By Charles Stannard
CHESTER–The proposed town purchase of 4.6-acres of riverfront land on Parker’s Point Road drew a mixed response from residents at a town meeting Tuesday night.
Nearly 100 residents turned out for the informational town meeting where no votes were taken on any resolutions related to the proposed acquisition. All resolutions, presented in five separate ballot questions, have been referred to a Nov. 10 referendum. Residents at the town meeting extended the referendum hours to the same hours as a regular elecion or party primary, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town hall polling place.
The purchase price for the property, which was acquired by David and Maria Otfinoski in January 2005, is $948,000. Two funding grants, including $464,520 from the state Department of Environmental Protection and $50,000 from the Connecticut River Gateway Commission, along with a $30,000 donation from the Chester Land Trust, would reduce the net cost to town taxpayers to about $400,000.
Voters will be asked to authorize up to $1 million in bonding for the purchase. But with inclusion of the grant funding and donation, the actual amount to be covered through bonding would be $455,000 including expenses related to selling the bonds.
The bond would be paid off over ten years at a total net expenses to taxpayers of $529,400 that includes an anticipated $74,400 in interest on the bond. The annual payments would range from a maximum of $63,650 in 2011 down to $46,350 with the final payment in 2020.
First Selectman Tom Marsh said the parcel had an assessed value of $1.1 million and generates about $16,000 in property tax to the town. It has about 600-feet of frontage on the Connecticut River.
Amy Paterson, a representative of the non-profit Trust For Public Land, said two appraisals were done last year and reviewed by the state Department of Environmental Protection before the determination of the $948,000 purchase price. Paterson said the TPL helped facilitate negotiations for the purchase.
During more than hour of discussion, some residents contended the price was too high, and questioned the broader public access that would be allowed if the town accepts state funding assistance for the purchase. Others questioned parking for the property, which would be available at an abutting town-owned boat launch area.
But other residents noted that acquiring additional access to the Connecticut River has always been a priority in the town plan of conservation and development. Proponents contended the town has a unique opportunity to acquire riverfront land with substantial funding assistance from other sources.
“We will never have a chance to get grants like this again,” said Claudia Van Ness, who lives nearby on Parker’s Point Road. “As far as riverfront, this is it,” she said.
Marsh said each of the five ballot questions, one on the bonding, one on the land acquisition and three on accepting the grants and donation, must pass on Nov. 10 for the purchase to go forward.
