The proposal to sell the 6.2 acre undeveloped parcel of Waveny Park land on the south side of the Merritt Parkway adjacent to the Talmadge Hill Station is a very bad and short-sighted solution to the town’s fiscal condition. The recommendation should go no further than the Conservation Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission, and they most assuredly will vote “no.”
This “unused” property is wooded open space that provides wildlife habit; serves as a sink for carbon dioxide and other exhaust pollutants from the Merritt Parkway; is a groundwater recharge area; and helps provide the green buffer that makes Waveny Park feel so rural.
New Canaan has less than the state recommended area preserved as public open space. Selling six acres for development is simply not justified from an environmental standpoint. If the parcel is legally part of Waveny Park, then under state law, a like kind amount of land must be purchased to compensate for the taking of park land.
Consideration should also be given to keep the parcel in “reserve” for temporary expanded parking at Talmadge Hill when a decked parking garage is finally built at the New Canaan Railroad Station. In the future, the town may want to expand permanent parking onto the parcel. A portion of the land could also be cleared, properly screened with vegetation, and used as a temporary Public Works dumping site for snow and storm debris. We can expect more intense storms and damage due to global warming. We own this land at no annual expense, and there is no immediate pressure to dispose of it. Please think of the future of New Canaan.
Selling town-owned land to help balance the budget sets a bad precedent, and is simply terrible fiscal policy. The town budget for 2019-2024 calls for some $6.7 million in repairs to town historic property, and $6 million of this is for Waveny House. Approximately $5 million could be recovered from the state through historic preservation grants and the sale of historic property tax credits. This would be a far better solution to reducing town debt then selling our precious open space.
Respectfully yours,
Skip Hobbs
Fascinating. Preserve the open space and “provide wildlife habitat; serves as a sink for carbon dioxide and other exhaust pollutants from the Merritt Parkway…..and helps provide the green buffer that make Waveny Park feel so rural”……by turning it into a parking lot.
I support the thought that we need to consider alternate uses for any town owned land, such as badly needed senior housing.
Eventually we need a vision for New Canaan that is submitted as a referendum to the people of New Canaan. I expect two broad options (actually I expect a hybrid plan): 1) Pursue commercial development to help expand our tax base as a means to slow increases in the mill rate and to pay for the desired excellent education or 2) Preserve the rural nature of New Canaan as is by resisting any development but with the understanding that our mill rate will continue to rise. The later will likely cause real estate values to fall further, and make New Canaan too expensive for seniors and entry level families.
Tough choices but we must be open to the impact of those choices and make the decision as a town.
The principle of stewardship, central to the vision of conservatism articulated by Edmund Burke, seems to have been lost somewhere along the way in our “conservative” revolution. The expediency of a quick sale to address a short term fiscal issue is short-sighted and dramatically undervalues open space, not only for the practical reasons that Skip articulates so well but also for its intangible impact on our overall well-being. I agree that this idea should be tabled, and I hope that will be the Conservation Commission’s recommendation.
Great letter. Thank you Skip. Completely agree.
Excellent letter. Also completely agree.
Thank you Skip. Open space is open space. If acquiring open space is good, and it is a Connecticut State goal, then divesting open space is bad. The evidence is that the taxes of two new houses on those six acres will not cover the costs of educating their school-age occupants — teacher salaries and classroom space. Selling open space is short sighted. Open space is good for birds, bees, butterflies and foxes, and its trees make our air better. Let’s preserve our open space.
here is a good question — tear down Waveny house — I would not think this as a good idea — but when someone gives you a gift — and you have to pay
millions to take care of it — and the income does not pay for it — then
the question could seem logical — They were going to look at the house and see what could be done with it — living here for 32 yrs have never been
inside the house — as a wedding venue how much money can it make ?
Yes get all the funds from the state and federal government — but
do we need the house — like I said I would never do this —
but it is a good question — maybe a restaurant that also does weddings
and party’s
Tabling the discussion is not the correct answer….seems like simply burying another person’s perspective. Whether the town wants to pay the price for more open space should be up to the town …..not a select few.
New Canaan already has a higher debt amount than other surrounding towns. The new mill rate will make New Canaan even less competitive (an added reference to the poor train service). House values have plummeted (for a variety of reasons). I don’t expect the new mill rate will help. And the state preparing to shift more financial liability to New Canaan, which will aggravate the situation.
I suspect that in the future we will be debating open space vs maintaining the school budget. That will be a lively discussion.
It’s been suggested that selling the property for two house lots will be advantageous in adding to the tax base. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the homes built there may each contain two or more school children. Since the Town’s current annual education cost per pupil is around $20,000, don’t count on a big net annual windfall .
I would like to see it used for a performing arts complex for the High School.
Skip – Wonderful letter! Let’s use Historic preservation grants as you stated: The town budget for 2019-2024 calls for some $6.7 million in repairs to town historic property, and $6 million of this is for Waveny House. Approximately $5 million could be recovered from the state through historic preservation grants and the sale of historic property tax credits.
What Mr. Hawley has in mind is only a repeat of past happenings.
Lets keep things in perspective, money does not solve everything.
We can’t tear down buildings in order to create what was there before.
Or can we? I can hear all those who are reading this gasping and scratching
their heads. My point is once you clear the land and put in more housing
you can’t go back. There was a song I heard many years ago by
Joni Mitchell, and it said, “They pave paradise to put up a parking lot”
Norm Jensen…