Dozens of homeowners in the Village of Lindenhurst will soon have to make a choice about a piece of their own backyards: buy it or clear it.

It applies to about 50 residents on the north side of Orchard Street and the south side of Palm Street.

The village is asking homeowners to either purchase 12 ½ feet of backyard space or remove any structures placed on the land.

The reason is a village-owned "paper" road called Richards Lane that runs through the backyards of the homes.

In September, the village Board of Trustees voted to declare the lane as surplus property and to sell it to residents at $3 per square foot.

The unpaved road is no longer visible and exists only on village tax maps.

Historians think it may have been used to deliver milk to the back doors of homes.

The mayor says an official letter will go out early next year to the homeowners who are directly affected. It will tell them what they'll need to do going forward.