Officials say they are trying to determine what parts of the area are owned by the nonprofit Ward Melville Heritage Organization and which might be publicly owned.
If Brookhaven Town and Port Jeff Village agree to the move, the developer's plans for an apartment complex would be reviewed by the village's land-use boards rather than those of the town, where he has faced some opposition.
Residents of nearby communities say the Caithness plant is one of several industrial facilities that contribute to high rates of respiratory illnesses.
Suffolk officials signaled they planned to restart the project from scratch. Proposals had included a convention center, health offices complex and more.
The historical society says last August's torrential storm forced it to divert thousands of dollars from planned projects at the site and use the money instead for storm repair.
Supporters say the hotel would put a capstone on decades-long efforts to revitalize the village. Detractors say they worry about flooding and the proposed building's height.
The wooded plot near Ely Creek at the headwaters of the Forge River will help stem persistent flooding in the area by absorbing stormwater and dispersing it away from roads and homes, officials said.
Lou Cassara, 61, said chronic leg pain, arthritis and a torn meniscus left him unable to climb a flight of stairs to a second-floor dispatch room. The fire district's lawyer declined to comment.
Moving Roe Tavern, a three-story edifice that dates to 1703, through residential streets lined with trees and utility wires is easier said than done, officials said.