Town votes to buy 1.6 acres on Main Street for $500,000

KENT — Taxpayers voted in favor of using a $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the state to purchase a 1.6-acre plot of land located at 60 North Main St. The vote was taken at a town meeting at Kent Center School on Thursday, Oct. 2. 

The site was formerly the location of Town and Country Chevrolet.

In September, a town meeting was held at which taxpayers approved the use of the same STEAP grant to purchase the same property. But there was a  procedural error, so the meeting had to be redone. 

According to Selectman Suzy Williams, the error involved the failure to receive a nomination from the floor to appoint First Selectman Bruce Adams as moderator of the meeting.

Earlier in 2014, the selectmen submitted three applications to the state for STEAP grants, two of which were immediately rejected when they were deemed by the Department of Economic and Community Development to not abide by the requirements  for those types of grants.

Later in the summer, a real estate agent approached Adams and told him the Town and Country Chevrolet lot had recently dropped in price to $495,000. Adams reached out to state officials, including Governor Dannel P. Malloy, asking them to rescind the STEAP application. He then submitted a new application for a $500,000 grant to purchase the land. Within several weeks, the town was informed it had received the grant.

At the Oct. 2 meeting, Adams explained the process of receiving the grant as well as possible ideas for development of the land. STEAP regulations require the town pay no more than “fair market value” for the property (which is determined by two separate appraisals). Appraiser Patty Braislin valued the property at $357,500; an independent company, Bruce Hunter Associates, appraised the property at $330,000. According to “fair market value” the town’s bid should be somewhere between the two numbers. 

No official plan for the property has been created, but Adams discussed ideas such as turning the space into a town Green that could feature recreational options such as horseshoes, music concerts and outdoor movie nights. There might also be a public building that could house amenities such as public restrooms, a visitors center, storage and possible shower facilities for Appalachian Trail hikers. 

The option of flooding the land to create a public skating rink was also discussed as an option to utilize the space during the “off season.” 

Adams offered rough estimates of what it might cost to  build such a facility, a total that could be as high as $600,000. 

In an interview following the Sept. 4 meeting, Adams explained that any grant money remaining after the property is purchased could be used to help offset the costs of development. A separate committee would be created to develop an official plan to be approved by taxpayers. Adams also explained the town  has the option to sit on the grant for several years before taking action.

Following the Oct. 2 presentation, several taxpayers expressed concern with approving the purchase of the land, citing a lack of an established plan of development for the property, as well as the need for additional information about costs and other details. 

One woman spoke about the potential loss of about $8,900 a year in tax revenue should the property be taken off the town tax records.

Former First Selectman Lorry Schiesel expressed concern  about purchasing the property. She wondered, for example, whether the town actually needs 1.6 acres for such a facility or whether a smaller parcel would be more appropriate.

Several taxpayers also spoke in favor of using the grant to purchase the land. One man discussed the benefits of developing the property, explaining it would help connect the northern shopping center with the rest of the businesses on Main Street. 

Following the discussion, a paper ballot was held. The vote was 124-24 in favor of using the grant to purchase the property.

The Board of Selectmen met in an executive session (closed to the press and the public) following their Oct 7 meeting to determine the official amount the town will offer for the land.