Why a NO Vote on the Masera School Sale Makes Sense

The map shows the High Density concentration in the neighborhoods in close proximity to the Masera property and is based on the 2016 Suffolk County Land Use Study. Hunter Avenue/Muncey Road is at the top running east and west with Sunrise Highway as the major roadway at the bottom left while the Masera property is depicted by a blue box bordered by the Auto Mall, shown as commercial property in red, to its south and by Udall Road to its east. The brown shaded areas represent residences that are classified by Suffolk County as High Density which is defined as a housing unit on a lot size of one fifth of an acre or less.

The considerable number of High Density residences surrounding the Masera property calls into question how the proposed development of additional High Density residences is in the best interest of our community. This is just one of many reasons that I am voting NO. Furthermore the considerable number and location of High Density residences could qualify Masera’s undeveloped land (i.e. its athletic field) as open space eligible for acquisition by the County. The County offers the “highest and best” appraisal price to preserve open space and a recreational park would ultimately fall under the management of the County’s Parks and Recreation Department and be open to all Suffolk residents. To illustrate how this could pertain to Masera, a resolution was passed in 2014 by the Suffolk Legislature that approved the acquisition of 15.8 acres from the Middle Country School District. The County funds these acquisitions by earmarking one quarter of one percent in sales tax revenues per the Suffolk County New Drinking Water Preservation Program. The goal of preserving the field really isn’t all that much different than what the Board did with the Higbie Elementary School only that the District would receive cash and the field would be under the control of the County rather than the District. Under both scenarios the property is off the tax role.

At the February 6, 2020 Regular BOE meeting Mr. John Tibbetts of Arcadia Drive suggested using the Masera property as a park. Mr. Gellar’s response per the meeting minutes was that the town/county has no interest in building and maintaining a park.

I questioned Mr. Gellar at the September 10, 2020 Regular Meeting who specifically he spoke to that said the County had no interest in building and maintaining a park. He could not provide a name which is consistent with there being no record of this inquiry with the Suffolk County Parks and Recreation Department, Legislator Flotteron and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Planning and Development. Clearly the response made to Mr. Tibbetts was misinformation and despite that was unanimously approved in the meeting minutes by Mr. Gellar’s fellow board members.

While I am sure there would be hurdles to an acquisition by the County under this scenario, I am also sure it was the responsibility of the Board to explore this possibility and ultimately get feedback from the community if this is a road it should go down. However it did none of these and instead provided misinformation to a resident at a public meeting. West Islip deserves better.

Note: The source for information on High Density and Open Space Preservation was the Suffolk County 2016 Land Use Study and conversations with the County’s Director of Planning.