Wasserman Secures Triple-Play Land Conveyance From State

By John Voket

Newtown’s State Representative Julia Wasserman has once again tapped state officials and delivered additional land conveyances that may provide significant resources to the town and protect a pocket of agricultural commerce off Queen Street. Rep Wasserman recently announced that three conveyances she negotiated in the full legislative session, which closed June 6, are awaiting the governor’s endorsement.

Then, upon final review of a state Properties Review Board, which approves such activities, the process of eventually deeding the properties over to the town will commence. Despite the protracted process to finally deliver the newest conveyances, the veteran legislator said this week she was thrilled to be able to secure the transfers.

“These latest conveyances are good news for Newtown,” Rep Wasserman said.

The three local parcels are among numerous initiatives offered in House Bill 7386 by 22 lawmakers from across the state. The first is a 1.23-acre parcel at the corner of Trades Lane and Old Farm Road on the west side of Wasserman Way on the grounds of the former Fairfield Hills State Hospital.

The advantage of this conveyance, Rep Wasserman explained, is the former hospital storage barn on the property.

“It’s a small parcel, but an important building because it’s in such good shape,” she said. “It’s enormous, has an operating freight elevator, and I hope it can serve some useful purpose.

“Don’t just use it for storage,” she added.

The second more sizable conveyance encompasses 28.12 acres near the intersection of Wasserman Way and Nunnawauk Road. The lawmaker envisions the parcel as a perfect location for various municipal facilities, including possibly a dog pound or ambulance garage.

“This one is a real plumb,” Rep Wasserman said. She said while a house and barn and related property abutting the parcel would be “carved out,” possibly for private sale or occupancy, the balance of the acreage can be configured in several ways to best suit its eventual uses.

While the third parcel is the smallest, less than one acre, its conservation can help retain one of Newtown’s most visible legacies of its agricultural heritage, Rep Wasserman said. The parcel, off the easterly side of Queen Street, is primarily occupied by a huge hay barn that has served farmer/leaseholders for many years.

The barn, which is on Department of Agriculture land, is actually the property of, and maintained by, the state Department of Public Works (DPW). Because of the rapidly deteriorating condition of the roof, farmers who have been leasing adjacent land for hay mowing are restricted from using it.

Rep Wasserman became concerned when she learned the farmers had been evicted, and the DPW had no plans to repair the structure.

“I started biting my nails when I found out about this,” Rep Wasserman said. “If there’s no barn, there’s no farmers. And if we lose that barn, then what? In a few years, you would likely see houses being developed on that property.”

She said with no planned use for the adjacent fields, once the tenant farmers departed, the Department of Agriculture was ready to let the land go. But with the involvement of adjacent Queen Street property-owner Robert Geckle, Rep Wasserman is hopeful the structure and agricultural commerce tied to it will be saved.

She said it was Mr Geckle who was first approached by the tenant farmers after they were evicted because of an unstable and leaking roof. When he was informed the farmers were being forced to abandon the adjacent fields for another location in proximity to a viable storage facility, Mr Geckle immediately appealed to Hartford on their behalf.

And when he learned neither the DOAG or DPW had the resources to protect the barn, Mr Geckle offered to establish a conservation trust that would cover the cost of repairs to the roof, and hopefully retain the established farmers to continue working the land.

Rep Wasserman said Mr Geckle was “doing the town a big favor” by stepping in and leveraging foundation funds to protect and preserve the barn, which in turn will continue to block eventual residential development on the adjoining land.

“I was happy to see a private citizen step up and establish a foundation that is willing to preserve the land and barn for agriculture and open space,” she said. Mr Geckle, who serves as a volunteer chairman for the Fairfield Hills Authority, said it was critical that the town protect as much of its existing agricultural commerce as possible.

“It was kind of ironic in a year when the state is funding and promoting a resurgence in agricultural commerce that they were ready to let this thing go,” Mr Geckle said. “These farmers needed help.”

He said a private appeal, followed by a call through Rep Wasserman’s office, both failed to motivate the state agencies to action, so for an expected $150,000–$200,000, the Geckle Conservation Foundation would shore up the structure and repair the roof so the barn can return to its original use.

Working with Rep Wasserman and Commissioner of Agriculture F. Philip Prelli, himself a fifth generation farmer, Mr Geckle came up with a plan that is well on its way to approval. Mr Geckle said in the coming days, he expects to receive an agreement that will permit future generations who take over the foundation, to continue to work preserving the historical barn.

“I just want to be sure that negotiating this transfer to the foundation will not become a problem for my estate down the line,” Mr Geckle said. At press time, the governor had yet to sign the conveyance bill, which also contains nearly two dozen other land transfers in communities including Norwich, Trumbull, Beacon Falls, South Windsor, and Cheshire.