Nassau County officials are ready to move ahead with a development plan before the ink is dry on a deal that gives the county 105 acres of land in Bethpage for free.
The deal with the U.S. Navy transfers 105 acres of former Northrop Grumman Corp. land to the county.
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi wants to build a facility that would nurture skills and ideas like biotechnology, alternative fuels and homeland security. He also wants to help create "clean jobs, high paying jobs and jobs that will grow into long term future."
Any development would need zoning approval from the Town of Oyster Bay. Supervisor John Venditto says he believes the community would support such a project.
"I can?t say it enough. This is a tremendous opportunity for economy and lifestyle to keep some of these young people with us," Venditto says.
Venditto adds that no development would take place until he is certain the Navy has cleaned up nine acres that are contaminated.
Click to see reaction to the land deal from the Bethpage community