Fairfield RTM Approves $950,000 Purchase Of Land For Education Program
FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Representative Town Meeting Monday unanimously approved a $950,000 purchase of two properties on Sturges Road in Fairfield, as long as an underground fuel tank is removed from one of the parcels.
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Adjacent to the town’s Perry’s Mill Pond Open Space, 798 and 816 Sturges Road are near the intersection of Bronson Road, and combined, they are a total of 0.59 acres.
To help pay for the purchase, the town will use some funds from its H. Smith Richardson Trust fund, and the Town’s Payment of Fee In Lieu of Open Space fund.
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“The property will be designed and renovated to become the first environmental education center in the region, a nature’s classroom so to speak,” wrote Fairfield Conservation Director Tim Bishop in a memorandum on the project. “Through this Department, I intend to operate the facility in similar fashion as the Parks & Recreation Department operates Penfield Pavilion. The building and grounds would be expected to be utilized by Fairfield Public Schools and their Mill River Wetlands Committee (MRWC) curriculum, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other nature-based organizations on a reservation basis.”
But not before the seller, Juan Velez, removes the underground oil tank from the property, a condition first imposed by the Board of Finance, and supported by the RTM.
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“It’s very necessary for us not to have this liability when purchasing these properties,” said RTM member Sharon Pistilli, who amended the motion to include the finance board’s language:
“…subject to the Seller professionally removing the inground oil tank on the premises and receiving test results from the tank grave that are within the applicable Remediation Standard Regulations prior to closing of title. The Town further authorizes the expenditure from the additional $100,000 appropriation of up to $20,000 to be used for the Seller’s cost of the tank removal and any applicable remediation costs, and execution of…”
First Selectman Bill Gerber told the RTM that the property owner had already contacted a company to remove the tank, and that company has begun going through the permit process for the effort.
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