It could cost Ansonia more than $27,000 in fees if the city tries to take about 25 acres of open space through eminent domain.
That’s according to a legal review of the process conducted by Ansonia’s corporation counsel Kevin Blake and presented to the Board of Aldermen on Nov. 15.
The review estimates the value of the land off Pulaski Highway to be about $1.5 million — money that would be required to be deposited with the court “immediately at the commencement of the action.”
Blake provided the overview after the Board of Aldermen voted in October to look into whether eminent domain might be an avenue to acquire the 25-acre parcel off Pulaski Highway.
The parcel on Pulaski Highway has been on the city’s radar. The city had looked at buying the land in 2010, but didn’t have enough money to pay the $2 million asking price.
Since then, a private developer — Michael Massimino of Branford — has entered into a contract to purchase the land. He has floated plans before the Planning and Zoning Commission to build 36 homes on the land, but hasn’t filed a formal application.
Proposals
Facing several proposals for new housing developments, city residents and leaders have questioned whether Ansonia can save the few remaining open space parcels.
So in September, Aldermen Stephen Blume and David Knapp issued a proposal to see if the city could come up with enough money to make another offer on the land, if Massimino’s plans fell through.
In October, Alderman John Marini proposed the eminent domain review.
Both resolutions were approved by the Board of Aldermen on Oct. 11, and now the city is examining both avenues.
Blake’s eminent domain review was the first to be presented to the Board of Aldermen. The board tabled discussion on the report while it waits for other information to come before it.
Eminent Domain
According to Blake’s report, the city would be required to get two state certified appraisals of the land. The price of the land would be the average of the two amounts listed.
The city estimates that the value of the property is about $1.5 million based on an Oct. 23, 2009 appraisal conducted by Sheehy Associates.
If Ansonia decided it wanted to move forward to try to take the land through eminent domain, it would have to deposit the estimated value with the Clerk of the Superior Court at the beginning of the process.
The land owner would then have six months to appeal the action, and could ask for more money to be awarded.
