Ansonia officials hope a $112,500 state grant will help close a deal to buy a 14-acre property off Castle Lane where a controversial subdivision application was proposed.
City officials — and neighbors — would rather see the property preserved as open space.
The city’s lawyer, John Marini, said Tuesday that a deal is not yet in place but that city officials hope to meet with the property’s owner, Mark Romano, soon.
“We heard about (the state grant) last week informally and we reached out to him yesterday.” Marini said. “We’re going to have a sit-down with the owners and we’re going to be talking about it.”
The Valley Indy sent an email Tuesday to Romano’s lawyer, Dominick Thomas, seeking comment.
Background
The 14-acre property — technically 26 Gardners Lane — abuts 20-acre Abe Stone Park off Colony Street.
Romano, a Shelton developer, bought the land in 2010 and sought permission from the Planning and Zoning Commission to build homes there.
The development — on the drawing board in one form or another for five years — is opposed by neighboring property owners who worry about water use and the property’s suitability for development.
Click here for more background from a previous story.
After neighbors expressed opposition to the proposal at Planning and Zoning Commission hearings, the developer agreed to put the application on hold so the city could explore a deal to purchase the property — for $525,000.
‘We’re Negotiating’
If the parties can agree on a deal, the purchase would allow the city to nearly double the size of Abe Stone Park off Colony Street.
It remains to be seen how big an “if” that is, however.
While the gulf between the city’s agreed-to option price and the grant is more than $400,000, Marini said the property’s “fair market value” is lower.
The property has an appraised value of $212,100, according to city land records. A limited liability company controlled by Romano bought it in 2010 for $250,000.
“We’re negotiating at this point,” Marini said.
The Board of Aldermen will likely discuss the property behind closed doors at their meeting next month, Marini said, which is allowed under the state’s Freedom of Information Act because the officials would be discussing a possible real estate deal.
The purchase, if agreed to, would be a welcome addition, Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley said.
“For us this is significant because we do have a lot of residential areas and not a lot of open space,” she said.
The funds awarded Monday come from the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program administered by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The money is among $4.7 million to be awarded to 17 municipalities in the state.
In a prepared statement, Mayor David Cassetti thanked DEEP and state Rep. Linda Gentile, saying the expansion of the park would “complement the area with additional space for trails and other recreational use.”
Gentile agreed.
“I remember going to the park with my family as a child to play and swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter,” Gentile said in a statement. “Now I go there to watch my granddaughters play soccer.
“This beautiful treasure of natural beauty and splendor must be preserved and saved from development,” Gentile’s statement went on. “It will provide children and families in Ansonia hours of recreational enjoyment for generations to come.”
In a statement announcing the grant, Gov. Dannel Malloy said the state has had a proud history of preservation.
“Connecticut’s tradition of preserving open space began in the early 1900s and continues today with a focus on land preservation that protects important natural resources and ensuring that our state maintains its natural beauty,” Malloy said.
“Through these grants, we will increase the availability of open space to provide our residents with protected lands to enjoy for outdoor recreation all across our state.”
