Board approves town purchase of two lots

The Smithtown Town Board voted unanimously to purchase two properties for $240,000 that can be used for transfer of density flow rights.

Smithtown officials plan to enter into a contract for a purchase of vacant land on Grove Road in Kings Park from Eugene DiNicola for $80,000.

They also plan to purchase property at 10 Fairview Ave. in Smithtown from Fairview Holding Corp. for $160,000, subject to satisfactory environmental assessment of the property and the seller removing existing structures.

Smithtown town attorney John Zollo said the town planned to purchase the Kings Park property because “they really don’t want to see that area built ... if somebody wants to buy it, then they can purchase that right to use for health department purposes.”

The board also approved a resolution to set up a capital fund for $244,000 to cover the costs, said Zollo, “so we can close on these properties and purchases in 2014.”

Councilman Thomas McCarthy said the Kings Park property is “environmentally sensitive ... so it made sense to sell the TDRs.”

The Smithtown property is a “blighted building that was closed ... over a decade ago,” he said, adding that the seller agreed to tear it down.

“We solved two problems,” said McCarthy. “You get TDR credits for it, and you’re getting rid of a derelict building.”