Peconic Land Trust presses Riverhead board to consider preserving 145‑acre site including 4‑H camp

Peconic Land Trust representatives told the Riverhead Town Board they are in contract to buy a roughly 145‑acre property that includes the 4‑H camp and asked the town to consider partnering to preserve a portion as open space. Julie Woznowski of the Peconic Land Trust said the trust expects to purchase fee title and that Suffolk County would preserve about 40 acres of farmland by acquiring development rights; the town was asked to consider purchasing approximately 36 acres to extend existing protected land to the Sound.

Board members pressed for specifics. The Trust and staff said the appraisal shows roughly 40 structures across the site and that about 75% of the structures on the parcel proposed for town purchase were assessed as "end of life" in the appraisal. Board members raised concern about demolition and remediation costs, with one member citing a rough demolition estimate in the millions and asking who would pay to remove hazardous or unsafe structures. Peconic Land Trust and staff said deed restrictions, covenants and conveyance language would remove development rights and that the trust's role could be as an interim owner to facilitate preservation and convey certain portions (for example, retaining the 4‑H camp operation under restricted use).

Next steps: The board added the Peconic Land Trust matter to executive session to discuss contract price and legal negotiation; staff agreed to inquire about site visits and to present appraisal and cost estimates during closed‑door negotiations before public action.