Oyster Bay Considering Seizing Golf Course Through Eminent Domain

MASSAPEQUA, NY — The Town of Oyster Bay is putting forward a resolution to purchase the Peninsula Golf Club through eminent domain.

According to Newsday, the current owners of the course, P.G.C. Holding Corp., agreed to sell the 50-acre property to Great American Properties, a Florida-based company, for $4.4 million. The town twice tried to match the price and buy the property, without any public notification.

Under a covenant from Nassau County that has been in place for 75 years, the property cannot be developed and must remain a golf course. Peninsula Golf Club, located at 50 Nassau Road, is a privately owned, nine-hole course, but is open to the public.

The town's resolution for its June 15 meeting calls for holding a public hearing at 10 a.m. on July 13 for the purposes of condemning the golf course so it can be seized by eminent domain.

Eminent domain is a process by which governments can seize private property. The governments are constitutionally required to provide just compensation for the property, which is usually the market value.