JENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | The Carmans River, near where land may soon be preserved in Yaphank.

The Suffolk County Legislature unanimously approved last week to preserve 23 acres in Yaphank originally slated for the former Legacy Village proposal.

Located on the corner of Yaphank Avenue and the Long Island Expressway service road, the land had been targeted for two 5,000 seat arenas in County Executive Steve Levy’s Legacy Village plan, which was essentially killed in April after the Legislature voted to surplus the property.

Third District Legislator Kate Browning (WR-Shirley), who voted against surplussing the land out of fear that another developer could purchase or lease the property, said in a press release that her recently approved bill will preserve the most sensitive area of the watershed and will become an extension of Southaven Park.

“Killing the County Executive’s project was only the first piece of the puzzle,” she said. “Legacy Village was an unsustainable plan from the start and was in direct conflict with the Town of Brookhaven’s efforts to preserve the Carmans River.”

The county’s decision is backed by Brookhaven Town, which is in the process of finalizing its recently completed Carmans River Watershed Protection Plan. The study recommends the land be preserved because it is located within the 0-5 ground water contributing area of the Carmans River watershed.

A spokesman for Mr. Levy said in an email that they are reviewing the bill and have not made a decision.

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