Environmentalists To Protest 'Krupski Corruption;' Farmland Bill

Environmentalists are seeing red over a bill they believe puts farmland preservation over the Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program.

Since 1988, the Water Protection Program has generated more than $1 billion to preserve land that sits above Long Island’s purest water supplies, Dick Amper, Executive Director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, said. "It also buys development rights to farmland.  Up to now, there has been no dispute about the protection formula," he sai

But, recently, Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski sponsored legislation authorizing the acquisition of farmland development rights under the New Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection program from the Riverhead Central School District.

Development rights on the Tuthills Lane parcel was sold by the district to help fund improvements and district projects, including the proposed construction of a new bus barn in Riverside that sparked huge public opposition and was recently voted down.

"Terms of the Drinking Water Protection Program can only be altered by a mandatory public referendum," Amper said. “Krupski’s bill is not only irresponsible; it’s against the law," Amper said. “Preserving open space above our drinking water protects it. Buying development rights to farmland ensures continued pollution of drinking and surface water by pesticides and fertilizers.”

The development rights for the parcel were acquired from the Riverhead School District; a purchase of development rights is a voluntary legal agreement, or conservation easement, that restricts all future non-farm development while encouraging farming and other land uses that are compatible with agriculture. PDRs allow land to stay in private ownership and on the tax rolls.

“This is critically important for the Town of Riverhead, the Riverhead School District and the County of Suffolk,” Krupski said. “It insures that a block of farmland totaling more than 600 acres will continue to be used as productive farmland forever; the loss of fertile acres is irreplaceable. That is a huge boost to our agricultural economy, and means that farm families will continue to use this property now and for future generations.

“It is also a very important purchase for the Riverhead School District," he added. "The school district has substantial costs looming with renovations to its schools and this purchase provides the district with badly needed funds to help with those renovations.”

Members of the Riverhead school district applauded the move. “On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank Legislator Al Krupski for sponsoring, and Legislator Jay Schneiderman for co-sponsoring, this important bill,” said Riverhead School Superintendent Nancy Carney.  “By having Suffolk County acquire the development rights to this parcel, we are able to ensure, in a fiscally responsible manner, that the land will be preserved as agricultural property for all time.

During the debate over the bill at the county Legislature’s meeting, Krupski said the parcel was zoned for two-acre residential development. He said the development of a residential subdivision in the middle of  preserved farmland parcel would cause  problems for the farmers working the adjoining land, and for the residents of any residential subdivision.

“Riverhead’s agricultural industry dates to the early 17th century and continues to play an integral role in the Suffolk County economy to this day," Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. "Preserving important and productive parcels such as these is an example of the farmland preservation program working at its best.”

But Amper is livid, stating the matter should have been voted on by the public. “I can’t imagine a greater betrayal of public trust than passing a drinking water protection law that can only be altered by the public at referendum, then having politicians change it themselves for their own purposes,” Amper said. "Krupski seems more like he’s representing the agriculture lobby than the people who elected him."

The demonstration will be outside the County Legislature Auditorium at the Suffolk County Center in Riverhead on Tuesday from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.  Opponents of the “Krupski Corruption,” as they refer to Krupski’s proposed legislation, are slated to testify against the measure at the Legislature’s meeting.