Town Buys 29 Acres in East Quogue; Civic Wants to Kick Motorboats Out

Earlier this week, acquired an environmentally vital swath of land along Weesuck Creek in East Quogue, but now it must decide how to handle existing dockage and boat slips on the property.

The East Quogue Civic Association, led by interim president Bob Kandell, says it not want to see any motorcraft traveling in and out of the 12 slips — Most of the boats currently docked at the slips, located at the western end of Head of Lots Road, are motor-powered.

“Non-motorized sailboats, paddle boats, those we’d like to see,” Kandell said during a public hearing on the purchase.

The town bought the parcels comprising the 29-acre property, which span from Montauk Highway south along Josiah Foster Path, for $5.4 million Tuesday from C&C Shorelands, Swan Acres and Coastal Vision in a last-minute deal that had to close before the end of the year. The money for the purchase comes out the Community Preservation Fund.

Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said that she can’t see expanding marina activities on the newly-preserved parcel. They’d likely be reduced once the town takes official ownership, she said.

The plan for the location would be similar to programs at Bay Avenue in East Quogue and Conscience Point in North Sea, where docks are leased out, said Southampton Town Parks and Recreation Superintendent Chris Bean.

Current boat tenants at the slip would have the first right of refusal if they met the town’s conditions and price, Bean said. Any vacancies would be filled by a lottery.

“We’re passing up a revenue source, if we do not allow the people who lease them to continue to use it,” Bean said.

Al Algieri, an honorary board member of the East Quogue Civic Association, said there are already three other marinas operating on Weesuck Creek. The town should protect its new purchase by not allowing potentially damaging motor boats, he said.

According to a resolution adopted by the Town Board, the land is located in the Weesuck Creek Target Preservation area, which is home to a variety of fish, songbirds, owls, turtles, striped bass, bluefish and other wildlife

The town may expand the trails on the property, Throne-Holst said.

The parcel is almost all wetlands, said Peconic Baykeeper Kevin McAllister during the public hearing. The town should take the opportunity to partner with the state to remediate an issue with stormwater discharge at the head of the property coming from Montauk Highway, he said.

“The dockage supports boating use and everyone that is a current tenant in there is respectful to surroundings,” McAllister said, adding that he keeps his boat in the slips, too.