784 River Road, Shelton buying / selling golf range

[thomas harbinson]

Commissioners,

Doesn't really involve us at this late hour, but the Board of Alderman have a 10AM meeting today regarding 784 River Road.  This is a parcel of land that makes up the bulk of the driving range at the Sports Center, along with the batting cages to the south.

The batting cages were a later add-on via P&Z Application #07-06 to modify PDD #30 to allow it.  We wrote a letter on 2007Apr10 regarding the public access.  P&Z had a public hearing on Apr24, approving the batting cages and parking modifications on 2007Jul10.

Initially there was to be some designated parking spaces for trail users, and a trail that went down the southern perimeter of the driving range nets to the river.  That was later modified, but I don't have time at moment to research what the changes ultimately ended with.

What was going on today, is the realization that the property parcel that takes up the batting cages and 1/2 the driving range is still owned by the State.  Thru appraisals and such, the State legislature through a Special Act 26-17 back in June, approved selling the land to the City for $350k.  The City concurrently obtained an appraisal valuing the land at $565k.  The City also has an 8-24 referral in front of the P&Z tonight to approve this.  The City would net $215k with this buy/sell of the parcel, but I don't know where the public access ends up, be it alongside the nets from River Rd parking area, or from the back behind the ice skating rink down to the river.

How a 6.5 acre property wasn't transferred properly and had a sports center and batting cage built upon it - beyond me.

Letting you all know due to the public access nature.

Tom Harbinson

When in USA  Tel: 203SirTomH

When out of country: WhatsApp: 01-203-MARIMBA

[Bill Dyer]

An amazing story. The driving range has been there for decades.

I do not remember having access from the driving range parking lot. We have cleared a path from behind the hockey building, behind the driving range net, and down to the river. But not in the recent past. 

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[thomas harbinson]

At the time of this approval, the initial access was down between the nets and the landfill, with some parking spots allocated for hikers.  As outgrowth of the demand for patron parking up front, you are correct that a modification was made to have the access be from the rear parking behind the ice rink.  I thought that they were required to maintain it.  Either way, this parcel goes down to the riverfront, pretty much bisecting the driving range, and be it the original approval or the later amendment, the parcel being sold from state to city, and then city to developer, encompases the public access area as approved in the PDD.

Tom Harbinson

When in USA  Tel: 203SirTomH

When out of country: WhatsApp: 01-203-MARIMBA

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sheltoncc/CAH2OifVWHXR86SF8zLGP22Y7AVBzpTB2bUOra2rGaw5rYWd9qQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Bill Dyer]

Could the BOA require the purchaser to maintain the trail as a part of the sale? 

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[thomas harbinson]

The BOA have specifically chosen to not follow Charter element where Conservation and Parks & Rec Commissions are to weigh in.

I don't know that they could require anything upon the new property owner that the same existing "occupant" is supposed to do.

It's a mistake to have allowed a PDD and subsequent development on property that the developer didn't own, and hasn't owned for the past 19yrs while occupying it.

Before you ask, my understanding is that adverse possession (squatters rights) can not be used upon the government.

Tom Harbinson

When in USA  Tel: 203SirTomH

When out of country: WhatsApp: 01-203-MARIMBA

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/sheltoncc/CAH2OifUUFvXqmOKkEybB%2B-5MWBJ2c3MxLzB0PaVn1PG16TY7cg%40mail.gmail.com.