It’s official: Horse lovers in Southold will now have a place to head out onto the open trail.
The town board voted unanimously yesterday to approve a new trail on the Forestbrook property, located off the North Bayview Extension, in the area known as Hog’s Neck.
The plan was first discussed in September as Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell met with town staffers and local horse enthusiasts near the 25-acre parcel.
Resident Jill Franke, who advocated for the trail for years, stood up after the vote to thank the board for creating a place for horses in town.
In recent years, there has been nowhere for equestrians to ride in Southold, she said.
After the meeting, she said that she’d like to thank former Department of Public Works Director Jim McMahon, current DWP Director Jeff Standish, John Sepenoski of the land preservation committee, and Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell, “for realizing the need out there for horse owners.”
She also thanked the supervisor for listening patiently to her numerous phone calls over the past 10 years. “This is a godsend,” she said. “I’m glad they realize horses are a big part of the community here and I think it’s wonderful to have preserved property to use.”
Franke said it’s also good to know that the land will not be developed, and will not be a site for new building.
Cindy Hilary, a fellow equestrian in town, also thanked the board. “Now we can enjoy riding our horses,” she said, adding that she’d like to thank Franke for all the time she spent working diligently on the issue.
Rusell said before the vote that he believed the proposal had been “well-received” by board members.
Two weeks ago, the supervisor held off on a vote until the matter was discussed by the town’s land preservation committee.
Yesterday, Russell said he thought the meeting went well; the group issued bullet points with suggestions and concerns, including manure. Town code already mandates that horse manure be picked up by equestrians, he said.
The board discussed working out a schedule for horse riding and hikers, with different days and times of day possible.
Sepenoski of the town’s land preservation committee, who also worked on the plan, suggested for now, the board just vote to get the trail approved and since no riding would be allowed until February 1, anyway, the town could then take time to address the management plan and a schedule for hikers.
Justice Louisa Evans said she wanted to assure that the trail would not be permanently just for horses; hikers would be included down the line, too, she said.
Sepenoski said all those details could be worked out, but it was imperative to begin work while the weather is still good and there are fewer ticks. That work is slated to begin immediately.
Russell said the parcel is “substantial” and the details can be worked out in the coming months.
The land was purchased by the town in 2004 for just under $1 million, Russell said. “It’s been there for 11 years and it’s not usable by the public in its current state,” he said.
After a recent issue with Suffolk County putting the brakes on horseback riding at Cedar Beach, Russell said this separate plan for a new trail was brought to his attention.
Recently, Russell said he met with horse owners to determine the feasibility of the project; the original intent of the purchase was to preserve the land for open space and passive use.
Sepenoski said he felt with “enough governance and controls,” a horse trail would be consistent with passive use. He added that the “wild card” was that the trail had already been created in 2007; work stopped when it was determined that a management plan for the parcel was needed first.
All that’s needed to do is to clean up some felled trees and branches, he said. Evans asked if the town’s DPW would care for the property; Sepenoski said they would
Most riders, extended the privilege of a trail, will self-police, Russell said.
The trail would be the first and only horse trail in town; although there have been trails in years’ past, currently, none exist.
The project would be completed at no cost to the town, Standish said.
