This letter was recently sent by the Land Conservation Trust to Killingworth residents.

Dear Neighbor,

We are about to be given the opportunity to take a vital step toward keeping our town the pastoral community that led us here and keeps us here. Considering a questionnaire sent out to every home in town, we Killingworthers want to live in a rural town. Our Planning and Zoning Commission heard this message loud and clear and incorporated in our Town Plan of Conservation and Development the goal of maintaining our rural character. A key element to maintaining the rural element is the protection, stewardship and acquisition of open space.

In keeping with this charge, our Board of Selectmen has initiated the purchase of the Wettish property, located on 14 North Parker Hill Road Extension. This parcel of 143 acres has several large fields, beautiful woodlands, trails, natural pools, and old stone walls. The wooded section connects with the Cockaponset State Forest with trails leading to the Pattaconk Reservoir (a stunning undeveloped body of water), and beyond. It also abuts 67 acres protected by a KLCT Conservation Easement.

The Killingworth Land Conservation Trust urges you to support the acquisition of the Wettish property. Among the benefits realized in buying this property are:

* The people in town will be rewarded with access to networks of trails through acres of the most beautiful natural areas. That it is adjacent to 15,600 acres of state forest is an added bonus.

* It makes economical sense. If the town does not purchase this piece, it will most likely be developed into a housing subdivision. It has been estimated that the land could be divided into at least a couple dozen
building lots. The purchase cost of $2.65 million is substantially less than what those homes would cost the town (and therefore - us!) in the long run. The numbers have been run over and over for our town - it costs us
less to preserve land than to provide for family homes. The Town also hopes to apply for a State grant to offset some of the purchase cost.

* Here is a unique opportunity for different elements of passive recreation to exist in one place. We'll get our soccer fields AND have undisturbed trails for hiking, horseback riding, etc.

Our town officials are doing their part. Now we have to do our part.

While it may sound like a slam-dunk vote to take advantage of this opportunity, it will not be. There are those who believe we have all the open space we need. The Land Trust strongly disagrees with that opinion. If you are among those who value fields and forests over more paved roads and subdivisions, then it is incumbent upon you to pull a lever to make your position known. Your reward will be a gift to yourself and your family of a nice little chunk of our natural heritage. It's a gift that will be treasured by many generations to come.

Come to the Town Meeting on February 7, at 8 PM in the KES All Purpose room to speak up for this. And on February 15th, be sure to vote! Please, do not sit this one out in the hope that your friends and neighbors will make this happen for you. Votes in this town have been known to be real squeakers and we have one shot at this!

Sincerely,

John Himmelman
KLCT President

PS. Guided walks of the property are planned for JANUARY 28 (rain date February 4) and FEBRUARY 11 beginning at 9 AM, ending around 3 PM. Meet at 14 Parker Hill Road Extension.