Darien RTM Approves New Lease Agreements For Great Island Residents

DARIEN, CT — With Great Island now under town ownership, the Darien Representative Town Meeting this week approved new leases for residents who live on the 60-plus acre parcel of land.

Five one-year residential leases were approved Monday night, which will run from June 15, 2023, to June 15, 2024.

Jack Davis, chair of the RTM's Finance and Budget Committee, said the lease agreements will generate $372,000 in fiscal year 2024 for the town.

A lease proposal for the stable facility on the island, currently operated by Serenity Show Stables, was pulled from the agenda at the request of First Selectman Monica McNally, and another residential lease was not considered since it was extended prior to the town's acquisition of the property.

The five residential leases that were approved are for:

• 24 Great Island, known as the "Dolphin House," with a monthly rent of $4,800
• 40 Great Island, known as the "White House," with a monthly rent of $7,500
• 46A Great Island, one of two apartments above the stables, with a monthly rent of $5,500
• 46B Great Island, the other stable apartment, with a monthly rent of $2,000
• 49 Great Island, known as the "Green House," with a monthly rent of $5,500

RTM Planning, Zoning & Housing Committee Chair Amy Zabetakis said all of the properties are currently occupied by the proposed tenants.

"These leases predominantly match the leases that the tenants had with the prior owner, however, none of the leases with the town have been approved by the tenants as of yet," she said during Monday's RTM meeting.

Different from prior leases is the mutual right to cancel the leases on three months' notice. There are also certain environmental waivers the tenants will be giving to the town, Zabetakis said.

Mark Adiletta, chair of the RTM Public Works Committee, said members "felt satisfied" with the scope of the resident leases.

"These one-year leases with a 90-day out don't necessarily bind the town to any future use or direction for Great Island down the road," Adiletta said. "It was viewed as maintaining the status quo while defining certain obligations, while the Great Island Advisory Committee and Board of Selectmen formulate a long-term strategy."

Interviews for the advisory committee are taking place, and the full committee, which will be tasked with overseeing post-acquisition tasks on the island, is expected to be announced during the Board of Selectmen meeting on July 3.

Also on Monday, the RTM approved the gift of two statues from the Steinkraus family, who owned Great Island previously.

The two garden marble statues date back to the 1930s, and they're located near the main house on Great Island. They're valued at $425,000.