Suffield Celebrates Preservation of Key Farmland

Suffield political, business, and citizen leaders gathered at the Fire House on Ratley Road Thursday to celebrate the purchase of development rights to 164 acres on Phelps Road to be used in perpetuity as farmland. After a luncheon, stakeholders traveled out to the farm on a perfectly mild December day to see the pristine property.

Through a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, the town of Suffield purchased the development rights to the Phelps Road property from owner Ben Nascimbeni, who just days ago purchased the property from River Bend Associates. The development rights require the land to be used for agriculture in perpetuity.

The new farm will be known as Quarry Brook Farms, and operated by the Nascimbeni family.

“We are very fortunate that the town has helped with the opportunity to buy this property, we are very thankful,” Nascimbeni said.

The Nascimbeni family currently operates a farm in Southwick, MA and plans to grow corn as a primary product on the property. In addition, he plans to grow pumpkins and squash and other seasonal vegetables and plants.

First Selectman Ed McAnaney praised the effort, noting that during his time as town attorney, he worked on other projects aimed at preserving agricultural lands in town.

“This is a wonderful program where we purchase development rights for farms throughout the town. It gives the town the opportunity to preserve not only the land, but the agricultural way of life which is one of the underpinnings of what Suffield is,” McAnaney said.

Chairman of the Open Space Subcommittee, Ray Wilcox, was recognized as the Working Lands Alliance outstanding volunteer of the year. Director of Economic Development Patrick McMahon presented Wilcox with the Pathfinder Award.

“It's amazing to do things you really love to do, and somebody says 'great job,'” said Wilcox.

Funding for the project included a contribution from the town of Suffield of $600,00 and an additional $1.4 million from the state. The town has also pursued federal funds for agriculture related projects.

“The funds that we have been able to allocate at the town level have been leveraged as much as possible with state and federal funds,” McMahon said.

Also on hand at the event were state rep. Elaine O'Brien, East Granby First Selectman Jim Hayden, and several state, federal, and local officials.

“We have worked on eleven land preservation projects in Suffield, the most of any municipality," said Commissioner of Agriculture Steven Reviczky. "What is so great about working here is the quality of the land and the quality of the farmers. To be able to work with some of the best land in the country, in the world, in the Connecticut River Valley is really fantastic."

As part of the deal for the land, the town acquired an acre of land near Quarry Road to be used as a parking lot for the canal bicycle trail. The trail connects bike paths all the way through East Granby and Granby to Simsbury. The seller, River Bend Associates, gifted the property to the town. It will be engineered in the coming months.