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Date Posted: Saturday, November 03, 10:23:38am
Author: Christopher A. Jones
Subject: Development Rights v Purchase
In reply to: SHL 's message, "Zabolik Property" on Saturday, November 03, 08:36:13am

In my very limited experience, the use of Development Rights had historically been employed to ensure the ongoing utility of the land such as farming, while providing relief for the party that wished to control the use of the land and the party that wished to continue to farm it.
I am unsure of the genisis of the Development Rights option but it likely goes back to a time when agriculture was the norm and was more important to the economy.
Fundamentally the primary difference between outright purchase and purchasing development rights is the price, or if you will, the cost of the transaction.

Having said that, The Hartford Courant reports today the Farmington is now agreeing to a deal with the Krell Family for the acquisition of 90 something acres on Rt 177 for 6.7 million dollars in an effort to keep a developer from building 1500 condo units on the parcel.
Now that is a big number.

In reality, as SHL has said, most of us are in favor of responsible land preservation, including myself, but at what cost?
The potential preservation of Alfred's property appears to be more in keeping with the idea of development rights because, according to the article in the Republican American, Alfred needs to use the money to fix his home and live out his life.
And, at 90 acres, the $375,000.00 seems cheap in comparison.

I am very well aware of the personal critisism and lost votes suffered in my public stance on the OSPC project at Phillip's, and were it a different moment in time I probably would think it is a good deal, but the further consumption of dollars, however they may be arrived at,at this juncture is a difficult pill to swallow.
Further, while the OSPC presentation notes that the appraised value of the Phillips parcel is around $800K and the development rights deal is at $730K, the Development Rights deal offers only a 10% discount in the price, why not provide an outright purchase?
The Phillips parcel is a lovely site. If approved by the voters it will provide an extended environmental refuge and public area of enjoyment, I just think it is a bad time to lump in another 10 or 20 bucks a year onto an unknown budget that is growing in uncertainty by the day.
Granted, the OSPC has yielded a significant score with the Land Preservation Grant that will provide for 50% of the 730K price, but frankly in a perverse sort of way, that's tax dollars too. And also granted is that the Town has any number of clever ways to finance the deal, it just seems to me to be bad timing.
In the end, much like big issues such as the Teacher's latest contract approval, it is up to the voters as to how and how much they will be willing to spend on the wants and needs in Town.
A Senior Center, the WWTP, improvements such as the DPW Garage, playing fields, libraries, roads, equipment,education, it all has to connect.
Being comfortable that we connect the right "dots" is the real trick.








>OK....my opinion only...Development rights are
>development rights, and the purchaser of those
>shouldn't have any impact on the total cost. Again I
>ask...Why would one parcel be worth twice the amount
>of the other? This makes no sense to me. I want to
>emphasize that I SUPPORT the responsible acquisition
>of open space. I'm not sure I support the purchase of
>development rights only. What is the advantage to the
>town for purchasing only the development rights? It
>sure doesn't seem like there is a cost differential.

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