‘Central Square’ parcel on Route 25A in Wading River is protected from development and preserved for agriculture

A roughly 18-acre parcel of vacant land on Route 25A in Wading River once slated for development with retail, office and restaurant uses has been permanently preserved for agricultural use.

A site plan for development, known as “Central Square,” received final approval from the Riverhead Planning Board in February 2020, allowing for the development of four buildings, each slightly smaller than 10,000 square feet, for retail and office uses, a 4,250-square-foot bank with a drive-through and 5,307-square-foot , 150-seat restaurant. 

Most of the site, owned by brothers John and Bill Zoumas and located immediately east of the CVS Pharmacy on Route 25A, was previously preserved by a conservation easement held by the Town of Riverhead.

Peconic Land Trust today announced the preservation of the remaining 8 1⁄2 acres with the acquisition in December of a conservation easement restricting the land to agricultural purposes — and eliminating the possibility of residential or commercial development.

“The entire property is protected. The ‘Central Square’ plan is entirely dead,” Peconic Land Trust Senior Project Manager Julie Wesnofske said today.

Funding for the conservation easement was provided by $2 million from New York State’s Agriculture and Markets farmland protection program, donations from the community and a bargain sale by the Zoumas brothers, Peconic Land Trust said in a press release issued today.

The entire parcel was conveyed by Zoumas to the Condzella family in March for agricultural uses. 

In addition, Peconic Land Trust said that in early March it worked with Ginny and John Condzella to conserve 15 acres of farmland they currently own and farm.  This conservation easement was made possible by $1.946 million in N.Y. State Agriculture grant funds and donations from the community.  The Condzellas also contributed through a bargain sale of the easement, Peconic Land Trust said.

In all, 23.54 acres of farmland in Wading River were preserved through this “multi-pronged approach,” the land trust said. 

These properties were part of the Peconic Land Trust’s Wading River Initiative fundraising campaign, concluded in the spring of 2022, that raised $305,000 from members of the public. The funds raised have been applied to both of these easements, in addition to $3.946 million in grant funding from N.Y. State Agriculture and Markets, the land trust said in the press release.

Funding was through the New York State Farmland Protection Program under the Environmental Protection Fund – and administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The funding was from Round 18 of the Farmland Protection Implementation Grants announced in May of 2021. To be eligible for funding, matching funds in the form of donations and a bargain sale were required.

“Notably, this was the first time the State provided funds for the acquisition of an easement on property that had a commercial site plan approval in place,” Peconic Land Trust said in the press release.

“While growing up in Wading River I have seen a lot of things change over the years, but the one thing that has never changed is my love for our family farm, and the desire to preserve it forever.  It wasn’t easy, and at times I thought that it would be impossible, but through perseverance and the help of the Peconic Land Trust, I finally have achieved my goal,” John Condzella said.  “While many things have changed in Wading River, the one thing that will remain forever, and almost the same as when my grandfather started it over one hundred years ago, is Condzella’s Farm.  Thank you, Peconic Land Trust, and everyone who contributed to this effort,” he said. 

“As lifelong residents of a town called Wading River that we moved to in the 70’s, raised our families in, and have grandchildren growing up in, my brother Bill and I have closed a 25-year chapter on the farmland preservation endeavors presented to us through the Peconic Land Trust. The hard work and perseverance of Julie Wesnofske was a long and admirable road,” John Zoumas said.

“We are thrilled to be able to play a role in seeing this farmland forever protected for agriculture and reconnected to the Condzella family, who have farmed in the area for over 100 years,” Wesnofske said.

“I initially started working with the family in the early 2000s on conservation strategies for the farm – for me, it’s incredibly gratifying to see this come to fruition and I wish only the best for Ginny, John and their family in the future farming endeavors. It’s also been a pleasure to work with John and Bill Zoumas and their attorney Pete Danowski, and to make these connections. We thank them for being part of Wading River’s agricultural future.”

“We are so pleased to be able to celebrate this wonderful farmland conservation,” Peconic Land Trust President John v.H. Halsey said.  “Our sincere thanks go to Governor Kathy Hochul, our Senate and Assembly delegation, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets for the funding of programs that enable farmland protection. Also, to the many donors who participated and have clearly said that agriculture is an important part of our community,” Halsey said.  “We also thank John and Bill Zoumas and Ginny and John Condzella for seeing the value of agriculture and for their willingness to conserve land for future generations.”