One Hearing Down, One to Go Regarding Glastonbury's 718-Acre Open Space Purchase Proposal

GLASTONBURY, CT — Residents had their first chance to speak on Tuesday during a public hearing on the town's potential purchase of 718 acres of former Metropolitan District Commission land for $15 million.

Check out what they had to say in a Hartford Courant story.

It was the first of two public hearings offered by the town regarding the the purchase proposal. The second is scheduled for Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. in town council chambers at town hall. The Board of Finance and the Planning and Zoning have already endorsed it.

According to the Courant story, since 1988, the town has acquired 1,600 acres and 38 parcels using its land acquisition fund.

Town officials hope to use funds in that account totaling for $2.3 million and then take $2.7 million from the general fund surplus for the local $5 million share of the purchase price.

The remaining $10 million will be covered by a grant from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection., town officials said.