Southampton Town OKs purchase of 4 parcels for $7.3M

Southampton Town, in its effort to preserve land, has unanimously approved the purchase of four properties totaling 29 acres for $7.3 million dollars.

The largest parcel approved for acquisition at the July 10  meeting was 19.5 acres on West Montauk Highway and Bellows Pond Road in Hampton Bays, with a purchase price of $5,764,000. It has been targeted as an appropriate purchase for park and recreation purposes, according to the resolution.

About 2.4 acres on Montauk Highway in East Quogue, purchased for $345,000, is part of the Weesuck Creek Target Preservation area, which is inhabited by diverse wildlife, including songbirds, owls, turtles, fish and blue-claw crabs.

On Old Sag Harbor Road, about 3.2 acres with an agreed-upon purchase price of $600,000, is in the Great Swamp Target Preservation area of Bridgehampton, an area of inland freshwater wetlands with native forests and a large wildlife area for animal nesting. Also in the Great Swamp Target Preservation area is 3.9 acres on Lopers Path, purchased for $600,000.

The Community Preservation Fund, funded by a transfer tax on most home sales, was created by the state for East End towns to raise money to acquire ecologically important land before it is sold to developers. According to the office of Assemb. Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor), Southampton brought $14.22 million into its fund from January to May.

Photo: Southampton Town Hall