This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Town of Southampton Nature
Preserve."
A.Â
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a Town Nature
Preserve so that certain Town-owned properties can be protected.
B.Â
Due to the growth of the population and the development
of the economy in the Town, all Town-owned properties, except those that are
expressly designated by law for preservation and protection in their natural
condition, are subject to alteration by human activity. It is necessary and
desirable that portions of the Town's natural diversity be set aside as natural
areas for the benefit of present and future generations in order to achieve
the following objectives:
(1)Â
Heritage. To protect natural areas which provide living
museums of the original heritage of the Town and contribute to the public
health and welfare of the inhabitants. Rural ambience and environmental quality
have traditionally contributed to the Town's economic base and continue to
provide economic opportunity to the residents of the Town.
(2)Â
Environmental quality. To protect the existing natural
areas and, where desirable, to promote an improved environmental quality of
natural areas in the Town, including but not limited to critical environmental
areas, significant coastal fish and wildlife habitats and unique site types.
(3)Â
Habitat for aquatic and upland ecological communities.
To preserve ecosystems and the rich diversity of flora and fauna living thereon,
including rare, threatened, endangered and protected species.
(4)Â
Unique geological features. To protect the diversity
of unique geological features found within the Town, including beaches, dunes,
bluffs, hoodoos, swales, kettleholes, kames, morainal highlands and outwash
plains.
(5)Â
Wetlands. To protect wetlands as a means of flood control,
water purification and breeding and nursery grounds for shellfish, finfish
and other aquatic flora and fauna.
(6)Â
Recreational, educational and scientific opportunities.
To provide opportunities for wilderness-like experiences, diverse recreational
activities and environmental educational programs and academic research programs.
(7)Â
Buffer areas. To provide buffer areas to existing natural
areas.
(8)Â
Watershed areas. To protect watershed areas critical
to recharging precipitation into the Town's sole-source aquifer or maintaining
surface water quality.
C.Â
It is, therefore, the public policy of the Town to secure
for the people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring
resource of natural areas by establishing a Town Nature Preserve and to provide
for the protection of the Town-owned properties placed within the Nature Preserve.
The following words and expressions, where used in this chapter, shall
have the meanings ascribed to them by this section:
The Town of Southampton Environmental Advisory Committee.
The process by which any Town-owned property shall be included within the Town of Southampton Nature Preserve in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 231-5.
The Town of Southampton Department of Land Management.
[Amended 8-23-1996 by L.L.
No. 30-1996]
Any area of land or water owned by the Town which is formally dedicated
to being maintained as nearly as possible in its natural condition; said area
either retains, to some degree, its primeval character (though it need not
be completely natural and undisturbed at the time of its dedication) or has
endangered, threatened, special concern or rare species of flora or fauna,
unique geological or hydrogeological features, wetlands or features of scientific
or educational value; and which area is used in a manner and under limitations
consistent with its continued preservation, without impairment, disturbance
or artificial development, for the public purposes of scientific research,
watershed preservation, aquifer protection, education and aesthetic enjoyment
and providing a habitat for plant and animal species and communities and other
natural objectives.
The official list of Town-owned properties that have been dedicated
to the Nature Preserve.
The Town of Southampton, located within the County of Suffolk, State
of New York.
The duly elected and constituted legislative body of the Town of
Southampton.
