FILE PHOTO
The city is considering buying 30 acres near the Farrel Pomini building.
ANSONIA — The city hopes to acquire some 30 acres of land within the Fountain Lake industrial park to attract two potential manufacturing businesses.
Details about the potential deal are scarce because it’s early in the process and governments are allowed to shield real estate negotiations from the public’s view so they don’t lose their negotiating position.
But, according to statements made at Monday’s Ansonia Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and a subsequent interview Tuesday with Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley and Corporation Counsel John Marini, the city hopes to purchase the land currently owned by the Downtown Cabaret Theatre Co. of Bridgeport.
The company, according to O’Malley and Marini, recently had the land donated or transferred to it from Robert Scinto, whose limited liability company — Fountain Lake LLC — owns the Fountain Lake industrial park, currently home to manufacturer Farrel Pomini. The Valley Indy sent an email to the theater company Tuesday seeking comment for this story.
The land the city is eyeing is undeveloped and has an appraised value of about $1.8 million, O’Malley said. About eight to 10 acres of the 30 acres is developable, O’Malley said.
The land is on Birmingham Boulevard, which is off Route 334.
Ansonia sold the Fountain Lake property to Scinto in 2006 for $1.6 million. The foundation for the Farrel Pomini building was laid down in 2015, a major milestone because the
company, with deep roots in Ansonia, had been considering moving out of Ansonia.
O’Malley and Marini said Tuesday they hoped for years to see the 30 acres developed, too, and were surprised when they learned last Friday that Scinto’s LLC no longer controlled the land.
Marini said the city is interested in purchasing the land because the city has the ability to market it and attract investment.
At a meeting Monday of the Ansonia P&Z, O’Malley said two manufacturing companies have expressed interest in the property. Upon questioning from members of the commission,
O’Malley said the development could bring some 50 jobs to the city. She declined to talk about a possible purchase price.
O’Malley was talking about the issue with the P&Z commission because the city asked the commission for a 8-24 referral, a requirement under state law. A ‘positive’ referral means the proposed use is in-line with the city’s plan of conservation and development. The commission gave it a positive recommendation, but had to rescind the approval because the underlying documents connected to the referral had not been received and stamped by the city/town clerk.
The item was also not listed on an amended agenda posted to the city’s website.
The commission will meet again ASAP to try again.
In addition, the property card and documents listed Fountain Lake LLC as the owner, a mistake, Marini and O’Malley said, because that company no longer owns the property.
After the P&Z makes its 8-24 referral, the Ansonia Board of Aldermen will meet in executive session to go over the details of the potential deal. No votes can happen in executive session. Any action on the item — such as giving Marini and Mayor David Cassetti the go ahead to negotiate — must be made in public, according to state law.
