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- Category: Current Issue
Open Space
fund gets
replenished
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
POMFRET — The state, last week, announced its reimbursement to the town for part of the town’s purchase of the Frankfurter property.
The $187, 250 payment will go into the town’s Open Space fund, according to First Selectman Maureen Nicholson. The town was eligible for 65 percent of the purchase price but received 35 percent. “Everything helps,” said Nicholson.
In 2019 the town purchased the 141-acre property for $580,000, she said. Ten acres along Rt. 44 will be earmarked for future municipal use and the remaining 131 acres will be preserved as open space.
Six people owned the property and the town had tried, unsuccessfully, to buy the property through the years. A study had shown that the property could be developed into as many as 20 lots. She said the property is part of the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. “We wanted to keep it for long-range open space,” she said.
Finally, in 2019 the town was successful and signed a purchase and sale agreement with the one remaining owner. She stressed the town’s appreciation to the Frankfurter family.
State Rep. Pat Boyd announced the reimbursement last week. The grants are authorized under the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The program helps municipalities, land trusts and water companies buy land for open space and preserving it in perpetuity. Nicholson said this is the last year of the program and that Pomfret was the only town in northeastern Connecticut to receive funding.
Boyd said: “Open space is essential to environmental protection and conservation. In the wake of increased development activities in our state, it is critical that we secure and protect natural lands and resources. Open space conservation helps preserve wildlife habitats, offers passive recreation and buffers against climate change.
The parcel is accessible from the Airline Trail and Wolf Den Road. Nicholson said the parcel is on the west side of the Airline Trail, the east side of Wolf Den Road, the south side of the New England Forestry Foundation’s trail system and the north side of Rt. 44. Boyd said bass fishing will be permitted on the property’s pond.
Nicholson said the property used to be part of the Gwyn Careg estate and exotic animals used to live there.
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