Council, Selectmen Back Purchase Of Open Space Off Purdy Station Rd

By Steve Bigham

The Legislative Council Wednesday voted unanimously in favor of purchasing a $145,000, 10-acre parcel off Old Purdy Station Road. Town officials are hoping the proposed land purchase will alleviate the tension between the town and homeowners in that area.

The council followed up Monday’s approval by the Board of Selectmen.

The property – for sale by Arthur and Jane Torrence of Newtown – would provide a wide access to the town-owned mica mines located behind two private homes. Until recent years, the mica mine area off Hattertown Road was a popular place for hikers to explore nature. The land leading to the mica mines has since been developed, making it more difficult for residents to access the town-owned site. A portion of the land where hikers used to walk was purchased more than four years ago by Brian and Dorothy Schlier, who reside at 12 Old Purdy Station Road.

As part of the development agreement for Old Purdy Station Road, local builder Michael Burton gave the 6.5-acre area around the mica mines to the town to be used as open space. The town was also given a narrow easement (from the Torrence family) to the site, which runs along the border of Mr Schlier’s property. However, Mr Schlier claims the trail is partially on his property and has voiced his objections to people walking in the area.

Most of the money to pay for the land – about $115,000 – would come out of the town’s capital non-recurring expenditures account for open space purchases, which Newtown resident Julia Wasserman helped start back in the late 1980s. Initially, $25,000 was put in the account, and it has since grown to $111,000. The town has an additional $30,000 it received in fees in lieu of open space.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he first became aware of the property being for sale a year ago when members of the Conservation Commission and Newtown Bridle Lands expressed interest. Mr Rosenthal said the purchase would make good use of town money earmarked for open space.

“It will clear up that whole easement issue because it would be our property. It also abuts our 6.5 acres of open space around the mica mines, and it would link up to some trails on Eden Hill Road and other roads,” Mr Rosenthal said.

The first selectman said the Torrence family recently contacted him to say they had received an offer from an interested buyer from Norwalk. The Newtown residents wanted to sell the land to the town, but said they were running out of time. In response, Mr Rosenthal met in executive session with the Legislative Council, which expressed interest in the purchase.

The price amounts to about $14,000 an acre, which is hard to beat in Newtown, Mr Rosenthal said. But the land, located in a two-acre zone, is suitable for only one or two building lots. The Norwalk developer was reportedly disappointed to learn the property had been purchased out from under him. The town said it is willing to negotiate with the man for a piece of the land.

Judy Holmes of the Conservation Commission spoke in favor of the purchase Wednesday. Also endorsing the land buy was David Macauley of Newtown Bridle Lands, who said the purchase will provide access to numerous trails in the southern part of town.

Two years ago, residents of Old Purdy Station Road became angered when members of the Newtown Bridle Lands Association put up markings along the trail. Some of the equestrian group’s markings were taken down as residents claimed they were put on private property.

The Planning & Zoning Commission was expected to endorse the purchase this week. The appropriation does not need approval at a town meeting since it is under $150,000.