After escalating concerns from the public that the Pike Street parking lot near Love Lane in Mattituck could be sold or roped off, the Southold Town board voted this week to begin negotiations to buy the parcel from the Mattituck Park District — with an eye toward ensuring it will remain a much-needed parking solution in an area where spots are at a premium.
“The board gave me authority to engage in negotiations with the park district,” Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said yesterday, after the issue was voted on at Tuesday’s town board meeting. “I don’t have a set purchase price. That is something to be negotiated. However, the town should be considered a highly motivated buyer and we are very committed to ensuring that its use continues as a parting lot.”
The lot is located at 630 Pike Street and is currently used by those patronizing local businesses.
At a recent Mattituck Chamber of Commerce meeting, residents asked Russell about the future of the Pike Street parking lot, located to the east side of Love Lane, behind the post office.
“To my knowledge, the Mattituck Park District is contemplating selling it,” Russell said at that time. “We look forward to working with the district to explore options to make that happen.”
That’s good news, according to Mary Eisenstein, president of the new Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association, who has said the group is waiting to learn more about what plans are for the future of the lot; members would like to see the area remain a parking facility.
And, according to Mike Ryan, commissioner of the Mattituck Park District, which owns the land, that’s the goal.
The park district, Ryan said, is not, according to New York State law, entitled or sanctioned to operate a parking lot. “We’re sanctioned to operate parks, not a parking lot, so our choice is simple. According to law, we either have to convert it into a park or have to sell it.”
He added, “We feel very strongly that it should stay there as a parking lot and the town would be the logical candidate. We’re in the midst of negotiating with them now, and we hope that’s what comes through.”
