The Coleman Chronicles

The Coleman Chronicles

Or how abusing our public preserves can pay off



By Bruce Piel



George and Marla Coleman, owners of the Coleman Country Day Camp have tendered an offer to buy almost 4 acres of the Roosevelt Preserve near Babylon Turnpike and Meadowbrook Parkway. Nassau County's Administration is for this sale despite many irregularities and the loss of this open space.



In 1972, Nassau County permitted a day /camp, then known as Camp Bauman to use the almost 4 acres for environmental studies and passive enjoyment by its campers. It was expected to be kept in it pristine and natural condition. In 1981 the county was deeded 1,750 acres of watershed open space by NYC which no longer needed it. The transfer included over 73 acres known as the Roosevelt Preserve, which included the 3.86 acres coveted by Coleman. The preserve was to be used for park & parkway purposes only at that time.



In 1984 Nassau County permitted the now Coleman Country Day Camp to use the 3.86 acres, again for nature studies and required it be kept in is natural state. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Coleman built unauthorized structures and committed DEC fresh water violations. In effect Coleman unlawfully converted the property into an active day camp area for his abutting property. When this was discovered in 2005, Nassau revoked the permit. Later in 2007, Coleman, after 21 years of abuse, agreed to abide by the DEC rules and was again allowed to use the land for the passive purposes originally intended. (Note: George Coleman is quite outspoken about his political connections and influence.)



Now the Colemans want to buy this preserve land for $650.000 of which half must go to NYC as per conditions in the original land transfer. That gives the county about $90,000 an acre. In Nassau this amount will buy you a 60X100 lot. Doesn’t make a lot of sense financially.



Our questions are:



Why are we allowing a private for-profit company to purchase preserve property on one hand, while asking county residents to authorize 100 million dollars to acquire open space on the other?



Why would we sell it to a company, even with covenants attached, when that same company willfully and knowingly violated those same covenants in the past?



We believe this to be a poor idea at best and strongly urge everyone who is concerned about acquiring and keeping open space in this county to oppose this by contacting the county executive, the county legislators and NYS legislators (who also must approve the sale).

Update:
Unfortunately our county legislature voted on Wednesday, September 9th to approve the sale of the 3.84 acres of the Roosevelt Preserve to Coleman Country Day Camp, 55 Babylon Turnpike, Freeport.
The vote was 11 to 8, pretty much along party lines. Those who went to testify against this travesty were not permitted to speak until late in the evening to virtually an empty chamber.

Despite this, the travesty can still be stopped. Under the Alienation of Parkland case law, this sale must be approved by the State Legislature. Most State Legislators support open space and most will go along with local legislators on items in their districts and area. What must happen now is everyone who is against the sale should contact their Senators and Assembly persons and ask them to kill the sale. Written letters are best, then e-mails and then phone calls. In addition write, copy or call the following:

Sen. Charles J. Fuschillo Assm. Earlene Hooper Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith
5550 Merrick Rd. Suite 205 50 Clinton St. Suite 214 205-19 Linden Blvd
Massapequa, NY 11758 Hempstead, NY 11550 St. Albans, NY 11290
(516) 882-0630 (516) 489-6610 (718) 528-4290
fuschill@senate.state.ny.us Fax (516) 538-3155 masmith@senate.state.ny.us

Minority Leader Dean Skelos Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver
55 Front Street 250 Broadway, Suite 23207
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 New York, NY 10007
(516) 776-8383 (212) 312-1420
skelos@senate,state.ny.us speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Together we can rescue our open spaces and save our parklands.