Date: Fri 17-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

real-estate-Paproski-farm

Full Text:

Proposed Development Will Break Up Longstanding Family Farming Tract

(with cut)

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Members of a local farm family say they are upset over the break-up of their

farm, the longstanding Castle Hill Farm on Sugar Lane.

Farmer Steve Paproski of 40 Sugar Lane says he has been farming the 130-acre

parcel for his whole life. The farm runs northward from Route 302 across

wetlands, climbs a steep hillside and then butts up against Castle Hill Road.

Steve and his wife, Diana, live on the farm with their two daughters, Shannon,

4, and Stephanie, 7.

The farm contains wetlands, woods, sharp slopes, boulder-strewn fields, and

rich undulating pastureland fringed with thickets and shrubs. It has about 100

cows, 50 of which are milkers and many of which are Holsteins. Mr Paproski

sells the milk to Marcus Dairy in Danbury.

To diversify, the farm has been selling Christmas trees and pumpkins.

Castle Hill Farm is one of several active dairy farms left in Fairfield

County. One of the others is Ferris Acres, just west of Castle Hill Farm on

Route 302.

Millie and Henry Paproski, who are relatives of Steve, have a one-half

financial interest in the farm.

Henry Paproski wanted to get his 50 percent out of the farm, but Steve

Paproski resisted the move, seeking to keep the farm intact.

Henry then filed a lawsuit against Steve and legal wrangling ensued.

"It got so nasty... It was so disheartening. We really did try to keep the

farm," Diana Paproski said.

"My husband did not want to lose (part of) his farm," Diana said.

After three years, Steve and Diana had run out of money to continue the legal

battle, they said.

Henry is now selling his 50 percent interest to The Estates at Pumpkin Hill,

LLC, a holding company.

If the development applications gain all required town approvals, that 50

percent interest would transfer to the developers.

"I tried to keep the farm going," Steve Paproski said, adding that if he were

not involved in the deal, he would probably protest the development along with

the Newtown Neighborhoods Coalition. The coalition is a citizens' group

concerned over the town's rapid residential growth.

Cornfield Ridge

The Estates at Pumpkin Hill, LLC, is proposing the construction of a

residential subdivision off Castle Hill Road known as Cornfield Ridge.

That section of the approximately 130-acre Castle Hill Farm is considered the

farm's best area for growing. It has rich upland soils and sits on a ridgetop.

The developers want to create 19 lots, 18 of which would be home sites. The

19th lot would remain undeveloped and stay in business as Castle Hill Farm.

Two new dead-end streets would be built off Castle Hill Road. They would be

named Cornfield Drive and Pumpkin Lane. Some lots would have frontage on

Castle Hill Road. The site lies in both the borough and the town.

The developers are seeking Conservation Commission approval to build one

temporary and one permanent stormwater retention basin to prevent sediment

from flowing off the subdivision after heavy rains. The area has Ridgebury

wetland soils.

Approximately 400 square feet of wetlands would be affected by the

construction work. The work would create 0.06 acres of new wetlands.

Engineer Larry Edwards has designed the project.

The proposal will be reviewed by the Conservation Commission. If that agency

endorses the wetlands construction aspects of it, the developers would then

submit site plans to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) for review.

The P&Z serves as the borough's planning agency.

The Borough Zoning Commission also would review the project.