Town Still Hopes to Buy Village on the Sound Property

The Town of Brookhaven is still trying to buy Steiner’s Woods, the proposed site of the Village on the Sound development, from developer Robert Toussie to preserve as open space.

Councilwoman Jane Bonner, C-Rocky Point, said at the Sound Beach Civic Association meeting Monday night, the town is currently in the process of appraising the property between Scott’s Beach and Woodmere Road, with one of the two required appraisals already completed.

Toussie has been trying to build 15 homes on the 10-acre lot since the 1980s, but the civic association and local residents oppose the idea, preferring the town’s acquisition and preservation of the area.

“A lot of the people have wilderness next to their yards and they don’t want houses,” said Bill Pellenz, president of the Sound Beach Civic Association. “The development just would not mix with the neighborhoods.”

So far, the town has not been able to negotiate an acquisition deal with Toussie for the land.

Bonner said Brookhaven must already spend $2 million for drainage mitigation work on the property.

“Why spend that and not come up with the rest of the money to acquire the property and preserve one of the last pristine properties on the North Shore?” she asked, adding the land would be a nice addition to the 58-acre Vassilaros property off Lower Rocky Point Road the town purchased in December to preserve as open space.