Letter To The Editor: 72 Acres

The Town of Bethel has been given a unique opportunity to purchase a significant parcel of open space, 72 Acres of the Franc property at the intersection of Plumtrees and Old Hawleyville roads.

 The purchase price is a unique opportunity to obtain open space for what is essentially a bargain rate of approximately $13,200 per acre. The recent purchases of open space have been significantly more expensive. We purchased the 16-acre Waterbrook property at $21,800/ acre. The state purchased the 134 Acre Shrivjer property for approximately $34000/ acre. This price of the proposed purchase is more in line with values in other parts of the state which are considerably less expensive than Fairfield County.

 The purchase of this property will create a large piece of contiguous open space. The 76 acre Bruno Preserve owned by the Newtown Forest Association is the largest adjoining property offering existing hiking, mountain biking, and horseback trails. Connections from the Franc property could be made which would significantly increase the outdoors recreational opportunities available in Bethel. It may be less obvious, but the Bethel Land Trust owns a 1.514 Acre tract to the right of the undeveloped portion of Shelly Rd. ( 75-68-2). The Town of Bethel owns a 17.851acre parcel between Shelly and Old Hawleyvile Rds. ((87-70-23) with connections to both roads. This parcel is connected to the property under consideration by a narrow .85 acre parcel directly across Shelly Rd. The purchase of the Franc property would result in an open space parcel of 168 acres when all these adjoining properties are added together.

 Much has been written about the fragmentation of the CT. Forest and the advantages of contiguous woodlands. As a result most environmental protection organizations including the Bethel Land Trust try to tie open space lands together whenever possible. Such an opportunity exists here.

 The shared watercourses and wetlands with the NFA Bruno Preserve will help protect the water quality of the Limekiln Brook and ultimately the Still and Housatonic rivers.

 The existing meadows at the corner of Old Hawleyville and Plumtrees Rd. are an important feature of the property. Meadows are almost non existent in Fairfield County and need to be protected whenever possible. Meadows provide homes for ground nesting birds and mammals that desperately need this type of habitant.

 It has been shown many times that taxes from residential development seldom is able to pay for the educational and infrastructure maintenance costs involved. The acquisition of open space generally saves money.

 The town could, of course, as it has so many times in the past, pass up this opportunity. It might, without your vote.

 A town meeting will be held at 7PM on Tues. Jan 17 at the Bethel Municipal Center to vote on this purchase. We need your attendance and vote for this proposal to insure that this property is preserved for open space rather than development.

 We are presented with a unique opportunity to preserve a parcel with significant environmental benefits.

The Bethel Land Trust urges you to take advantage of this opportunity. We hope to see you Jan. 17 to insure that this purchase is approved.

Sincerely,

John O'Neill

Treasurer