Bethel's Proposed 108-Acre Land Purchase Heads To Referendum

BETHEL, CT — Bethel voters will have the final say on a proposal to purchase and preserve 108 acres off Codfish Hill Road after residents voted Wednesday to send the acquisition to referendum.

The motion passed during an Aug. 19 special town meeting at Bethel Middle School. The referendum is scheduled for Sept. 1, according to the Bethel Land Trust.

The vote marks the next step in a proposal to acquire the Menegay property, which the land trust has described as one of the last two large parcels of unprotected land remaining in private hands in Bethel.

The property is surrounded by protected open space and could connect the approximately 96-acre Wolfpits Preserve with the roughly 1,000-acre Collis P. Huntington State Park. Advocates say the connection could help create an interconnected network encompassing about 20 miles of trails.

In addition to hiking and mountain biking, the property could provide opportunities for agricultural use, wildlife viewing and a community garden.

The town has said it plans to work with the Bethel Land Trust to pursue grants to help fund the purchase.

Following Wednesday's meeting, the Bethel Land Trust thanked residents who attended and supported moving the proposal forward.

"Because of your support, the motion to send the purchase to referendum passed," the organization said. "This is an important step toward protecting this extraordinary 108-acre property for the future of our community."

The land trust encouraged residents to return to the polls Sept. 1 for the final vote on the proposed acquisition.