Date: Fri 11-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Fairfield-Hills-selectmen

Full Text:

Selectmen Endorse Fairfield Hills Property Deal

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Board of Selectmen Monday night voted unanimously in favor of accepting a

state offer that would give the town 22.6 acres of land and two buildings on

the campus of Fairfield Hills.

The offer was part of a 1991 agreement between the town and the state, which

settled a lawsuit the town brought against the state over construction of

Garner Correctional Institute. State Rep Julia Wasserman helped finalize the

deal with Hartford's Office of Policy and Management (OPM) in March.

The deal still needs the endorsement of both the Legislative Council, which is

expected to vote April 16, and the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z), but

First Selectman Bob Cascella expects quick approvals. The town has one month

to respond to the state offer.

"I just think the P&Z and the Legislative Council should say thank you to

Julia Wasserman. We should accept it at that," he said.

As part of the deal, the town would acquire the 32,348-square-foot Watertown

Hall on Old Farm Road, which could eventually be used for some town offices.

The town also stands to receive a 7,316-square-foot-garage/fire station on

Trades Lane that has reportedly piqued the interest of both town and school

maintenance departments.

The state offer also includes the rolling field that lies between the two

buildings, the small recreation area that lies across the service road to the

north of Watertown Hall, and the land extending south to the site of the

future Fairfield Hills bypass road. The road is scheduled for construction in

May or June.

Mr Cascella said the acquisition would have no immediate fiscal impact on the

town. According to Mr Cascella's financial impact statement, the property has

many diverse uses, but a final decision on a use should only come after

"copious review and further public input."

Selectman Jim Mooney favors accepting the offer. He chaired the Municipal

Space Needs Advisory Committee that filed a report stating that Watertown Hall

may be the answer to the town's municipal office space needs.

Selectman Gary Fetzer endorsed the town's acceptance of the state's offer, but

he did so with reservation. He said he would have rather made his decision

with a better understanding of the town's overall plan for Fairfield Hills. He

had hoped the town could have been more pro-active in its pursuit of land on

the site, indicating whether it planned to use the land for economic

development or municipal space.

"Julia [Wasserman] worked very hard on this Fairfield Hills acquisition. I had

a concern that this piece of property was never discussed previously with the

Board of Selectmen," Mr Fetzer said. "It was passed on to me that this was

what the state was going to give us, and I certainly approve of the idea. I'm

not sure what our priorities were in acquiring this land. I guess it would

have been preferable to me if the town went to the state and said this is what

we need. Maybe that was done, I just wasn't made aware of it."

Mr Fetzer said he would have liked to see the handful of state-owned houses

and their accompanying land along Queen Street be a part of the deal. Mr

Cascella said those houses could still be part of the overall agreement,

saying they may eventually be given to quasi-government agencies, such as

Youth Services and/or the Family Life Center.

As part of the deal, Mr Cascella said the town may still acquire the 50 acres

of Fairfield Hills property near Commerce Road.

According to Michael Kozlowski of OPM, the property would be conveyed in an

"as is" condition and the state would assume no liability for any pre-existing

conditions with the property or buildings.