Residents Fear Trump Could Eye Plum Island Again; Lawmakers Vow to Keep Up Fight

SOUTHOLD, NY — Amidst the fears lodged on social media after President Elect Donald Trump's recent victory, one hits especially close to home for North Forkers.

"Worry of the day. What will happen to Plum Island, um, I mean Trump Island? He wants it, so there it goes," wrote one Southold resident recently on Facebook.

The fear is not unfounded: Back in 2013, Donald Trump called Southold Town Hall and expressed interest in building a golf course on Plum Island.

But after Trump's recent win, both Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell and Congressman Lee Zeldin, who have fought tirelessly over recent months, introducing legislation to protect and preserve Plum Island's critical resources, said Trump's election will have no impact on their continued battle.

"Protecting and preserving Plum Island is one of Congressman Zeldin’s highest legislative priorities. The election does not change that. There has been overwhelming bipartisan support at all levels of government for Congressman Zeldin’s effort, and that is why two of his proposals to preserve the island have passed the House unanimously with bipartisan support," a statement from Zeldin's office said.

"Congressman Zeldin will continue to work with environmental advocates, local elected officials, and concerned citizens to push the Senate to take immediate action on the preservation of Plum Island in the remainder of this Congress," the statement continued.

Of Trump's election and Plum Island, Russell said, "I do not see how they are related at this point. Rep. Zeldin and other members of the House have made stopping the sale of the Island a top priority. They also supported Mr. Trump’s candidacy so, I’m hoping Mr. Trump takes his supporter’s chief priorities to heart."

Hoping to block any efforts to see the island sold to developers, the Southold Town board adopted the new zoning unanimously in August, 2013.

Southold's zoning plan for the island calls for a 125-acre Plum Island research district, comprising 20 percent of the island, and a 350-acre Plum Island conservation district, making up the remaining 80 percent, as a natural preserve.

The goal is to create some kind of research facility that could possibly keep the 400 year-round jobs that currently exist on Plum Island in town.

Russell said when the potential sale was first discussed by the federal government, Suffolk County Legislator AlKrupski, who was then a councilman on the Southold town board, said there was an urgency to create zoning on Plum Island, and get it done expeditiously.

At first, Russell said, he wondered who would be "crazy" enough to want to develop Plum Island — and then he got a call from Donald Trump.

Russell thanked Zeldin for support on the national level. "Zoning is the last line of defense," he said. "Not the first line."

Sale talk still ongoing

At an event in May to announce the congressman's efforts to preserve the island, Zeldin said he'd just received an email promoting Plum Island real estate to potential buyers, something Southold Town Councilman Jim Dinizio said was an "eye opener."

After the event, Russell said even if should try to overturn Southold's zoning to develop the parcel, "We are confident that our zoning is defensible in any court. However, it would be ideal if we wouldn't have to test that in court. We would prevail but, the potential legal costs of defending our zoning and stopping irresponsible end uses is something we would very much like to avoid."

Ideally, the goal is to see the Plum Island facility continue to operate protecting the world's food supply and also, to ensure that the largely undisturbed ecosystem stay in its pristine state, Russell said. "We are realistic and continued operation does not appear likely, so let's find a successor to continue the employee the talented and extremely qualified workforce. Perhaps a bio-technology firm who have great difficulty finding sites on the mainland."

Worst case scenarios, he said, would be for an individual to try and purchase the land and develop it, which could land the town in a protracted and costly legal battle. "The second is that the federal government abandon the site which would offer no continuation of jobs and no meaningful and responsible management plans for the preserved area. That is the one I call the chain-link option. Whereas, they throw a fence around it and tell everyone to stay off."

That's why, all agreed at recent events, including one held at Peconic Landing in October to discuss Plum Island's natural resources, the fight must continue to protect and preserve the parcel.

Patch photo courtesy of Robert Lorenz.