After discussion at a July 5 session, Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members unanimously endorsed $100,000 in town open space spending for a development easement in connection with open space land preservation at the historic Cherry Grove Farm, a rustic site amid local horse country.

The P&Z acted on the spending plan, which was referred to by the Board of Selectmen. The Legislative Council has already approved that spending.

Newtown Forest Association's (NFA) recent land purchase at Cherry Grove Farm preserves more than 29 acres of forest, meadows, and streams. The preserved land is open to the general public for passive forms of recreation. Hikers, leashed dogs, bicyclists, and horseback riders are allowed on the land, but motorized vehicles are prohibited.

The development easement acquired by the town, plus related costs, are consistent with the 2014 Town Plan of Conservation and Development, according to First Selectman Dan Rosenthal. The town's easement purchase is coupled with the NFA's land purchase at the farm.

In March, the P&Z approved a two-lot residential subdivision at Cherry Grove Farm. P&Z members approved the application from GRC Construction LLC for the site, which has an address of 70 Platts Hill Road. The property has R-2 (Residential) zoning, in which two acres is the minimum lot size for residential development.

The terms of that subdivision approval allowed the NFA to proceed with its plans to acquire acreage from GRC for preservation as open space land. The private nonprofit NFA, which is a land trust, has conducted a fundraising drive to pay for such a real estate acquisition.

In its March approval, the P&Z agreed to waive several requirements for subdivision applications because of the simplicity of the application and the large open space area that would be created.

P&Z members agreed that the town will allow the NFA to own at no cost what typically would be town-owned open space land. In effect, the NFA's purchase of approximately 17 acres, when coupled with the town-sanctioned NFA ownership of approximately 13 acres of open space, would result in the preservation of more than 29 acres of open space.

NFA President Bob Eckenrode has said the Cherry Grove Farm subdivision project represented a perfect situation for the NFA, the developer, and the town. The NFA will formulate a management plan for the open space. NFA owns roughly 1,300 acres of open space throughout town.