Town Moves Forward with Survey

Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) Supervisor, Joseph Saladino, made good on his promise to a group of residents when we met with him and town attorneys this past July 15th.  Saladino also personally promised Assemblyman Steve Stern, whose Assembly district (AD 10) fully encompasses Stillwell Woods, that a comprehensive survey will be completed. 

The TOB is contractually obligated to complete a survey.  The precise language of the Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) between Nassau County and the TOB requires a survey prior to a transfer through alienation of parkland legislation that abides by the strict limitations preceding covenants have established:

  “1.2 Permitted Encumbrances. (a) The Premises is to be transferred subject to (i) any state of facts an accurate survey may show and any variations between the location of records lines, (ii) covenants, restrictions, reservations, easements and agreements of record, (iii) laws and governmental regulations that affect the use and maintenance of the Premises… ”1

The TOB Board approved the budget for the survey at their September 9, 2025 meeting.  Resolution No. 574-2025 was unanimously approved for $97,000.00 to fund the survey.  GDB Geospatial will conduct the survey, which will take about two months to complete.  

We cannot overstate the importance of this survey as a foundation for both habitat and trail protection.  The TOB has grandfathered development privileges.  Without a survey that unequivocally delineates the current boundaries between their athletic fields and the forest, native meadow and trails, we will have no documentation, which must be included in alienation of parkland legislation, to prevent the current or a future TOB administration from eliminating habitat for more ballfields, a dog park, parking lots, buildings or other infrastructure.

We applaud the TOB Board and Supervisor Saladino for his leadership in taking this critical step.  We look forward to working with the town to secure several more essential steps that must be taken to safeguard habitat and provide trail protections for Stillwell Woods Preserve and the special groundwater protection area on top of which its forest and meadow sit.

(photo credit RJ)