Land Donation Could Give Town Access to Open Space, $450,000

After voters have a chance to weigh in on the proposal April 20, officials hope to move forward with a potential solution to gain access to a parcel of open space and $450,000 from the state of Connecticut.

The date was selected for a town meeting to consider the donation of three parcels on Robin Drive from the Canton Land Conservation Trust.

The land would allow the town to provide access to the 140-acre Cannon Property it purchased in 2008.

The Department of Environmental Protection awarded the town a $450,000 grant from toward the $959,000 purchase price.

However, the town has not received the funds because the DEP felt the public did not have adequate access to the property.

The land trust donation, which totals about 11 acres, not only includes two parcels that would allow trail access into the property but also a third piece on the other side of Robin Drive that could potentially be used for parking spaces, Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner said.

“It just gives us different options,” Skinner said at a Board of Selectmen meeting Wednesday night.

Skinner also said the proposal was given positive referrals from the Open Space Preservation and Acquisition Commission as well as the Planning Commission. It does not need Board of Finance approval since there is not funding or property tax loss, he said.

Selectmen agreed to hold a town meeting on the matter April 20 at 7 p.m. in the community center.