Preserving Farmland
Nearly 170 acres of Water Mill and Sagaponack farmland have been targeted for preservation by Southampton Town, possibly with help from Suffolk County.
The Southampton Town Board on Friday identified five parcels it is considering preserving through a purchase of development rights.
Two of the properties, meanwhile, are being actively considered under the county's own Farmland Preservation Program. A public hearing has been scheduled before the Town Board at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall to discuss the potential purchases.
The land under consideration includes the 109-acre Zaluski farm on Deerfield Road in Water Mill, a 42.6-acre portion of Schwenk family farmland on Montauk Highway in Sagaponack, and 17 acres of farmland owned by Joshua's Place, a spiritual center in Water Mill.
Matching Funds
The three property owners approached the town individually between six and eight months ago to indicate their interest in participating in the Town Farmland Preservation Program. After reviewing their eligibility, the Town Farmland and Agricultural Advisory Committees recommended the parcels for preservation.
The passage of the town's $5 million open space bond has made funds available. The town has already completed appraisals on all the properties; however town law requires a public hearing before any formal offers can be made to the owners.
The town is hoping for help with the purchase. Knowing the Zaluski and Joshua's Place properties are already on the county's list, the town has asked the county to consider the Schwenk parcel as well and consider matching funds with the town on all three projects.
Leveraging Dollars
Southampton recently received a $100,000 Federal grant toward a purchase of the properties and has also applied for state money.
"We have an opportunity here to work together in partnership," said Robert Duffy, Southampton's planning and development administrator. "We're trying to leverage every dollar the town has."
The Zaluski farm is eighth on the county's list of farmland preservation considerations. Roughly 18 farms are on the list, with Joshua's Place ranking close to last.
Since negotiations are still ongoing on all the Southampton properties, no values were released. A purchase of development rights on farmland costs far less than a purchase of actual title to the land. Once the development rights are sold, the landowner keeps the land but is prohibited from subdividing or developing it.
"Key Pieces"
To be eligible for the Town Farmland Preservation Program, a property must lie in a designated agricultural overlay district and must be actively farmed or have such potential. Both the Schwenk and Zaluski properties are currently farmed, and Joshua's Place has plans to reestablish farming on its parcel, which contains prime agricultural soils.
Mr. Duffy called the three blocks of farmland "key pieces that would be a first small step toward the town's overall preservation goal." He noted that other property owners had expressed interest in selling development rights and that other parcels would probably be brought before the board during the year.