Supervisor: Buyer Expresses Interest in Plum Island

The pressure is on to put zoning in place on Plum Island, Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said Tuesday -- he got a phone call this week from a potential buyer.

After a recent public hearing on proposed Plum Island zoning -- which would allow for a preservation district and a research district, to prevent a private owner from developing projects ranging from homes to a casino on the site -- the public hearing was left open.

Town Attorney Martin Finnegan said written public comment has been pouring in and suggested a code committee meeting to review the input.

Russell said the heat is on to implement the zoning. "I got a call yesterday from a gentleman who wants to buy the island," he said. "It's important to get the zoning in place soon."

The supervisor said he told the caller, who he did not identify, that the town was poised to adopt new zoning on Plum Island.

The caller said the zoning would not apply, since he represented another governmental entity. Russell said there was a law in place preventing purchase from another governmental agency  -- but the caller told him that the law was never put forth for public referendum, and never passed.

The town board discussed what could happen if a private individual wanted to buy the island, and whether they could live on the island as it currently exists.