The 840-acre island in the Town of Southold, N.Y., has been home to the federal government’s high security livestock disease testing lab since 1954. The government is selling the island to defray the cost of a new lab being built in Kansas, and Trump has been in talks with environmental groups and elected officials about buying the property to build a “world-class golf course.”
Donald Trump is interested in buying Plum Island, an island in the Town of Southold, N.Y., and building a golf course on the 840-acre property, the Long Island (N.Y.) Newsday reported.
“It would be a really beautiful, world-class golf course,” Trump said in a telephone interview. “It would be a low-key and beautiful use for the area.”
The island has been home to the federal government’s high security livestock disease testing lab since 1954. The government is selling the island to defray the cost of a new lab being built in Kansas, which is set to open in 2019, Newsday reported.
Trump representatives have been talking to environmental groups and elected officials since this summer. On September 13, Trump representatives met with Rep. Tim Bishop, Bishop’s office confirmed.
Southold, with the support of environmentalists, has zoned the island to prevent most development. Some town residents have expressed concerns about “McMansions” sprouting up, and environmentalists say development could destroy a pristine wildlife habitat. Other federal agencies have expressed concern about environmental contamination on the island, Newsday reported.
“Things like that could be taken care of,” Trump said. “This is only something we’d do with community approval. I think the community would love what we would do. We’re adored all over the world.”
But some advocates for preserving Plum Island expressed concern, Newsday reported.
“This is exactly our fear, that this island will become a Club Med for the rich,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit group.
Tell Us What You Think!
You must be logged in to post a comment.