Alec Baldwin To Join Environmentalists in 'Kill the Hills' Rally

SOUTHAMPTON, NY - Alec Baldwin is teaming up with East End environmentalists to oppose development of a proposed golf course, 118 residences and a clubhouse in the Pine Barrens.

Alec Baldwin, the Pine Barrens Society, Group for the East End and the Southampton Water Protection Alliance are hosting a rally and press conference Wednesday at noon at the Dark Horse Restaurant at One Main Street in Riverhead, to support a review of the proposed “Hills” development in East Quogue by the New York State Central Pine Barrens Commission.

"Actor Alec Baldwin has been campaigning with us in opposition to the largest and worst development ever to come before the Commission. The proposed project calls for construction of an 18-hole, private golf course with 118 residences and a 155,760 square foot clubhouse/catering facility on a 594-acres site in the Pine Barrens of Southampton," a release announcing the event said.

Baldwin, who lives in East Hampton has recorded a televised public service announcement against “The Hills” and is active in land preservation and water quality protection across Long Island.

The Pine Barrens Commission has jurisdiction over all development in the Pine Barrens.

“The Hills” is seeking to develop the project under Southampton’s Planned Development District ordinance, which the Pine Barrens Commission opposes.

Of the rally, organizers said, "This is a compelling way to insist on a proper review of this dreadful project. Nearby Shinnecock Bay is already experiencing a brown tide, caused by nitrogen contamination, which 'The Hills' project would only make worse and more frequent."

This week, after years of heated debate, Southampton Town extended an offer to preserve "The Hills" parcel in East Quogue.

For years, the community has stood divided on the project, which aims to bring an 18-hole golf course and 118 luxury homes to an expanse of vacant acreage on Spinney Road off Lewis Road. Those in support say it will be a boon to the economy, while other argue the project is detrimental to the environment.

The property is located within a groundwater recharge area and has been the focus of development plans for many years.

Now, the Southampton Town Board has extended an offer to purchase 592 acres in East Quogue owned by Arizona based-Discovery Land Corporation.

The offer was made through use of Community Preservation Fund revenue, Schneiderman said. If accepted, the purchase would be the largest single land acquisition in the history of the CPF program, the supervisor added.

Although Schneiderman did not initially release the price offered, he said it was "significantly higher" than the price paid by Discovery Land for the property.

In addition, he said the town had authorized two appraisals to determine the fair market value for the land.

The proposed golf course development has met both opposition and support and is currently under environmental review.

For years, civic groups and residents have spoken out on both sides of the issue.

Schneiderman said he has has been working to preserve the large block of woodland property for more than a decade, both as a Suffolk County Legislator and at town level.

Back in 2011, then-County Legislator Schneiderman sponsored a resolution to acquire the property in joint ownership with the Town of Southampton.

Efforts screeched to a halt in May 2013 when a past property owner was unwilling to accept the offer, which was below the price they had paid to acquire the land.

“I cannot proceed in good conscience with the review process without making a good faith effort to preserve the property,” Schneiderman said this week.

According to Schneiderman, the property owner consented to have the property appraised for the purpose of entertaining an offer for preservation.

The golf course development was proposed through a Planned Development District, or PDD, which requires four votes for approval; the prospects for approval of the PDD "are, at best, uncertain," he said.

Meanwhile, the “as of right” development could allow up to 118 homes, excluding the golf course.

However, said Andra Spilka, Southampton Town Civic Coalition President, because of the parcel’s location, in the Pine Barrens core and compatible growth area, as well as Southampton's aquifer protection overlay district, it’s likely that there will be a “reduced impact alternative” based on the state environmental quality review act, "with in my opinion, the likely possibility of fewer homes and a mandated denitrification system."

The town voted to pass a moratorium in May on reviewing new PDD applications.

Planned development districts are created in municipalities with the goal of facilitating increased flexibility to achieve more desirable development through use of creative and imaginative design of residential, mixed use, commercial, and industrial areas than is presently achievable under conventional land use and zoning regulations.

Although “The Hills” pre-dates the PDD moratorium, fierce controversy over the development played a role in the town’s decision to enact the moratorium on new proposals, Schneiderman said.
For years, civic and environmental groups have called for the preservation of “The Hills” including the Group for the East End and the Pine Barrens Society.

“We are hopeful Discovery Land will accept this significant offer," Schneiderman said.

“Although some members of the community are supportive of the golf course development,” Southampton Town Councilman John Bouvier said that he believes, “the best ‘course’ for the property is preservation.”
Requests for comment from Discovery Land were not immediately returned.