What's happening
This bill updates the legal boundaries of the Central Pine Barrens and Core Preservation Area, expanding and clarifying protected lands.
Why it matters
Expands and clarifies protected land boundaries. The bill provides highly detailed, parcel-by-parcel amendments to the mapped boundaries of both the Central Pine Barrens and the Core Preservation Area, adding new tracts (often by tax map parcel numbers) and making the legal descriptions more precise. This helps close loopholes and prevent piecemeal development.
Adds and removes specific parcels from protection. By explicitly listing parcels to be included or excluded, the bill can increase protection for previously unprotected natural areas while allowing for some exceptions (such as certain developed or utility parcels). This can have direct impacts on land use, development rights, and habitat connectivity.
Strengthens enforceability of preservation rules. The updated legal language reduces ambiguity about what land is covered by preservation policies, which can help state and local authorities enforce zoning, land acquisition, and anti-development measures more effectively.
Includes a strong “no net loss” safeguard. The bill contains a clause that automatically voids its changes if it would result in a net decrease in protected lands or protections compared to the 2015 law, ensuring that the update cannot be used to reduce environmental protections in the Pine Barrens.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Pine Barrens Boundaries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.74
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Update Pine Barrens Boundaries
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
15 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7235
IN SENATE
January 4, 2018
Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the central pine barrens area and the core preservation area
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 10 and 11 of section 57-0107 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 267 of the laws of 2015, are amended to read as follows:
10. "Central Pine Barrens area" shall mean the contiguous area as described and bounded as follows:
Beginning at a point where the southerly side of Route 25A intersects the easterly side of Miller Place Road; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Miller Place Road to Helme Avenue; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Helme Avenue to Miller Place-Middle Island Road; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Miller Place-Middle Island Road to Whiskey Road; thence westward along the southerly boundary of Whiskey Road to Mount Sinai-Coram Road; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Mount Sinai-Coram Road to Middle Country Road (Route 25); thence westward along the southerly boundary of Route 25 to Patchogue-Mount Sinai Road (County Route 83); thence southward along the easterly boundary of County Route 83 to Bicycle Path Drive; thence southeastward along the easterly side of Bicycle Path Drive to Mt. McKinley Avenue; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Mt. McKinley Avenue to Granny Road; thence northeastward along the northerly boundary of Granny Road to Port Jefferson-Patchogue Road (Route 112); thence southward along the easterly boundary of Route 112 to Horse Block Road (County Route 16); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of County Route 16 to Maine Avenue; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Maine Avenue to Fire Avenue; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Fire Avenue to John Roe Smith Avenue; thence southward along the easterly boundary of John Roe Smith Avenue to Jeff Street; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Jeff Street to Hagerman Avenue; thence southward along the easterly
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11147-07-8
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boundary of Hagerman Avenue to the Long Island Expressway (Route 495); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Route 495 to the westerly side of Yaphank Avenue (County Road 21); thence southward along the westerly side of Yaphank Avenue to the south side of the Long Island Expressway (Route 495); thence eastward along the southerly side of the Long Island Expressway (Route 495) to the easterly side of Yaphank Avenue; thence southward along the easterly side of Yaphank Avenue, crossing Sunrise Highway (Route 27) to the south side of Montauk Highway (County Road 80); thence southwestward along the south side of Montauk Highway (County Road 80) to South Country Road; thence southward along the easterly side of South Country Road to Fireplace Neck Road; thence southward along the easterly side of Fireplace Neck Road to Beaver Dam Road; thence eastward along the northerly side of Beaver Dam Road to the westerly boundary of the Carmans River and the lands owned by the United States known as Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge (the "Refuge"); thence generally westerly and southerly to the waters of Bellport Bay; thence generally easterly across the Bay and northerly along the easterly boundary of the Refuge, including all lands currently part of the Refuge and any lands which may become part of the Refuge in the future, to the east side of the southern terminus of Smith Road; thence northward along the easterly side of Smith Road to the southwesterly corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 974.50, Block 1, Lot 11; thence eastward, northward and westward in a counter-clockwise direction along the southern, eastern and northern boundaries of that property to the easterly side of Smith Road; thence northward along the east side of Smith Road to Merrick Road; thence northeasterly along the northerly side of Merrick Road to the easterly side of Surrey Circle and the southwest corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 880, Block 3, Lot 58.1; running thence easterly along the southerly side of said lot to the west side of William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46); thence northerly along the westerly side of William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46), crossing Route 27, to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of the Long Island Rail Road tracks 7,500 feet; thence southward 500 feet; thence eastward 525 feet to the intersection of North Street and Manor-Yaphank Road; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Manor-Yaphank Road to Moriches-Middle Island Road; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Moriches-Middle Island Road to a point due north of the easterly boundary of Cranford Boulevard; thence southward across Moriches-Middle Island Road and along the easterly boundary of Cranford Boulevard to the southwestern corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 645, Block 3, Lot 29.1; thence southeastward along the southerly boundary of said property to its intersection with property identified as District 200, Section 712, Block 9, Lot 1; thence generally southward along the westerly boundary of said property to its intersection with the northerly side of the eastward extension of Grove Drive; thence southward crossing Grove Drive to its south side; thence westward along the southerly boundary of the Grove Drive road extension to the northwestern corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 749, Block 3, Lot 41.1; and comprised of parcels owned by the county of Suffolk and the town of Brookhaven; thence southward to the southwestern corner of property identified as District 200, Section 749, Block 3, Lot 43; thence eastward along the southerly boundary of said property to the west side of Lambert Avenue; thence crossing Lambert Avenue to its easterly side; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Lambert Avenue to the northerly boundary of the Sunrise Highway Service Road;
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thence northeastward along the northerly boundary of the Sunrise Highway Service Road to Barnes Road; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Barnes Road to the northeastern corner of property identified as District 200, Section 750, Block 3, Lot 40.2; thence westward along the northerly boundary of said property to the property identified as District 200, Section 713, Block 1, Lot 2; thence westward along the northerly boundary of property identified as District 200, Section 713, Block 1, Lot 1; thence northward along the westerly side of Weeks Avenue to the northeastern corner of property identified as District 200, Section 713, Block 3, Lot 1; thence westward along the northerly boundary of said property to Michigan Avenue; thence northward along the easterly boundary of Michigan Ave to Moriches-Middle Island Road; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Moriches-Middle Island Road to Sunrise Highway (Route 27); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Route 27 to an old railroad grade (unpaved); thence southeastward along the northerly boundary of the old railroad grade (unpaved) to Old County Road (Route 71); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Route 71 to the Long Island Rail Road tracks; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of the Long Island Rail Road tracks to Montauk Highway; thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Montauk Highway to Route 24; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Route 24 to Sunrise Highway (Route 27); thence eastward along the northerly boundary of Route 27 to Squiretown Road; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Squiretown Road to Upper Red Creek Road; thence westward along the southern boundary of Upper Red Creek to Lower Red Creek Road; thence southward along the easterly boundary of Lower Red Creek Road to Hubbard County Park; thence westward along the northern boundary of Hubbard County Park to Riverhead-Hampton Bays Road (Route 24); thence westward along the southerly boundary of Route 24 to Peconic Avenue; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Peconic Avenue to the Riverhead-Southampton border; thence westward along the Riverhead-Southampton border and the Riverhead-Brookhaven border to the Forge Road Bridge; thence northward along the westerly boundary of the Forge Road Bridge to Forge Road; thence northwestward along the westerly boundary of Forge Road to the railroad tracks; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Forge Road (unpaved) to the intersection of Route 25 and River Road; thence westward along the southerly boundary of River Road to Edwards Avenue; thence northward along the westerly boundary of Edwards Avenue 3,800 feet; thence westward 4,400 feet to an unnamed, unpaved road; thence northward along the westerly boundary of the unnamed, unpaved road 150 feet; thence westward and northwestward along the eastern boundary of the United States Navy/Grumman Aerospace Corporation property (as of 1982) up to its intersection with Middle Country Road (Route 25); thence westward along the southerly boundary of Route 25 to the intersection of Route 25 and 25A; thence northeastward, westward, and southwestward along the eastern and northern boundary of the United States Navy/Grumman Aerospace Corporation (as of 1982) and located immediately east of Route 25A, to its intersection with Route 25A; thence westward along the southerly boundary of Route 25A to a point due south of the southeast corner of the parcel identified as District 200, Section 128, Block 1, lot 3.1; thence northeastward, northward and westward along the southerly, easterly and northerly sides of the parcel identified as District 200, section 128, Block 1, lot 1 to the southeast corner of the parcel identified as District 200, Section 82, Block 1, Lot 5.2; thence northward along the east side of this parcel to North Country Road; thence northward crossing North Country
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Road to its northerly side; thence eastward along the northerly side of North Country Road to the Brookhaven Town-Riverhead Town line; thence in a generally northwestward direction along said town line to a point in Wading River Creek with the coordinates 40.96225 latitude and -72.863633 longitude; thence westward a distance of approximately 90 feet to the easterly side of LILCO Road; thence southward along LILCO Road to its intersection with the north side of North Country Road; thence westward along the north side of North Country Road to the southeast corner of the parcel identified as District 200, Section 39, Block 1, Lot 2; thence in a northward and westward direction along the easterly and northerly sides of said parcel to its northwest corner; thence northward along the westerly boundary of the parcel identified as District 200, Section 83, Block 1, Lot 1.4 to its northwest corner; and thence continuing in a westward direction along the northerly side of the parcel identified as District 200, Section 39, Block 1, Lot 1.2 and the southerly extent of Long Island Sound to the northwest corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 39, Block 1, Lot 1.2; thence southward along the westerly boundary of said property to North Country Road; thence west along the southerly boundary of North Country Road to the northwestern corner of property identified as District 200, Section 82, Block 1, Lot 1.1; thence south along the westerly boundary of said property and the westerly boundary of the property identified as District 200, Section 82, Block 1, Lot 1.2 to the northwest corner of property identified as District 200, Section 82, Block 1, Lot 5.1; thence southward along the westerly boundary of said property to the northeast corner of the property identified as District 200, Section 105, Block 3, Lot 5, thence southward along the easterly boundary of said property to the north side of Route 25A; thence southward crossing Route 25A to its south side; thence westward along the southerly boundary of Route 25A to the point or place of beginning, and excluding [one] two distinct [area] areas described as follows: The first area defined as beginning at a point where the westerly side of William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46) meets northerly side of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR); thence westward along the northerly side of the LIRR to Moriches-Middle Island Road; thence generally northwestward along the northerly side of Moriches-Middle Island Road to the southerly side of Long Island Expressway (Route 495); thence eastward along the southerly side of the Long Island Expressway (Route 495) to the westerly side of William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46); thence southward along the westerly side of William Floyd Parkway (County Road 46) and containing the subdivision known as RB Industrial Park, to the point or place of beginning and the second area defined as the property described as District 200, Section 39, Block 1, Lot 1.1.
11. "Core preservation area" shall mean the core preservation area of the Central Pine Barrens area which comprise the largest intact areas of undeveloped pine barrens as described and bounded as follows:
Beginning at a point where the northwestern corner of the New York State Rocky Point Natural Resource Management Area (the "NYS Rocky Point Land") intersects the southerly side of NYS Route 25A; thence generally southward and eastward along the generally westerly and southerly boundaries of the NYS Rocky Point Land (including the Currans Road Pond State Wildlife Management Area, all adjacent or contiguous undeveloped Town of Brookhaven parks, preserves, open space areas, or reserved areas, and the crossings of the undeveloped Suffolk County property known as the Port Jefferson - Westhampton road right of way, Whiskey Road, County Route 21, and Currans Road), and including those properties identified
S. 7235 5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the central pine barrens area and the core preservation area
Purpose
To amend the boundaries of the central pine barrens area and the core preservation area contained within, established pursuant to ECL Article 57.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends subdivisions 10 and 11 of section 57-0107 of the envi- ronmental conservation law.
Section 2. Contain an effective date and a severability clause.
Justification
This legislation expands the core preservation area of the central pine barrens through the inclusion of two environmentally sensitive areas located adjacent to the central pine barrens boundary - the Shoreham property/Wading River Marsh complex and the Mastic Woods complex. The Shoreham/Wading River complex consists of more than 800 acres of proper- ty containing extensive woodlands, fields, tidal marsh, a vernal pool and nearly one mile of shorefront on Long Island Sound. Based on inven- tory work by the New York Natural Heritage program, this property contains more than dozen rare plant populations and is composed of twen- ty five distinct ecological communities, providing habitat to many dozens of indigenous bird, mammal and reptile and amphibian species, including habitat for the federally threatened Northern long-eared bat. It also encompasses the largest remaining undeveloped property within the Forge River watershed. This river is among the most significantly impaired waterbodies on Long Island and preservation of the woodlands will help further deterioration.
Legislative history
2017 S.6157B/A.7722B (Veto# 245)
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding enactment on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.