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01/15/2019 12:30 PMWestbrook has a chance to purchase another 147 acres of property from Toby Hill Associates, a second purchase from the developer following its 2015 acquisition of 84 acres. The purchase, loosely estimated in the $500,000 range—would add significantly to the town’s open space: The parcel connects to the Essex Land Trust to the north and to the open land near the Timberland subdivision off Route 153 owned by the Westbrook Land Conservation Trust.
The town is applying for state open space funds, of which there’s reportedly a short supply. The application will be made to the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) for an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisitions Grant.
“We don’t know the actual amount” in the fund, said Heidi Wallace, the town’s inland wetland and conservation agent, “but it’s a competitive program.”
The parcel is referred to as Toby Hill Phase VIII, as it was intended as part of a residential subdivision, “but it never hit the table,” explained Wallace. “It’s a difficult piece with a lot of rock outcroppings and wetlands.”
As in the case of the previous 84 acres, Toby Hill Associates offered up the parcel to the town after ascertaining that building on it was not viable.
The town has demonstrated its commitment to preservation and conservation for many years. In 2016, 20 percent of the land within the boundaries of the Town of Westbrook was designated as conservation land.
“Over the years, [Tom] ODell, chairman of the conservation trust, he was responsible for writing grants for open space,” said First Selectman Noel Bishop.
The 84 acres previously purchased from Toby Hill Associates was largely due to the efforts of ODell, who died this past July.
“We’re interested in carrying on Tom ODell’s, the Conservation Commission’s, and the Planning Commission’s… open space vision plan,” said Wallace. “The land contains the headwaters of Trout Brook and Trout Brook flows through the Holbrook Well on Route 153, so it’s a good opportunity to preserve water quality.”
If the town purchases the property, it will create recreation paths for hiking and bicycling, she added.
“To get the open space funds, before you can apply, two appraisals have to be done,” Bishop said.
According to an agreement, Toby Hill Associates paid for the first; the second was the town’s responsibility and was expected to be completed by Jan. 11. The cost for each was $3,800.
The appraisals determine “[h]ow much the land is worth by yellow book standards,” Wallace explained. Yellow book standards are also known as generally accepted government auditing standards, and are used by appraisers of government entities.
“We had to find someone who had a background in yellow book appraisals,” she said.
“As soon as that second appraisal is completed, it will be submitted as part of a grant application,” Bishop said. “It’s a long shot—we understand that going in.”
The grant, whose deadline is Feb. 7, provides up to 65 percent of the fair market value of the land.
“It’s a sliding scale…based on the application’s merit,” Wallace said.
If approved for the grant, the issue will be put to the voters at a town meeting: an appraisal of $500,000, would require a town contribution of $175,000 to purchase the land.
“The developer presented that it’s worth over half a million,” Wallace said.