Riverhead backs South Jamesport preservation, opposes future development

Riverhead officials backed Suffolk County’s push to preserve a 9.6-acre South Jamesport parcel, but they drew a hard line against turning it into a fuller public amenity with trails, parking or other improvements. The Riverhead Town Board voted unanimously on May 6 to support the county’s preservation plan for 1161 Peconic Bay Blvd., near the East Creek boat launch and adjacent to a town-owned marina and beach area.

That support came with a warning. Town leaders made clear they wanted the land protected as open space, not converted into county parkland with a walking trail, gravel parking area or expanded public access. County Legislator Greg Doroski met with the board at a work session on April 30 to discuss the site, and the county had asked Riverhead to partner in the acquisition by agreeing to maintain it for passive recreation use. Riverhead pushed back, saying a development-rights purchase would better fit the property because it could remain farmed.

The disagreement went to the core of what preservation should mean in South Jamesport. Board members said added amenities would bring maintenance costs, traffic and long-term obligations that local taxpayers could end up carrying. The parcel sits in a sensitive location between a residential neighborhood and the water, and officials said its protection would help preserve the quiet character of the area while reducing pressure on East Creek and Peconic Bay.

Environmental concerns have followed the property for years. In 2021, town planning officials said a substantial portion of the site was in the flood zone, had shallow groundwater and posed a nitrogen-loading threat to East Creek. They also identified the land as archaeologically sensitive. Neighbors who opposed subdivision plans at public hearings cited frequent flooding and the parcel’s low elevation, saying homes there would likely require major soil import or pile-supported construction.

The land’s planning history helps explain why preservation became urgent. Riverhead’s Planning Board granted preliminary approval for a six-lot subdivision in November 2023, then approved a revised four-lot map on Sept. 4, 2025, after Peconic Farms LLC scaled back its plan. Suffolk County later said it protected about 11,000 acres of farmland and more than 20,000 acres countywide through preservation programs that depend on partnerships with towns and other municipalities.

The deal itself unraveled after the board’s debate. The county’s open-space acquisition later fell through after the owner said it was no longer interested in selling the land to Suffolk County. County Executive Ed Romaine called it a missed opportunity to preserve more farmland on the North Fork, underscoring a familiar East End split over whether preservation means untouched open space, passive recreation or keeping active farmland in place.