All Castle Hill Farm co-owner Steve Paproski wants to do is secure the means for his immediate family members to continue benefiting from the farm his family has tilled and maintained for more than 90 years.

His wife and retired educator, Diana, also wants to see Castle Hill farm continue to be a massive living classroom for the hundreds of school students who visit every year.

And both definitely want to see many more generations of Newtown neighbors and visitors from around the state, nation, and globe enjoy the Castle Hill corn mazes, hayrides, bonfires, pumpkin picking, farm stand bounty, festivals, special community events, and fundraisers the Paproskis host every year at their family farm.

But the family was facing the prospect of seeing much, if not all, of those activities and "agritourism" come to an end, until recently.

In a proposal that was previously approved by the local Legislative Council, and the Boards of Selectmen and Finance, the town was poised to match 45 percent, or $450,450 of a $1,001,100 payment to the local family to obtain an agricultural easement on about 65 acres of the Paproski's 94-plus-acre parcel just off Sugar Street.

But as the family and its representatives worked through details of that arrangement, which was brokered under a Department of Agriculture (CTDOAG) easement program specifically to help preserve the pristine agricultural soil on much of the parcel, it was becoming clear that many of the activities that make Castle Hill farm a destination site for thousands of visitors would have to stop.

Mr Paproski said there were restrictions on and the elimination of most of his visitor vehicle parking including school tour buses, requirements to curtail a number of other popular and revenue-generating activities including the corn maze, even a requirement that the family get permission in writing through the government agency if they needed or wanted to make improvements on their own home, which was located within the easement.

As of February 3, that proposal is no longer happening as the Board of Selectmen accepted the Paproski family's withdrawal from that particular program. But at the same time, selectmen learned that a smaller parcel - coincidentally the area with the highest concentration of pristine agricultural soil - could still be preserved, for less money, which could still be bonded under the original, albeit modified, bonding initiative.

bonus - it would also permit most if not all current activities, tours, and business to continue seamlessly under the Paproski family's stewardship.

And - 

During that February 5 selectmen's meeting Deputy Director of Planning Rob Sibley reiterated that the Paproskis were simply declining to continue pursuit of a USDA direct grant that would be administered through CT DOAG as processor, simply saying the family found grant restrictions "too onerous," and they hoped to tap a new program with the support of the Connecticut Farmland Trust.

Mr Sibley framed the new opportunity as something of a win-win-win because the agreement honored the spirit of preservation required by the town, while blocking any future development on the high profile property along Route 302, and permitting the family farm business to continue and thrive.

Town Finance Director Robert Tait notified selectmen that since he had already bonded the funds in anticipation of completing the former transaction this fiscal year, it would only require a change to the resolution language to shift funding to the new program.

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal noted that by replacing the state program with an almost identical initiative administered through the Farmland Trust, bond expenditures would also be reduced from $450,000 to an amount between $300,000 and $325,000.

The first selectman said he understood that the former easement would force the Paproskis "selling their livelihood along with development rights."

Mr Sibley said the selectmen had to authorize the town separating from the DOAG/USDA arrangement before moving forward with the new arrangement that would preserve about 30 acres, or about half the amount required under the original proposal.

Kathleen Dohery, who was at the meeting representing the Farmland Trust, affirmed that the modified plan still restricts development but would not take away the Paproski's agritourism uses.

"We picked 30 acres of the best soil and areas where agriculture is taking place," she said, adding that time was of the essence, however, because the grant program was running out of funds.

Ms Doherty said the family still faced an advantage because by reducing the amount of soil area, they stood a better chance of getting access to some of the remaining preservation funds.

The basic details of the new proposal involve the federal source to provide $300,000 with the town matching the balance, which could not exceed $620,000. The Connecticut Farmland Trust would then, if approved, act as facilitator and administrator.

In order to assure the family was placed in consideration for the new program, the trust asked selectmen to approve signing some preliminary forms that evening.

Mr Sibley reminded the newly elected selectmen that the agreement struck in 2015 identified easement value at $1 million, and the approved and executed bonding resolution was based on that. He assured selectmen that the land being preserved is the area of best soil, and the primary area the town wants to preserve.

"This is identical from a process standpoint to what was done already, but with a reduction in the bonding commitment," Mr Sibley said.

Mr Rosenthal said he was aware that unless the town started the process by signing an agreement to participate that evening, no other opportunity would present for getting approvals from his board before the February 9 application deadline.

Selectman Jeff Capeci sought reassurance that by signing preliminary papers, it would not bind the town until specifics of the deal were approved by other parties involved. Mr Sibley and Ms Doherty both affirmed the signatures did not bind the town legally to complete the deal.

Mr Rosenthal said that the Board of Selectmen and other bodies would still have to approve the bond resolution amendment.

Selectman Maureen Crick Owen motioned to open the Farmland Trust process, and the motion was quickly and unanimously approved. Mr Rosenthal subsequently supplied signatures on the required commitment forms, and the Paproski family members who were on hand for the meeting left with the knowledge that a new and better opportunity was now available to them.