Ansonia Ponders Open Space Purchase

Ansonia officials are reviewing an offer to purchase about 5.5 acres of open space behind Abe Stone Park on Colony Road. 

The land was offered to the city by owner Tom Waldron Jr. early this year. 

People of Ansonia are already using the land. They use it for walking trails,” Waldron said recently. I’d like to see it go to good use. I’m not in the position to give it to (the city), but would give it to them under the fair-market value.”

No price has been identified yet. The city is waiting for appraisals on the property.

Waldron co-owns the land with other family members. It used to be part of a large parcel extending into Seymour, where a farm was located. 

It’s rolling, hilly, traditional New England,” Waldron said of the property. It’s wooded with trails and it has a brook that goes through it, which feeds into Colony Pond.” 

The Board of Aldermen’s Property/Sales/Land Trust subcommittee is reviewing the proposal — but the decision on whether to buy will likely come down to price and available money. 

We showed some interest in it,” said David Knapp, a city Alderman and the chairman of the land purchasing subcommittee. We can maybe use it for some walking trails up there. And it’s an opportunity for us to increase our open space.”

The city is waiting to get appraisals back for the property to determine how much it is worth. The address for the property is 97 Gardeners Lane Rear. 

Once that information is available, Knapp’s subcommittee will review the price and decide if it’s something the city might be able to handle. Knapp said the city hopes to apply for grants to help pay for the land, if they decide to purchase it. 

Waldron has proposed extending the cost out over several payments to help the city pay for the property.

It’s just something we are looking into,” Knapp said. It’s probably not the greatest timing because of the economy and the budget situation at city hall. But sometimes you have to take it when you have the opportunity.”

It’s very early in the process at this point, Knapp said. Any recommendation by the land purchase subcommittee would still need approval from the entire Board of Aldermen. 

Dwindling Open Space

Waldron’s land is next to another parcel of open space where a developer has proposed building 23 single-family homes.

The Planning and Zoning Commission in November rejected the housing proposal, but developer Mark Romano said appealed the decision in January.

The proposal set off a firestorm of opposition, as residents outlined concerns for the development, but also concerns about dwindling open space in Ansonia. 

The Board of Aldermen had also looked at purchasing a 25-acre parcel on Pulaski Highway a couple years ago, but decided the $2 million price tag was too much. 

The open space behind Abe Stone Park and on Pulaski Highway are the two largest tracts of open space left in town. 

Waldron said the proposal to build 23 homes on Castle Lane, next to his land, help spur him to offer the property to the city. 

Waldron said he wants to keep the land as open space, and decided the best way to do that might be to offer it to the city. 

It gave me an opportunity to rethink my property,” Waldron said. 

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org