Fairfield Looks To Acquire Parcel Of Marshland Through Donation

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield is looking to acquire a small tidal marshland property on Center Street that could lead into the acquisition of a larger adjacent property for open space.

Conservation Director Tim Bishop on Tuesday presented a request to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to recommend the town accept a donation of the 0.17-acre lot at 561 Center St.

The commission unanimously approved the request, sending it to the Land Acquisition Commission for consideration, and then to the Board of Selectpersons for final approval.

Environmentally, the parcel ties into other open space in the general vicinity that offer natural resources to wild life.

Bishop said the donated property, which is near an I-95 ramp, could help lead to bigger things.

"More of a strategic acquisition with no downsides," Bishop said.

Bishop said that adjacent to the parcel are about four acres of privately owned marshland that might become an acquisition target for the town in the future.

The Center Street property owner who is donating the parcel pays about $700 per year in taxes to the town, an amount that would end upon the town accepting the land, according to Bishop.

An undisclosed amount of back taxes are owed, which the town would likely waive upon receiving ownership of the land.

"In the past, the tax collector and town attorney have waived those delinquencies as part of the transition of title to the town," Bishop said.