County Looks to Save East Quogue Land From Development

Suffolk County is looking to purchase 430 acres of undeveloped East Quogue property that sits just off Spinney Hills Road. 

On Monday, Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I-Sag Harbor, announced that the county has taken steps to acquire the land through its quarter percent drinking water program.  The caveat, however, said Schneiderman is that the Town of Southampton must agree to use its Community Preservation Funds to pay for half the property.

“It’s a large parcel,” said Schneiderman. “It will require a 50/50 partnership from the town.”

Schneiderman said a vote that would allow the county to move forward on the acquisition could come as early as next week, but Schneiderman said the vote will be tabled if the town does not approve a separate resolution stating that it will partner with the county.

Calls to the town went unreturned as of press time; however, in the past, town officials have said that the property’s $35 million price tag is problematic.

According to one estimate, the property’s value has dropped to $15 million since East Quogue Partners, LLC purchased it.

Schneiderman said he could not speak to the price without a county appraisal, but he said the developers are willing sellers.

“I don’t know if they are going to get what they are expecting for it,” said Schneiderman.

The preservation of the property is something that the residents of East Quogue’s Spinney Hills Road have asked for time and time again.  In February, they vowed to fight a development project that would result in the construction of 82 homes the property.

In its current state, the property, said Schneiderman, not only features pristine Pine Barrens, but also “a shallow glacial pool that consists of a fragile multi-layered aquifer."

“From my perspective, this property is a prime candidate for acquisition,” said Schneiderman, who has been lobbying for the acquisition for sometime.

“It has been in committee for a longtime,” said Schneiderman. “I think because it is such a large parcel, it scares some legislators off.”

With that, Schneiderman pointed out that the county is already in the process of acquiring 100 acres, known as the Links property, that neighbors the Spinney Hills property.

“We are just waiting to close on that property,” he said.