Public Advisory Hearings on Nassau Environmental Bond Act

Nassau County will be holding a series of public advisory hearings on the Nassau Environmental Bond. At the hearings citizens can nominate specific properties for preservation and projects for funding.

The hearings will be held:

• January 23rd – 7:00 pm, West Hempstead High School
  400 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead
• January 25th – 7:00 pm, Jericho High School
  99 Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho
• January 31st – 7:30 pm, North Bellmore Public Library
  1551 Newbridge Road
  North Bellmore
• February 1st – 7:30 pm, Herricks High School
  100 Shelter Rock Road
  New Hyde Park
• February 15th – 7:30 pm, Hewlett Woodmere Public Library
  1125 Broadway
  Hewlett

Nassau Environmental Bond Act 2006 PASSED!

Election day, November 7, 2006, Nassau County voters overwhelmingly approved (77% to 23%) the $100 million dollar bond act, to preserve open space, improve parks, and protect water quality. This money will be used to continue the presevation efforts that were begun with the $50 million 2004 environmental bond act.

Youngs Farm in Old Brookville. One of the few remaining farms in Nassau County. This property could be preserved from development by the 2006 Environmental Bond Act.

Long Island Environmental Bond Acts 2004

In 2004 Long Islanders in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties voted to approve bond acts to protect our environment. In the towns of Brookhaven and Oyster Bay voters also approved separate Town bond proposals. The Long Island Regional Planning Board has called for preservation of 45,000 of Long Island's remaining 90,000 acres of unprotected open space. Any property which is not preserved will likely be developed in the next five to eight years.

The Nassau Clean Water, Open Space and Parks Trust Fund

With this 2004 bond act, Nassau County established a dedicated fund for open space preservation, water quality protection, and parks improvements. The Trust Fund was the first Nassau County program with dedicated funding for preserving open space and protecting the environment.

The County issued $50 million dollars in bonds, to be accounted for separately from the general budget, which can be expended only to protect open space, Nassau’s few remaining farms and horse farms, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas, to maintain and improve the quality of Nassau’s water resources, and to create community parks and refurbish existing parks. A citizens advisory committee provides oversight of the Trust Fund.

This important program costs the average Nassau County household just $7 per year.

Neighborhood Network Executive Director, Neal Lewis speaking at a press conference in support of the 2004 Environmental Bond Acts. Also present were Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi; Judy Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature, Nassau County Legislator Lisanne Altmann, Nassau County Legislator David Denenberg, Nassau County Legislator Diane Yatauro Legislators and representatives of environmental groups.

Suffolk County Save Open Space (SOS), Farmland Preservation, and Hamlet Parks Fund

This $75 million dollar bond act will protect open space, preserve farmland, and provide parks and active recreation facilities for local communities. This is a continuation of a long history of Suffolk County land conservation efforts.

The money provided by this bond act will be restricted in its use. $30 million will be spent on purchasing pine barrens, wetlands, woodlands and other open spaces. $10 million will be used to create hamlet greens, “pocket parks,” playgrounds, and other outdoor activity and gathering places for Suffolk County communities. $35 million will fund the acquisition of farmland development rights to preserve Suffolk’s agricultural heritage, keep families on their farms, and prevent farmland from being lost forever to development.

The impact of the program would be approximately $11 annually on the average residential tax bill over the next twenty years.

Town of Brookhaven Clean Water Open Space Bond Act

The $100 million Town Clean Water Open Space Bond will allow Brookhaven to continue to protect open space and drinking water resources throughout the town.

Brookhaven Town has identified 6,000 acres of land that are necessary to preserve wildlife habitat, safeguard critical drinking water recharge areas, protect wetlands and othe vital environmental areas, maintain farming, and sustain the character of communities in Brookhaven Township. Without this bond, many of these identified parcels will be lost to development.

The program will be overnseen by an advisory committe of Town residents. It will cost an average of only $42 per household each year.

Town of Oyster Bay Open Space Bond Act

In the Town of Oyster Bay, the Town bond act of $30 million dollars will allow Oyster Bay to acquire open space for environmental and drinking water protection and to create new parks and refurbish existing town parks.

The program calls for $15 million dollars to be expended on preserving open sace and acqiring land for parks, ball fields, playgrounds and other recreational facilities. The other $15 million would be spent on improving newly acquired land, and existing town-owned lands for active and passive recreation.

The cost of repaying the bond will work out to about $16 a year for the average Town of Oyster Bay household.