State programs offer to buy homes in flood area

One hundred and forty-four homes in Mastic received an offer letter from the Blue Buffers program from New York State. The homes are located approximately south of Gooseberry Road and east of Huguenot Drive.

Blue Buffers aids those living in very low-lying areas, which are extremely prone to flooding, by demolishing the houses and letting the land become open space to act as a natural buffer.

Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig of Town of Brookhaven District 6, where the affected homes are located, said, “The 144 residents who received letters from New York State were chosen partly by members of our environmental department who analyze the area looking to try to find the most vulnerable houses. It is a completely voluntary program.”

Town of Brookhaven supervisor Dan Panico described the program as an initiative by the State that provides a possible avenue for owners in the state-prescribed area to sell their property to be returned to a natural state.

“This area [where letters were mailed] was one of the most flooded during Sandy and one of the lowest areas topographically speaking. There are many in the area who have expressed concern regarding ongoing septic and cesspool issues associated with high tide and others who do not wish to wait for the possible Army Corps project to possibly raise houses. I want to stress that this is a voluntary program being offered by New York State and that all owners should consult legal counsel,” said Panico.

State Sen. Dean Murray of the Third District said, “As we’ve seen in recent years, the water levels are rising and steadily moving inland, putting many homes, and families, in jeopardy. The Blue Buffers program allows homeowners to sell their homes before the water takes their homes. It’s a smart way to help avoid potential tragedies.”

The state has scheduled two office hours to answer questions about the program on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Thursday, Feb. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Mastic Beach Branch of the Public Library; participants can register for an in-person or virtual meeting on either date.

Blue Buffers is the first statewide proactive voluntary private property buy-out program in New York. The program was authorized in the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (EBA), which provides $250 million to Office of Resilient Homes and Communities (RHC) to purchase properties at risk of flooding from willing sellers, remove the structures, and transfer properties to land stewards to facilitate restoration.

Purchased properties are maintained as open space in perpetuity, which can create a buffer to reduce a community’s future flood risks.

The Blue Buffers program aims to serve communities where homes are primarily used as primary residences. Therefore, majority second home communities are not eligible for the Program.

Eligibility is not contingent on a home’s value, however, communities where the majority of home values exceed the county median by more than 30 percent will not be eligible for participation.

Eligibility is also not contingent on a property owner’s income. The aim of the program is to assist majority low- and moderate-income residents.

Tenants occupying participating properties may be eligible for relocation assistance. Tenants are defined as individuals who can demonstrate a landlord-tenant relationship through proof of rental payments, regardless of whether they have a familial relationship with the homeowner. To be eligible for assistance, tenants must have established tenancy—defined as occupying the property and having made at least one payment to the landlord—by the time the property owner applied to the program.

Blue Buffers will provide a 60-day notice period to tenants to vacate the property. Tenants experiencing documented hardship may be granted additional time to vacate, subject to program approval.

Once a property is selected and the offer accepted, the Blue Buffers program will direct the RHC to pay the pre-flood fair-market value (FMV) of the property.

Properties with sustained flood damage are assessed based on their value prior to the flood event which caused damage, or their current FMV, whichever is greater. All other properties are valued at current FMV. The award may also include assistance above this amount with the intention to give sellers sufficient equity to purchase another home.