Seymour family protects additional land on West Neck Road in Shelter Island with Peconic Land Trust

February 4, 2014

Additional gift increases land protected by conservation easement to 18.6 acres and extinguishes a residential building right.

February 4, 2014. Southampton, New York. John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust, announced the donation of a conservation easement on a 2-acre meadow adding to land previously protected by Samuel W. Seymour and Karen Patton Seymour with the Trust in 2007.  As a consequence, the acreage under easement has increased to 18.6 acres that includes a significant natural area with scenic views from West Neck Road on Shelter Island.

“Sam and Karen continue to show their appreciation for the natural beauty of Shelter Island through the permanent protection of this meadow – which they acquired in June 2013 with the intent to conserve it, thereby precluding the construction of another primary residence on West Neck Bay,” said John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust. “We thank them for their commitment to conservation and look forward to working with Sam, Karen and their family for many years to come. We hope this latest gift inspires others to conserve the land around them.”

“We are pleased to partner with the Peconic Land Trust in preserving this land in its natural state in perpetuity,” said Karen Patton Seymour. “There is no greater gift.”

The property on West Neck Road offers many conservation values in addition to its scenic value, including its function as wildlife habitat and a migratory bird sanctuary as well as the protection of the sole-source aquifer and the integrity of the watershed and nearby surface waters.

In December 2007, the Seymours donated an easement on their property, located between Stearns Point Road and West Neck Road overlooking West Neck Bay, adjacent to the Trust’s Cackle Hill easement. The original easement protected a 12.1-acre open area containing woodlands and wetlands. Then, in 2010, the Seymours conserved more after they purchased a couple of adjacent lots and removed the houses from them (one of which they donated and moved to nearby Camp Quinipet). The total property size increased to 16.6 acres and the amount of conserved land grew to 13.9 acres.  The most recent acquisition added another 2 acres to their assemblage, now 18.6 acres, and extinguished a residential building right. The Seymours have reserved the right to construct a boathouse for storage of kayaks and the like in a designated location.