Board of Assessment Appeals

Grand List Increases by $27.6 Million; Top-10 Taxpayer Accounts

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The total value of taxable property in New Canaan—including homes, commercial properties and motor vehicles—increased by about $27.6 million from 2018 to 2019, according to data from the assessor. Given a mill rate of 18.029, the year-over-year increase in funds for the town from the taxable property would come to about $498,000. The Grand List’s $7.7 billion total reflects upticks in the total value of taxable real estate and personal property and motor vehicles. Here’s a table that details year-over-year growth:

 

The Grand List measures the total value of taxable property on Oct. 1 of each calendar year.

Berchem Moses

Elm Street Commercial Property Owner’s Lawsuit Against Town Headed To Trial

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A lawsuit filed by the owner of an Elm Street commercial property claiming the town overestimated its value in a recent tax assessment is slated to go to trial this summer. The town in January denied claims made on behalf of the owner of 61 Elm St. that an October 2018 evaluation—later upheld by the Board of Assessment Appeals—was “grossly excessive, disproportionate and unlawful.”

According to tax records, the two-story building at the intersection of South Avenue has 14,438 total square feet of finished space, and sits on .18 acres. It was assessed at $3,595,970, according to as substitute appeal filed last September in state Superior Court. 

The Board of Assessment Appeals denied the plaintiff’s appeal, according to a complaint filed by attorney Frank Murphy of Norwalk-based Tierney, Zullo, Flaherty & Murphy PC. 

The matter is scheduled to go to trial in July, according to Connecticut Judicial Branch records. The town in a March 2 legal filing said it would use Bridgeport-based real estate appraiser Peter Vimini as an expert witness. 

“The expert opinions to which Mr. Vimini is expected to testify will be contained in his written appraisal report as of October 1, 2018, which he has not yet completed but which will be disclosed to the plaintiff prior to trail pursuant to the court’s deadline for the mutual exchange of appraisals,” Coppola said in the disclosure.

Greene Law PC

New Canaan Field Club Appeals Assessment

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A private club in New Canaan has filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court protesting the town’s recent assessment of its property. The New Canaan Field Club filed an appeal May 16 in State Superior Court that challenges the town’s decision to uphold a recent $4.4 million assessment of its Smith Ridge Road property. As part of the town-wide revaluation, an assessment 164 Smith Ridge Road, an approximately 11.3-acre property that includes a new pavilion, took place Oct. 1. The valuation is “grossly excessive, disproportionate and unlawful” attorney Michael D. Reiner of Farmington-based Greene Law, P.C. said in the appeal, received May 20 by the Town Clerk.

Government

Lawsuit: Owner of Laurel Road Properties Appeals Assessments

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The China-based owner of two contiguous Laurel Road parcels last week appealed the town’s decision to uphold its assessment of the properties. Completed during October’s revaluation, the assessments of 360 and 364 Laurel Road are “grossly excessive, disproportionate and unlawful,” according to a lawsuit filed May 14 in state Superior Court by attorney Aldo Pascarella of the Greenwich-based Pascarella Law Firm PC. 

The Town Clerk received the complaints May 10. According to tax records, 360 Laurel Road is a two-acre property that includes a 2004-built Colonial. It was assessed at about $1.8 million. And 364 Laurel Road is a 4.43-acre property that includes a 1942-built, 9,000-square-foot home.

Board of Assessment Appeals

Chase Bank Appeals Assessment of Main Street Building 

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JP Morgan Chase Bank last week filed an appeal in state Superior Court that challenges the town’s decision to uphold a recent $4.8 million assessment of its Main Street building. 

The bank also is suing New Canaan over the Board of Assessment Appeals’ decision to uphold its $2.4 million valuation of a drive-thru facility off of East Avenue, according to court filings. The valuations of 122 Main St. and 21 East Ave. are “grossly excessive, disproportionate and unlawful,” attorney Steven Nagengast of New York City-based Janata, Lacap & Hazen LLP said in the appeal, received May 7 by the Town Clerk. “The applicant is aggrieved by the action of the Board of Assessment Appeals of the town in that, as the taxpayer of the subject real property, it will be responsible for its property taxes based upon the unlawful assessment if the action of the Board of Assessment Appeals is upheld,” the suit said. Also on May 7, the Town Clerk received an appeal filed on behalf of the owner of commercial property on Cross Street that challenges the Board’s decision to uphold the town’s $5.9 million assessment.