Town, County Join Forces in Preserving 150 Acres in East Quogue

The Suffolk County Legislature, with the backing of County Executive Steve Levy, voted on Tuesday to partner with the Town of Southampton in purchasing nearly 150 acres in East Quogue to the tune of $10 million.

Each entity will pay half the cost of purchasing the land, which will be maintained by Suffolk County and will allow passive recreation, such as hiking trails.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst called the parcel "one of the few remaining large tracts of that sort. It's important for the protection of our aquifer and the preservation of open space."

The property will be purchased through the county's Drinking Water Protection Program - a quarter-percent sales tax used in improving the county's aquifer - and the town's community preservation fund - a two percent tax on home mortgages.

The property, known as the Links at East Quogue, abuts another larger tract on which the county is looking to parter with the town. While the county , Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, said on Wednesday that the county will not move forward in appraising the property until it has a resolution of support from the Town of Southampton, stating that it will partner with the county in puarchasing the property. He added that the county is looking for the town to maintain the parcel, which could be a hold up.