A Chunk of Clark's Beach in Greenport Now Belongs to Suffolk County

After years of public outcry, members of the unanimously supported a final determination for a lot line change transferring 6.33 acres of Clark's Beach land owned by theto Suffolk County on Monday night.

The move decreases the size of the village-owned parcel from 14.385 acres to 8.5 acres, and increases the county park acreage from 36.7 to 43.03 acres.

Suffolk County closed on the deal with the village to purchase a portion of the waterfront parcel in 2010, after a long process that spanned two village administrations and three years. Monday night’s Planning Board determination, said Greenport Mayor David Nyce, “was the final step.”

When the concept of selling Clark’s Beach was first introduced by former Greenport Mayor Dave Kapell, the proposal ignited dismay amongst some residents, including Nyce, who spoke out at public meetings in opposition to the sale, stating that the beach was an asset and a natural resource and should be protected for posterity.

Kapell and Southold Town partnered in a three-way deal that was set to proceed, and would have meant approximately $3.5 million in village coffers. The deal was perceived by many as a win-win, because the beach would be preserved and maintained as county parkland and not developed. Originally, the county and town were slated to purchase a portion, with the village maintaining the portion surrounding the outfall pipe. But after Mayor Nyce was voted into office in 2007, the deal fell apart.

A press conference scheduled by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to announce the deal between the county, town and village was canceled after Nyce took office, at his request, so the new administration could review the agreement. Nyce said he met with Chris Kent, now Levy’s Deputy Supervisor but then involved with county real estate, who advised him that the deal needed to be restructured. The county, said Nyce, would not honor “the deal as structured.”

In the end, the county purchased the approximately six acres to the east of the outfall pipe – land contiguous to owned by the county and maintained by the Auduobon Society. The process was lengthy, said Nyce, with the county legislature stating they did not wish to pursue such purchases, especially from municipalities.

“I went before the legislature, imploring them to go through with this — we had no other choices," he said.

Although Levy refused to sign the measure, the 14 to 3 vote carried and the deal closed last year for $1.7 million. The village still owns an additional nine acres of Clark's Beach.

Nyce, who held two public hearings on the issue once he took office, said public sentiment reflected a desire to preserve the waterfront parcel. Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Monday’s Planning Board determination was “a formality.” Although he said he has no knowledge of the village’s plan for the remaining acreage, the town “is not discussing buying it from that entity.”

The future of village’s remaining interest in Clark's Beach is still uncertain.

“The village still has considerable debt and still has to come up with some resources,” Nyce said.

Village debt currently stands at just over $7 million, cut almost in half from the $13.5 million figure in place when Nyce took office.

“It was not necessarily the best outcome for the situation," Nyce said. Proceeds will be used to pay down debt service, “but we still need to determine what we are going to do with the balance of the property. We do have some options."

One potential revenue source is the on Moores Lane, a 20 year project that is now cleaned up, Nyce added.