Guilford Voters Approve Purchase Of Former Mooring Restaurant Property

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford voters on Wednesday night overwhelmingly voted to approve the town's purchase of the former Mooring restaurant property at 505 Whitfield St. for $3 million, signaling a desire to acquire and preserve coastal access.

The Guilford High School gymnasium was packed for the special meeting, which was required by the town charter to approve of the purchase. The meeting had been postponed twice in recent weeks -- once due to capacity issues at the Community Center, and again because of an error in the meeting notice in a local publication.

There was standing room only inside the gymnasium on Wednesday.

"This is an amazing, amazing sight," First Selectman Matt Hoey said at the beginning of the meeting, which featured comments from town officials and the public. "We've held town meetings before with two or three people. I've never seen a town meeting of this size. May I congratulate all of you, and thank you for participating in the process."

Hoey has called the purchase a "generational opportunity" for the town, and he reiterated that sentiment on Wednesday.

The Guilford Mooring closed this past November after 24 years in business.

"This is a rare opportunity to create a unique public space, one that has the potential to create much-needed public coastal access for Guilford residents for years, if not generations to come, and possibly create a pathway or connectivity to Jacob's Beach over a piece of property we own between them," Hoey said. "We are buying a right to determine the use of this property, to protect and enhance a valuable resource. If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll have no say in it forever."

While concepts haven't been developed yet for the site, Hoey has mentioned there could be an establishment of a pocket park with benches, a pavilion with restrooms, or even a food truck court. He also has said the town would partner with the Lobster Pound which is located on the property and has a long-term lease.

The purchase is intended to be funded using municipal bonds and funding through FEMA, DEEP grants, and state bonding.

Earlier this week, Town Engineer Janice Plaziak announced that the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) has confirmed the availability of FEMA grant opportunities.

DEMHS has provided guidance that the grant application can now include not only funds for acquisition of the property and demolition of the building at the site, but also for post demolition improvements such as a pavilion, public restrooms and landscaping.

"It is our understanding that the federal hazard mitigation assistance funding through FEMA can cover up to 100 percent of acquisition costs, as well as 100 percent of demolition of any structures on the target property," Hoey said.

If the town were to borrow $3 million at current bond rates and retire it over 30 years, the cost would be somewhere between $165,000-$180,000 per year, according to Hoey. With over 10,000 properties taxed annually in town, the cost for taxpayers would be $16.50 to $18 per year.

Those against the $3 million purchase said it was "unnecessary" and "irresponsible," especially because the property is prone to flooding. Proponents cited a need to preserve open space, not only for today, but for future generations.

Resident Dave Holman, a vocal opponent of the purchase, said "there is nothing certain about this purchase." He noted that he and his wife are "getting crushed by sky-high Guilford property taxes."

"Tonight we can begin the process of returning our town of Guilford to fiscal sanity by rejecting this unnecessary purchase of the Guilford Mooring property for $3 million, plus whatever the additional cost will be to demolish the building, cart the wreckage away, reconstruct the property and satisfy the unknown engineering and environmental requirements to convert this property," he said.

Jonathan Trotta, a member of the Guilford Board of Finance, which unanimously approved using bond funds for the purchase, spoke against the acquisition.

"Even though I think Guilford can be smart and use taxpayer dollars in a clever way and get some open space, I don't think this is the right purchase for Guilford. I don't think the town is going to get enough access and benefit from the property that can be offered by a commercial option," he said. "When I moved to Guilford, I thought this was one of the most beautiful places. I don't think I moved to Guilford for food trucks or a couple of extra picnic benches. I think we can do a little bit better than this."

Former longtime Guilford Parks and Recreation Director Rick Maynard spoke about other areas in town that have been preserved. He said when he first started working in Guilford, he brought his father to Chaffinch Island Park.

"His comment was, 'What amazing foresight the previous administrations had to provide this general property for the community,'" Maynard said. "You can say that about Bittner Park, you can say that about Long Hill Park, Nut Plains Park - every park we have. Look at the use they're getting. Nobody would have foreseen the kind of use they get. I think this would be an amazing asset for the town. Parks add value to a community."

Another resident, Joanna Baymiller, noted the many approvals and endorsements from town bodies, organizations and lawmakers. The purchase has been approved by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and the Land Acquisition Commission.

Additionally, the Guilford Rotary and Guilford Preservation Alliance offered support for the purchase along with state Sen. Christine Cohen (D-12) and state Rep. Moira Rader (D-99). The town's Planning & Zoning Commission also found the purchase in alignment with the goals outlined in the Plan of Conservation and Development.

"I think the 22,000 people who live here are the beneficiaries of sound planning and strategic thinking and good governance on the part of these elected, appointed and volunteer staff people. We should heed their endorsement," Baymiller said.

Baymiller noted the potential developments that could come to the waterfront property if the town doesn't act.

Plaziak mentioned earlier in the meeting that if there is any new private development on the site, it would likely be multi-story, elevated and "at a scale much different" than what's currently there.

"I shudder at the idea of multi-million dollar condos bought as trophy properties by people who don't even live here most of the time because they have homes in Florida, and they won't volunteer at the library, and you won't see them at community meetings and they don't contribute," added Baymiller, who paraphrased Humphrey Bogart in the movie "Casablanca."

"If you don't do this, you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day and for the rest of your life," she said.

After public comment was closed, a voice vote was held. The gymnasium erupted in support of the purchase, followed by a quieter objection from those who opposed it.