Update No. 4 - March 8th

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The Red Spring Woods Coalition's Informational Update #4

MARCH 8, 2006

Other Updates

Press Release From The Red Spring Woods Coalition

UPDATE !!!
THE RED SPRING WOODS MADE

THE COUNTY'S PRELIMINARY PRESERVATION LIST !!!!!!!!!

An important meeting was held on Monday, March 6th, at 10:00am, at the Nassau County Executive Building at 1 West Street, Mineola, in the Legislative Chambers, regarding the Nassau County Open Space Program.
County Executive Suozzi's Open Space Committee presented to the Nassau County Legislature its final list of local properties that they are recommending for purchase/preservation. After initially identifying hundreds of Nassau County properties and prioritizing them by specific criteria including size, environmental sensitivity, location and purchase price, the final list was presented. This exhaustive screening process took many months to accomplish. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented all of the original properties from being selected and preserved.

The Open Space Committee's choice of the Red Spring Woods was determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the following reasons:

Geographic and environmental attributes (i.e.: size, topography, tree sizes, runoff, wildlife, etc.)

The owner/builder's rapid development timeline

The donation of private matching funds for the land purchase which made the purchase more affordable for the County

The building moratorium being discussed in the City of Glen Cove has provided a small window of opportunity for the Red Spring Woods to be purchased at this time.

It is assumed that all of these reasons contributed to the Open Space Committee's decision to make this purchase a high priority and encouraged them to place the Red Spring Woods on their final list as soon as they heard that the owner/builder was willing to sell the land for conservation. Many of the owners of properties that were approached by the Committee chose not to sell for preservation and wanted to develop their land (this writer's own interpretation of events).
Nassau County Legislators are now faced with the difficult decision of reviewing the Committee's recommendations and they will ultimately decide whether or not to accept the Committee's choices of which properties should be preserved. This final review is an excellent process in that the Legislature acts as an additional check and balance in the selection process, thereby ensuring that the properties are selected fairly and in a non-partisan manner. Cross your fingers that the Red Spring Woods will be chosen for preservation by the Legislature!

Finally, many thanks to the following individuals who have worked so hard….and had the foresight/wisdom, to recognize the importance of preserving the Red Spring Woods:

County Executive Tom Suozzi

Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi / Deputy Mayor Marilyn Brenner

State Assemblyman Chuck Lavine / Carol Hammond, Chief of Staff

Matt Cohen, Regional Director for the Office of State Senator Chuck Schumer

Tom Maher, Nassau County Director of the Office of Environmental Coordination

Brad Tito, Nassau County Assistant Director of the Office of Environmental Coordination

Brian Muellers, Open Space Committee Chairman

Open Space Committee members

The Nassau County Legislature

The David and Saul Katz Families

The Red Spring Woods Owner/Builder, Al Cirignano

The Red Spring Woods Coalition Members

Thank you!
The Red Spring Woods Coalition

Questions? 516-676-6270 or savetheredspringwoods@yahoo.com

Updated website: http://savetheredspringwoods.50webs.com/

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*The Red Spring Woods Coalition's Informational Update #4*
MARCH 8, 2006		Other Updates
Press Release From The Red Spring Woods Coalition UPDATE !!! THE RED SPRING WOODS MADE THE COUNTY'S PRELIMINARY PRESERVATION LIST !!!!!!!!! An important meeting was held on Monday, March 6th, at 10:00am, at the Nassau County Executive Building at 1 West Street, Mineola, in the Legislative Chambers, regarding the Nassau County Open Space Program. County Executive Suozzi's Open Space Committee presented to the Nassau County Legislature its final list of local properties that they are recommending for purchase/preservation. After initially identifying hundreds of Nassau County properties and prioritizing them by specific criteria including size, environmental sensitivity, location and purchase price, the final list was presented. This exhaustive screening process took many months to accomplish. Unfortunately, financial constraints prevented all of the original properties from being selected and preserved. The Open Space Committee's choice of the Red Spring Woods was determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the following reasons: Geographic and environmental attributes (i.e.: size, topography, tree sizes, runoff, wildlife, etc.) The owner/builder's rapid development timeline The donation of private matching funds for the land purchase which made the purchase more affordable for the County The building moratorium being discussed in the City of Glen Cove has provided a small window of opportunity for the Red Spring Woods to be purchased at this time. It is assumed that all of these reasons contributed to the Open Space Committee's decision to make this purchase a high priority and encouraged them to place the Red Spring Woods on their final list as soon as they heard that the owner/builder was willing to sell the land for conservation. Many of the owners of properties that were approached by the Committee chose not to sell for preservation and wanted to develop their land (this writer's own interpretation of events). Nassau County Legislators are now faced with the difficult decision of reviewing the Committee's recommendations and they will ultimately decide whether or not to accept the Committee's choices of which properties should be preserved. This final review is an excellent process in that the Legislature acts as an additional check and balance in the selection process, thereby ensuring that the properties are selected fairly and in a non-partisan manner. Cross your fingers that the Red Spring Woods will be chosen for preservation by the Legislature! Finally, many thanks to the following individuals who have worked so hard….and had the foresight/wisdom, to recognize the importance of preserving the Red Spring Woods: County Executive Tom Suozzi Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi / Deputy Mayor Marilyn Brenner State Assemblyman Chuck Lavine / Carol Hammond, Chief of Staff Matt Cohen, Regional Director for the Office of State Senator Chuck Schumer Tom Maher, Nassau County Director of the Office of Environmental Coordination Brad Tito, Nassau County Assistant Director of the Office of Environmental Coordination Brian Muellers, Open Space Committee Chairman Open Space Committee members The Nassau County Legislature The David and Saul Katz Families The Red Spring Woods Owner/Builder, Al Cirignano The Red Spring Woods Coalition Members
Thank you! *The Red Spring Woods Coalition*	Questions? 516-676-6270 or savetheredspringwoods@yahoo.com Updated website: http://savetheredspringwoods.50webs.com/