Save Our Stillwell Petition

Transferring Stillwell Woods Preserve from Nassau County to the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB) without robust safeguards will open an unprecedented door to decimating wildlife habitat and picturesque trail vistas in a perpetual preserve that rests atop a special groundwater protection area. We, the undersigned, therefore, demand the following:

• The TOB must prepare, present and submit a comprehensive survey, including clearly marked survey maps, stamped and signed by a licensed/certified land surveyor as is required by their Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA).
• The TOB must present a detailed project proposal that correlates with the $12 million budget allocated in their IMA.
• Nassau County must categorize the proposed transfer as a Type 1 action, likely resulting in a comprehensive environmental impact study that considers appropriate alternatives and mitigation measures, including transferring the undeveloped acreage to NYS Parks while granting the athletic fields to the TOB.
• Nassau County and the TOB must provide a strong additional protective covenant to annul grandfathered development advantages. Once surveyed, the covenant must include a statement verifying that the undeveloped section of Stillwell Woods Preserve (estimated at 270 acres) will be maintained in its existing state.
• The NYS Legislature must consider alienation of parkland legislation to complete the transfer only after all the above demands have been satisfied.  

References:

1. State of the Watershed Report on Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor: 
    https://www.friendsofthebay.org/uploads/1/3/4/4/134440365/apndx_a_sow_stateofthewatershed_1109.pdf (Pages 7 and 25) (Nov. 2009)    
2. National Audubon Society 2023-2028 Flight Plan: https://media.audubon.org/2024-01/WEB_Strat%20Plan%20Overview_Jan04.pdf
3. Audubon Indicator species: https://www.audubon.org/new-york/birds
4. New York State Open Space Conservation Plan: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/osp2016final1.pdf (Page 86) (2016)
5. Final Trails Plan for Bethpage and Trail View State Parks: https://parks.ny.gov/documents/inside-our-agency/Masterplans/BethpageTrailView/BethpageTVFianlPlanEnvironmentalAssessmentForm.pdf  (May 13, 2015)
6. Existing Trails - North Map https://parks.ny.gov/documents/inside-our-agency/Masterplans/BethpageTrailView/BethpageTVFigures0711.pdf ( April 21, 2015)
7. Intermunicipal Agreement between The County of Nassau, New York and The Town of Oyster Bay, New York in relation to the Transfer of Stillwell Preserve: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46296/IMA-Stillwell-Woods-Preserve
8. Miscellaneous Laws of Nassau County: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/37580/Miscellaneous-Laws-1122?bidId= (Pages 32-33)