner’s decision.

“I always believe people have the right to do with their land whatever they want,” Halpin said.

Halpin added, “My goal is that, with the town board, to continue to work with the county and state and anyone else to preserve ... land throughout our town when possible.”