Oyster Bay Approves Seizure Of Golf Course Through Eminent Domain

MASSAPEQUA, NY — The leadership of the Town of Oyster Bay voted unanimously yesterday to purchase the Peninsula Golf Club in Massapequa through eminent domain, potentially setting up years of legal battles over the acquisition.

The Town Council voted unanimously at its meeting on Oct. 26 to start the purchase for an undisclosed amount. The town said it was making the purchase in order to preserve the golf course as open park land.

"We have be considering everything," Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said at the meeting. "It would not be in the best interest of our tax payers to negotiate the price publicly, obviously, if we were to purchase this property. [Price negotiation] would take place in the courts through a legal process."

According to Newsday, the current owners of the course, P.G.C. Holding Corp., agreed to sell the 50-acre property to Great American Properties, a Florida-based company, for $4.4 million. The eminent domain approval would put a stop to that sale.

Eminent domain is a process by which governments can seize private property. The governments are constitutionally required to provide just compensation for the property, which is usually the market value. That value will be determined by court proceedings, and could be contested by the current owners.

Town officials and residents were concerned that Great American Properties was planning to purchase the golf course in order to redevelop it into housing. The owner of the company told Newsday they were planning to keep it a golf course and did not intend to make the property housing.

The town, however, did not believe that claim.

"If you look at the website of the company, that's what they do," Saladino said. "They build homes on golf courses."

The Great American Properties website says the company's business plan includes an "aggressive pursuit" of purchasing daily-fee golf courses across the country. "These courses do not need to be in pristine condition. We are willing to expend the funds, time and energy to create value, both in terms of increasing revenues and player experience," the website reads.

"There is an importance to preserving open space in this town," said Saladino.

Under a covenant from Nassau County that has been in place for 75 years, the property cannot be developed and must remain a golf course. Peninsula Golf Club, located at 50 Nassau Road, is a privately owned, nine-hole course, but is open to the public.