Pine Valley, Suffolk County, New York

This article is about the former village in Suffolk County, New York. For the hamlet of the same name in Chemung County in Upstate New York, see Pine Valley, Chemung County, New York.

Pine Valley, New York
Former Village
Incorporated Village of Pine Valley
Pine Valley, New York Location on Long Island Show map of Long Island Pine Valley, New York Location within the state of New York Show map of New York
Coordinates: 40°53′45″N72°39′58″W / 40.89583°N 72.66611°W / 40.89583; -72.66611
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Suffolk
Town	Southampton
Incorporated	March 15, 1988
Dissolved	April 4, 1990
Founded by	Leonard Sheldon
Area
• Total	3.2 sq mi (8.3 km2)
Elevation	66 ft (20 m)
Population  (1990)
• Total	~791
Demonym	Pine Valleyite
GNIS feature ID	971974 [1]

Pine Valley was a short-lived incorporated village in the Town of Southampton in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was approximately 791 in at the time of the 1990 census.

History

In 1987, residents of what would become Pine Valley voted to incorporate their area in order to gain home rule and authority over local zoning of the community, as they were unhappy with the way their area was being governed by the Town of Southampton; many locals felt that Southampton neglected the area. ^[2] They also believed that by incorporating, they would have more control over local taxes, which many residents felt were too high when under Southampton's control. ^{[2] [3]} This incorporation push was the second successor to an earlier, unsuccessful attempt at incorporating the area as the Incorporated Village of Northampton – an attempt which was unsuccessfully made in 1983 – and another one prior to that attempt. ^{[4] [5]}

The Village of Pine Valley was officially incorporated on March 15, 1988. ^{[6] [7]} Its founding father was Leonard Sheldon, a residential planner. ^{[3] [4]} The movement to incorporate Pine Valley began within a year of the unsuccessful, 1983 attempt to incorporate the area as the Village of Northampton. ^[4]

Shortly after incorporating, scandals arose over finances and corruption. ^[4] In addition, taxes increased, and the average family in the village would pay an additional $200 in village taxes on top of the Town of Southampton's taxes – and that despite the increase in taxes, no additional services were created by the village for residents. ^[3] Furthermore, a series of blunders made by officials prevented the village from creating zoning laws and building moratoriums, and hindered the ability for the new village to mature properly. ^[8]

By August 1989, several residents of the Village of Pine Valley, which at the time was only 17 months-old, created petitions proposing to either dissolve their village or let go of certain areas, citing the issues plaguing the village. ^[7]

On April 4, 1990, the village was dissolved – and by 1991, all control of governing of the former village was reverted to the Town of Southampton. ^{[3] [6] [9] [10]} The residents voted 165-to-142 in favor of dissolving the village. ^[3]

Geography

Pine Valley was located in the Long Island Pine Barrens, touching Wildwood Lake. ^{[2] [4] [8]} Its northern border was the southern bank of the Peconic River. ^[2]

The Village of Pine Valley occupied roughly 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²). ^[5]

The former village is now part of the Northampton CDP and Riverside CDP. ^{[11] [12]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	~791		—
U.S. Decennial Census [13]

At the time of the 1990 United States census, the population of Pine Valley was roughly 791. ^[3]

Government

The Mayor of Pine Valley was Mary Petraszewski. ^[4] Petraszewski, along with a village trustee and the village attorney, resigned in 1989. ^[14]

Education

The village was located within the boundaries of (and was thus served by) the Riverhead Central School District and the Riverhead Free Library District. ^[15]

See also

• Village of the Landing – Another former, short-lived village in Suffolk County, located further west in the Town of Smithtown.

References

1. "Pine Valley". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
2. "Incorporation Blues In Pine Valley". The New York Times. April 23, 1989. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 7, 2021.
3. Lyall, Sarah (March 24, 1990). "Pine Valley, L.I., Fades Into Pine Valley, R.I.P." The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 7, 2021.
4. "2 Villages Are Havens For Builders: Villages for Sale? Islandia, Pine Valley roll out red carpet for developers". Newsday . March 9, 1989. pp. 3, 26–28 – via ProQuest.
5. Schmitt, Eric (August 18, 1987). "Our Towns; Pine Valley Call: No Taxation Without Repairs". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 5, 2022.
6. "Village Government · GitBook". video.dos.ny.gov. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
7. "Secession Threat In Pine Valley". Newsday . August 4, 1989. p. 32 – via ProQuest.
8. "Twilight Zone, Pine Valley Style". Newsday . March 23, 1990. pp. 21, 23 – via ProQuest.
9. "Long Island villages recently incorporated". Newsday. January 30, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
10. "Pine Valley Petitions". Newsday . October 27, 1989. p. 26A – via ProQuest.
11. "New York: 2000 Population and Housing Unit Counts" (PDF). September 2003. p. III-16. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
12. "Pine Valley Populated Place Profile / Suffolk County, New York Data". newyork.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "Pine Valley Is a Nightmare; Dissolve the Village". Newsday . October 25, 1989. p. 64 – via ProQuest.
15. Wick, Steve (March 30, 1989). "Pine Valley Invited Back to the Fold". Newsday . p. 23 – via ProQuest.

40°53′45″N72°39′58″W / 40.89583°N 72.66611°W / 40.89583; -72.66611