Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Apr 17, 2009 7:34:04 GMT -5
The following is a transcription of a glossy, high quality flier (with five embedded pictures) circulated by a PAC supporting the purchase of the Wilkus Farm by the Town:
The "Save the Farm" Committee urges you to VOTE YES in the
Special Referendum on Tuesday, May 12th to conserve the Wilkus Farm.
The Town of Wethersfield has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to permanently protect the 81-acre Wilkus Farm - an assemblage of land on Willow Street and Thornbush Road that remains in active hayfields. Working with a nonprofit organization, The Turst for Public Land, the Town has an opportunity to acquire the 81-acre fram plus the house lot at 138 Willow Street for a tota of $3.5 million, ensuring that the land will NEVER be developed. The State of Connecticut will hold a conservation easement on the property that will allow active farming to continue and will GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS for passive recreation. The purchase must be approved by voters in the special referendum on Tuesday, May 12th.
Conservation of this land will:
* PROTECT THE LAST MAJOR PARCELS OF OPEN SPACE IN TOWN
The purchase of the Wilkus Farm will protect the most significant open space parcels in town and provide public access to the property for passive recreational activities, such as hiking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, environmental education, and cross-country skiing. This will also protect an historic farm in town and an important pice of our community's agricultural history.
* SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY
If the land is developed into house lots, the costs of education and municipal services will far exceed tax revenues from the new homeowners. Added development is a burden on all of us. Studies across the country show that towns that invest in open space save money in the long run.
* LEAVE A LEGACY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
Our kids need a place where they can be on the land and learn about nature. The Wilkus Farm is one of the few natural places remaining in town where you can view wildlife or enjoy a sunset. Conserving this land will ensure that our children and grandchildren will have that same opportunity generations from now.
If voters approve the purchase, who will own the 81-acre property?
The Town of Wethersfield will own the land, but the State will hold a conservation easement which is permanent and legally binding. The easement will ensure that the land is permanently protected from development and will guarantee public access to the land for passive recreational activities. Day-to-day management of the property will remain with the Town, understanding that the uses must be consistent with preservation of the property.
If we turn down the purchase, what could happen to the property?
If the voters turn down the purchase, the owners will explore other options for the sale of the land. Numerous developers have expressed interest in the parcels, which represent the last sizable tracts of developable land in Wethersfield. According to the Town Planner, the land can accommodate over 50 houses.
Does the purchase price reflect the fair market value of the land?
Yes. There have been two appraisals of the property, with one updated in January 2009 to reflect the decline in the market and the revised FEMA maps. These appraisals both placed the value of the land in the $3 - 4 million range (and notably, neither of these appraisals valued the house at 138 Willow Street, which has a fair market value of an estimated $240,000). In short, the $3.5 million purchase price reflects the fair market value of the 81 acres and the house lot.
What kinds of activities will be permitted on the property?
The land can remain as active farmland and the Town Council is supportive of seeing this historic use continue. the public will have access to the property for passive recreational activities, including hiking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, picnicking, cross-country skiing, and environmental education. The land cannot be used for active ballfields.
How will the Town pay for the land?
In 2006, voters approved a $4 million bond for the purchase of open space. The Town will use those funds to pay for the majority of the purchase and will supplement that with some money from the Land Acquisition fund. The Town was also awarded a State Open Space grant for $490,000 that will go towards the purchase price.
What will this cost taxpayers?
For an average homeowner, this purchase will cost less than $16 per year. On the other hand, if the land were developed, the Town's finance Director estimates that the additional residences will cost the Town approximately $125,000 per year for education and other services, over and above the tax revenue they will generate.
For more information or to get involved, contact Brian Skehan at 860-559-3800 or save.farm@gmail.com
Paid for by Save the Farm, Susan A. Skehan, Treasurer
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Update: The "Save the Farm" PAC sent me the full color version of the above flier; it is here
"Conserve the Wilkus Farm"
The "Save the Farm" Committee urges you to VOTE YES in the
Special Referendum on Tuesday, May 12th to conserve the Wilkus Farm.
The Town of Wethersfield has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to permanently protect the 81-acre Wilkus Farm - an assemblage of land on Willow Street and Thornbush Road that remains in active hayfields. Working with a nonprofit organization, The Turst for Public Land, the Town has an opportunity to acquire the 81-acre fram plus the house lot at 138 Willow Street for a tota of $3.5 million, ensuring that the land will NEVER be developed. The State of Connecticut will hold a conservation easement on the property that will allow active farming to continue and will GUARANTEE PUBLIC ACCESS for passive recreation. The purchase must be approved by voters in the special referendum on Tuesday, May 12th.
Conservation of this land will:
* PROTECT THE LAST MAJOR PARCELS OF OPEN SPACE IN TOWN
The purchase of the Wilkus Farm will protect the most significant open space parcels in town and provide public access to the property for passive recreational activities, such as hiking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, environmental education, and cross-country skiing. This will also protect an historic farm in town and an important pice of our community's agricultural history.
* SAVE THE TAXPAYERS MONEY
If the land is developed into house lots, the costs of education and municipal services will far exceed tax revenues from the new homeowners. Added development is a burden on all of us. Studies across the country show that towns that invest in open space save money in the long run.
* LEAVE A LEGACY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
Our kids need a place where they can be on the land and learn about nature. The Wilkus Farm is one of the few natural places remaining in town where you can view wildlife or enjoy a sunset. Conserving this land will ensure that our children and grandchildren will have that same opportunity generations from now.
Page Break
The following support the conservation of the Wilkus Farm:
Mayor Andrew Adil - - - - - State Representative Russell Morin
Deputy Mayor Paul Montinieri - - - - - State Senator Paul Doyle
Former Mayor Betty Rosania - - - - - State Senator John Fonfara
Former Deputy Mayor Judy Parker - - - - - Conservation Commission
Great Meadows Conservation Trust - - - - - Planning and Zonning Commission
Mayor Andrew Adil - - - - - State Representative Russell Morin
Deputy Mayor Paul Montinieri - - - - - State Senator Paul Doyle
Former Mayor Betty Rosania - - - - - State Senator John Fonfara
Former Deputy Mayor Judy Parker - - - - - Conservation Commission
Great Meadows Conservation Trust - - - - - Planning and Zonning Commission
-----Frequently Asked questions-----
If voters approve the purchase, who will own the 81-acre property?
The Town of Wethersfield will own the land, but the State will hold a conservation easement which is permanent and legally binding. The easement will ensure that the land is permanently protected from development and will guarantee public access to the land for passive recreational activities. Day-to-day management of the property will remain with the Town, understanding that the uses must be consistent with preservation of the property.
If we turn down the purchase, what could happen to the property?
If the voters turn down the purchase, the owners will explore other options for the sale of the land. Numerous developers have expressed interest in the parcels, which represent the last sizable tracts of developable land in Wethersfield. According to the Town Planner, the land can accommodate over 50 houses.
Does the purchase price reflect the fair market value of the land?
Yes. There have been two appraisals of the property, with one updated in January 2009 to reflect the decline in the market and the revised FEMA maps. These appraisals both placed the value of the land in the $3 - 4 million range (and notably, neither of these appraisals valued the house at 138 Willow Street, which has a fair market value of an estimated $240,000). In short, the $3.5 million purchase price reflects the fair market value of the 81 acres and the house lot.
What kinds of activities will be permitted on the property?
The land can remain as active farmland and the Town Council is supportive of seeing this historic use continue. the public will have access to the property for passive recreational activities, including hiking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, picnicking, cross-country skiing, and environmental education. The land cannot be used for active ballfields.
How will the Town pay for the land?
In 2006, voters approved a $4 million bond for the purchase of open space. The Town will use those funds to pay for the majority of the purchase and will supplement that with some money from the Land Acquisition fund. The Town was also awarded a State Open Space grant for $490,000 that will go towards the purchase price.
What will this cost taxpayers?
For an average homeowner, this purchase will cost less than $16 per year. On the other hand, if the land were developed, the Town's finance Director estimates that the additional residences will cost the Town approximately $125,000 per year for education and other services, over and above the tax revenue they will generate.
For more information or to get involved, contact Brian Skehan at 860-559-3800 or save.farm@gmail.com
Paid for by Save the Farm, Susan A. Skehan, Treasurer
Update: The "Save the Farm" PAC sent me the full color version of the above flier; it is here
