2.06.2006

The town of Killingworth has been presented with the unique opportunity to purchase the 144 acre parcel of land on Parker Hill Road Extension, currently owned by the Wettish/Mamula families. This property has 2527 feet of road frontage on the eastern side of Parker Hill Road Extension with open fields extending over 1000 feet beyond the road frontage.

The land slopes to the rear, where it becomes woodland. Soil maps indicate tillable earth with limited wetlands to the north. This parcel has a shared boundary with Chester and the Cockaponset State Forest. It would be the first town owned property having direct access to 5500 acres of state forest.

From a developer's point of view, this is a highly desirable piece of land. The area is zoned for single and two family dwellings on a minimum of 2-acre lots. Houses on 2- to 3- acre lots in the nearby Heft Brook subdivision on Roast Meat Hill, just south of Parker Hill Road, are selling for $600,000 each.

The Wettish family offered the property to the town. We'll be able to purchase it for $2.45 million, only 6.2% above the conservatively appraised value of $2.3 million. The Board of Finance unanimously approved bonding of up to $2.65 million for the purchase. This includes an additional $200,000 to cover costs related to the bond sale.

The Field Study Committee designated this piece of property among the most suitable privately-owned parcels for recreational development at reasonable costs. A significant portion of its four large hay fields lends itself extremely well to ball fields. Ample open space and passive recreation are readily incorporated into the total package.

I have consulted with and received support from several relevant groups in pursuing this purchase. Among them are the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, the Conservation Commission, and the Field Study Committee. As you have seen from recent Letters to the Editor, people from both political parties and various town organizations have come out in support of this acquisition.

An informational forum will be held on February 7 at KES to answer your questions and concerns on the issue. A week later, on February 15, a referendum will be held at KES. The hours for voting will be established at the Feb. 7th meeting. Killingworth residents will have the opportunity on the 15th to vote on the acquisition of the Wettish property.

Friends and neighbors, I have your interests at heart and would not like to miss the opportunity to acquire this exceptional parcel, a resource of value for future generations. I ask you to cast your vote in approval on February 15.

Sincerely,
Marty