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Terryville Greenbelt Preserve Continues to Grow Town Saves 17 Additional Parcels Within the Greenbelt Through Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld’s tenacious advocacy, the Town of Brookhaven recently preserved a key addition to the Terryville Greenbelt conservation area. The property abuts Comsewogue High School to its east and south and lies between Bicycle Path and Route 112. This Open Space acquisition of 17 parcels of woodland prevented what would have been developed into as many as 13 additional houses, saving Comsewogue School District taxpayers the annual educational cost of approximately 26 additional students (as the cost of education always far exceeds the taxes derived from a new home). These properties were purchased for $2.48 million out of the Town’s Clean Water Open Space Bond Act of 2004. Councilman Fiore-Rosenfeld explained its significance. “Given the wholesale overdevelopment to which Port Jefferson Station residents have been subjected, it is imperative that the Town protect the remainder of the Terryville Greenbelt. This acquisition preserves four acres of pine barrens habitat and prevents the fragmentation of an 18-acre town-owned park parcel to the west and another eight acres to the east. In addition, it protects the Town’s sole source groundwater supply by providing for the recharge to the underlying aquifers of approximately 1.14 million gallons of high quality water annually. This oak and pine woodland provides a good location for hiking and bird watching, and the adjacent Comsewogue High School, by working with the Town’s Parks Department and Environmental Protection Division, could make use of the greenbelt for outdoor environmental education.” “The Town has made significant investments to acquire environmentally sensitive properties in the Terryville Greenbelt Conservation area in an effort to preserve its open space character,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley. “We hope to purchase additional properties as they become available.” Lou Antoniello, President of the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Civic Association, approached the Councilman in the spring of 2006 to support and encourage the Town to purchase as many of these “single and separate” lots as possible. Antoniello stated, “The greenbelt is important to the area as is the preservation of open space in Terryville and Port Jefferson Station.” John Turner, Director of the Town’s Environmental Protection Division, stated, “This is a wonderful opportunity to preserve another section of natural habitat. Saving such remaining larger areas of woodland in relatively developed communities is critical to migratory birds and other wildlife species that are interdependent, as it continues to provide necessary respite and sustenance to prevent further deterioration of these species. In addition, it provides a higher quality ‘nature’ experience for those people wishing to hike or jog in this area.” The entire acreage of the “greenbelt” is 60 acres, 26 of which were previously purchased by the Town under its long-standing policy to protect this critical watershed area. The goal is to eventually purchase the remaining parcels within the greenbelt so that this assemblage of properties will be wholly protected and interconnected. This acquisition was the first towards that goal since the Town decided to hold off on continuing condemnation proceedings, as the Town always prefers to reach an agreement with the owners. The real estate closing took place in January between the town and the properties’ owners, Campo Brothers.
Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 (Archive on Sunday, April 08, 2007)
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