In efforts to preserve open space across the Town of Brookhaven, protecting ecosystems, and curbing overdevelopment where necessary, the Town has officially closed on six parcels of land in the eastern
part of Town.
The parcels preserved begin with 0.23 acres in Mastic Beach: the Kinasewitz Living Trust on Park Drive. The property abuts the historic William Floyd Estate. The closing hopes to preserve the creek and marshlands of Narrows Bay, while adding more land to the Mastic-Shirley Conservation Area.
Also in Mastic Beach is 0.23 acres of wetland on Cypress Drive.
The acquisition hopes to buffer sea level risings and coincide with dozens of Town and County-protected freshwater wetland parcels.
In Manorville, the Histand Trust ecompasses 6.8 acres of woodlands on Halsey Manor Road, located within the core of the Central Pine Barrens. The preservation aims to protecting drinking water supply levels and maintain a visual buffer from travelers on the Long Island Expressway.
Finally, also in Manorville, 2.7 acres have been acquired at the Nicholls property on Putter Court (pictured above). Also in the Central Pine Barrens region, the acquisition will provide forest habitats for numerous species of migratory birds, as well as protect drinking water supplies.
The Messenger discussed the preservations in the Sixth Council District by its representative, Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville), with additional consultation from Luke Ormand, Brookhaven Town Senior Environmental Analyst.
“One of the main benefits of acquiring parcels for open space purposes is the ability to manage these parcels,” says Dunne Kesnig. “The Mastic Beach parcels, for example, are located within the Shirley-Mastic Beach Conservation Area, an interconnected web of public holdings that are being managed to assist in flood control, invasive species removal, native habitat restoration and other related projects.”
Councilwoman Dunne Kesnig also says that when land is acquired by the Town, the Town can then discontinue or abandon roads that are prone to flooding, further mitigating “impacts from severe storm events and sea level rise.”
Regarding the Pine Barrens parcels, Councilwoman Dunne Kesnig says that the land can now be managed for the southern pine beetle, as well as other “invasive species which impact our Pine Barrens habitats.” The acquisition also “extinguishes development credits, which could have been transferred elsewhere, thus having a net-positive benefit to protecting groundwater.”
Councilwoman Dunne Kesnig also says that economic benefits to the acquisitions are “numerous” and vary depending on the parcels acquired.
“Preserving open space has been shown to increase the value of surrounding properties, due to enhanced and protected views, noise mitigation, and access to public lands for hiking, biking, and other activities. Additionally, tourism – local and regional – dollars flow to these preserved areas through various avenues. The Shirley-Mastic Beach Conservation Area sees visitors seeking to kayak or birdwatch along the protected marshlands, with these visitors then putting money into local businesses. The Pine Barrens parcels are located near popular regional trails which see significant visitors seeking refuge from more developed areas within the Town, County and Island. Again, these visitors in-turn spend dollars at local businesses while they are visiting the area.”
The Histand Trust (pictured above) and the Nicholls-Putter Court parcels are said to protect several endangered species as well.
“The Tiger Salamander is a NYS endangered species which requires vernal pools to breed and spends the remainder of its life in upland woods,” says Dunne Kesnig. “The Histand and Nicholl parcels both meet this criteria and are also important for other species of mole salamanders which use the same breeding pools and upland areas. Protecting these parcels from either development, or legal uses by private owners, such as hunting, camping, and recreating ensures that the habitat remains undisturbed, the species’ food sources are not impacted, and threats to their migratory movement are not introduced.”
Dunne Kesnig also says that the Mastic Beach parcels provide a habitat for the saltmarsh sparrow and the piping plover.
“The saltmarsh sparrow, a State-identified species of ‘Greatest Conservation Concern,’ is being studied by various regulatory agencies and is regularly observed within these marshlands,” says Dunne Kesnig. “One of the Mastic Beach parcels abuts a creek which is adjacent to an area regularly used by piping plovers and least terns.”
Dunne Kesnig mentions that the parcels are near drinking water supply wells. The water that lands on the parcels filter through the roots of indigenous plants and soils on-site before entering the public supply system.
The parcels were identified through the Town’s Open Space and Farmland Acquisition Advisory Committee, which consists of appointed residents with expertise on land use, development, environmental threats, and farming.
“The public has long supported protection of property within the Core of the Central Pine Barrens and has expressed vocal support for protection of lands within the Shirley-Mastic Conservation Area,” says Dunne Kesnig.
Dunne Kesnig says that the Town is continuing to analyze property within the Sixth Council District. The Town has an “active and robust” Land Acquisition program run by the Division of Land Management (DLM) with the support of the Town Board and oversight by the Law Department.
“As the majority of undeveloped lands and large acreage parcels are within the Sixth Council District, the Town has had great success in acquiring lands within this defined area and currently has multiple closings scheduled and a number of additional parcels going through the appraisal process,” says Dunne Kesnig.
“I am extremely proud to be part of a town board which appreciates the value of open space, environmental preservation and green energy initiatives.”
Wetlands on Cypress Drive
Kinasewitz Living Trust, Mastic Beach
