Nassau County appeared before the Muttontown Village Board on Dec. 8 to present a proposal to enlarge the equestrian center in the Muttontown Preserve. The board announced at the Jan. 12 board meeting, that they would like more information on the proposal. Interested members of the equestrian community attended to hear the board's decision.

Frank D. Bradford II, president of the Nassau Suffolk Horsemen's Association came with objections and a suggestion. He said a better site for an Equestrian Center is the 145 acres of the totally underutilized Manetto Hills site, located between the Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway which has the added benefit of potentially expanding trail riding opportunities. He said, "We find ourselves unable to support the (Muttontown Preserve) project at this time due to our continuing concerns over public access, conservation of the equestrian trail system and loss of 39 acres of woodlands and wildlife habitat needed to construct the (proposed) equestrian center."

He said the Manetto Hills swath of woods, visible as you cross the county line, could be used by three groups of people, equestrians, bird watchers and walkers. "It would be a great benefit to create a new facility and new trails and they could be linked to West Hills in Huntington and possibly the Stillwell Woods in Syosset. And another thing, it wouldn't impact any other trail systems," he said.

The Nassau County proposed plan called for cutting down 25 acres of non-native invasive woodland so that a facility could be built to house 100 horses. Mr. Bradford said, "Adding 100 horses will impact the trail system. With a significantly increased use of the trails, the concession can be in conflict with the private sector. There will be competition for parking, the public rings and the trails, as well as scheduling for horse shows or open houses. We are not sure how the concessionaire will work with that. I thought a possible better proposal would be to expand the current parking area, improve the rings and install permanent restroom facilities with a water source to water the horse, and to have more horse shows and special events."

One of the ongoing problems the equestrians have faced is the loss of trails. Mr. Bradford said, "With the threat of an Equestrian Center being built, landowners have already closed off trails on their lawyers' advice. They are fearful of what the developers would do."

Michelle McFaul, deputy commissioner of parks, recreation and museums said in their Request For Expressions of Interest they did not specify the number of horses to be boarded at the facility. "We got responses that suggested from 30 to 120 horses be boarded there. We want to do something appropriate to the site, something with a low impact, and less horses is better." The county has had a contract with Muttontown for about 20 years to build an equestrian center - the question is what will they finally decide to build. She also commented that the Manetto Hill suggestion would mean an entire new project and that they were focusing on the Muttontown area.

Mayor Richard Murcott had a great many concerns about the proposed Equestrian Center including: the contractor will have carte blanche on how much to charge to board horses; the problem with cutting down trees; having too many horses there on the weekends; and will the facility be severely restrictive to Nassau County residents; and they don't want a Butler building erected.

The mayor was also concerned about the county's proposal for the developer. He said, "Someone has to invest a lot of money to build and run the facility, but only for 15 years. After 15 years all the improvements become Nassau County property, then the contract is up for bid using the now Nassau County buildings. Then the contractor, after making friends in the community, has to bid against other people seeking the contract."

Mr. Bradford's organization has some other concerns about the proposal. He said the original Request For Proposals considered the demographics of the five mile radius around the proposed equestrian center. He said the area is not, in general, the average income of the horse population. He asked, "Are they proposing a sliding scale for use?"

Another issue is that some stable owners are upset because the contractor will have lower costs because they pay no taxes. "That is unfair competition, so, there are multiple problems. If 100 horses are there, some will drift into public areas." [That has been a charged issue with local residents.]

Richard Murcott added there was also a concern because there are less and less trails in the village.

Another equestrian disagreed with the contention that the stabled horses would use the trails. He said the riders he has seen use a large show barn for English show riding and only 5 percent of the people would use the trails. "They are usually ring people and in no way would think of going from an equestrian center to trails," he said.

Jerry Chasen introduced himself saying, "I'm one of the bidders. I have a stable. When I looked at the plans for 25 acres bordering Rte.106 and Muttontown Road I asked myself if I want to spend time with an architect, and taking down every tree. I have no clue what that will do to the bio-inhabitants and the park and wetlands and to residents if they have a house nearby. I'm going to put up a Butler building. It's 25 ft. at the peak, and very visible to everyone. There is no 25-foot berm. What greatly concerns me is how the residents will react. With 100 board horses I'm going to want to use the trails."

Mr. Chasen said he currently uses the Muttontown Preserve equestrian area for shows. "I set up on Friday to Sunday and on Monday I come back and clean up. We have a horrendous problem with parking, but it's a pretty park and we honor the bird watchers and walkers. I'm bidding from $3 to $3.5 million to house 100 horses."

He looked around and gestured to the others in the room and said, "I 'ain't' going to get along with him (Mr. Bradford), and I 'ain't' going to get along with her (Kathleen Kleinman, president of the Muttontown Horsemen's Association). I need to know who's going to monitor this. Who's going to supervise things? In Melville there are trails for 20 to 30 years, a nature preserve shared with walkers and Boy scouts. I don't want to go into a hornets' nest. Someone has to supervise it."

Mr. Chasen explained why he was so concerned with residents' opinions. He said the 15-year contact has a cancelable clause. "If someone all of a sudden dislikes me and 100 letters go out saying 'he's running a terrible show' - someone has to have control. Additonally, every stable on Long Island pays taxes to Nassau County. This is a tax-exempt commercial establishment. Why? I asked and the park department representative said 'it's on park property.' That's not correct," he concluded.

Trustee Richard Entell asked, "Why would you take it on?"

Mr. Chasen said, "At the first meeting (between Nassau County and the equestrian community) I was excited, at the last meeting" he paused and asked Mr. Bradford what he thought. Mr. Bradford said, "I was uneasy." He asked Kathleen Kleinman and she said, "The people who make up the RFP need more information to do the job They need to know more about horses and running a stable. Each time they run a meeting they learn more, which I'm sure is helpful to them."

Mr. Chasen said, "We walked out (of the meeting) and I'm not so sure I'd go to bid; and after listening to you I'm not so sure. Also a $3 million project with a 15-year lease, and Nassau County wants the result as well as a rent and a royalty, and it has to be amortized in 15 years. I'm seriously thinking of watching someone else lose his money."

The Muttontown board's liaison with the Muttontown Horsemen's Association, resident Ken Hollins, said, "Even though there are issues to be worked out, the equestrian community is very excited at bringing horses back to the village but we are concerned that it be a good neighbor. We want to be sure you're protected and covered, if a horse goes in a different area; if the trees are gone; if the buildings look a bit large. Is there a mechanism in place for the village or the equestrian center [to handle difficult issues]. We are concerned it might not feel like Muttontown or look like Muttontown. It looks like a massive complex. Is there any other thing that can be proposed?"