Following a “heartily” recommended action by the Newtown Conservation Commission and a positive referral by the Town Planning & Zoning Commission, Selectmen unanimously approved the acceptance of a 36.26 acre open space parcel during its regular meeting November 19.

The final authorization to take on the open space as public land now heads to the Legislative Council for final approval, presumably during one of the two scheduled council meetings in December.

In a presentation to the selectmen accompanied by a memo, Deputy Director of Planning Rob Sibley noted that the acquisition of this key parcel was the culmination of approximately 12 years of negotiation.

Mr Sibley wrote that the parcels were first brought to his attention during the purchasing program for open space in 2006.

He told The Newtown Bee that an original 168-acre parcel was offered for $1.6 million. At the time, he noted that the Conservation Commission ranked the parcel high on its acquisition scale but lacked the funding to close the deal.

Mr Sibley explained that in 2012, the developer chose to use Newtown’s newly created Open Space Conservation Subdivision Regulations to develop the 23 lot subdivision and set aside 84 acres for open space during the process.

The final lot (Lot No. 23) had a balance of approximately 46 acres, which the developer offered for $400,000, but the town declined. Then, in late 2015, the developer offered the same lot for $150,000, which again the town declined.

Most recently, the developer chose to donate a revised portion of this parcel to the town measuring just over 36 acres. Mr Sibley said that donated portion of the lot would be added to and abut an existing 84 acres of open space. Public access to the new parcel remains via the existing open space, located at the end of Robin Hill Road off of Rock Ridge Road.

“The Conservation Commission heartily recommends accepting this offer, and P&Z has passed the offer under its 8-24 statutory referral,” Mr Sibley wrote in his memo to selectmen.

The land use official further told selectmen that acquiring the parcel would not only offer protection of a key viewscape, but would also help sustain steep slopes and erodible soils on the parcel.

In addition to greatly expanding the Robin Hill preserve (upon council acceptance), the proposed new open space parcel abuts the Ferris farm property, which is also protected by a previously negotiated conservation easement.

“We’re putting together a wonderful area that is preserved,” Mr Sibley told selectmen.

Besides going to the Legislative Council for final approval, Mr Sibley said the acquisition’s financial impact has yet to be reviewed by Town Finance Director Robert Tait.

On calling the vote, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal told his colleagues that “looking at preserving 120 acres with no direct monetary output is great.”