UConn Land Transfer

2. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, Mansfield and Willington, CT

Complete Address of Property:

"Moss Sanctuary," Storrs (Route 195) and South Eagleville Roads, Mansfield and "North Property," Mason & Daleville Roads, Willington, CT

Commonly used name of property or other identifying information :

Moss Sanctuary (UConn), Moss Forest (UConn), North Property (Connecticut Forest & Park Association)

Number of acres to be transferred:

UConn will convey 135.4 acres of its Moss Sanctuary property together with an easement of access and egress to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) in exchange for CFPA's 96.3 acres "North Property." UConn will also grant CFPA a perpetual easement of public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail over parts of the Moss and Fenton forests owned by UConn. UConn will also grant CFPA a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants over UConn's Moss Forest. For it's part, CFPA will transfer title to the North Property (96.3 acres) subject to a Declaration of Conservation Restriction.

Click to view map of properties' location

UConn_CFPA_Land _Transfer_Map

Description of Property

Below is some general information about the properties. It should not be considered a complete description of the properties and should not be relied upon for making decisions. If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses:

UConn and CFPA use these properties to support and enhance forest resources through research, educational, demonstration, and outreach programs including UConn's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Management Program. CFPA maintains the Nipmuck Trail, a Blue-Blazed Hiking trail, through these properties providing outdoor recreational and educational benefits to the public.

The properties to be transferred contains the following:
Buildings in use
Buildings not in use
Wooded land

Nonagricultural fields

Active agriculture
Paved areas
Ponds, streams or other water

Water Supply: Public water supply On-site well Unknown
Waste Disposal: Served by sewers On-site septic system Unknown

Click to view aerial view of properties

UConn_CFPA_Aerial_Photo

The Locational Guide Map of the Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Plan for Connecticut identifies the property as being in the following category(is):
Regional Center
Neighborhood Conservation Area
Growth Area
Rural Community Center
Rural Area
Conservation Area
Preservation Area
Existing Preserved Open Space

The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

Not zoned
Residential
Industrial
Commercial
Institutional
Other:
Not known

Special features of the property, if known:

Value of property, if known:
If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information

Type of Sale or Transfer:

Sale or transfer of property in fee

Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement). Description of interest:

Proposed recipient, if known:
Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Proposed use by properties recipient, if known:

In terms of the easement over parts of Moss and Fenton forests, CFPA will preserve public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail. In terms of the Moss Sanctuary, CFPA agrees that it shall hold the Moss Sanctuary for its charitable purposes, including by way of illustration, the following:

To ensure that substantially all of the Protected Property will be forever retained and allowed to evolve in a predominantly undeveloped wooded or early successional state;
To protect the natural functioning and integrity of wetlands and watercourses on the Protected Property;
To protect wildlife habitat;
To provide for passive recreational use by the general public;
To allow for the construction and use of safety and educational facilities;
To restrict or prohibit activities that will impair or interfere with the ecological and open space values of the Protected Property recited above;
To protect plants, animals, and natural ecological communities of environmental concern.

UConn and CFPA acknowledge that CFPA shall transfer title to the Moss Sanctuary to the Town of Mansfield, or if said Town is unwilling to accept title on terms acceptable to CFPA, to another conservation organization or governmental entity for the purposes set forth above.

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:

UConn has agreed to:

Manage the Moss Forest as part of its Forest Management Program for 50 years;
Convey the Moss Sanctuary property for CFPA's charitable purposes;
Grant CFPA a perpetual easement of public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail over portions of the Moss and Fenton forests.

The CFPA's charitable purposes include promoting sound forest management of forest lands and provide public access to forested lands.

If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:
UConn is proposing to transfer the Moss Sanctuary and grant the previously described easements in return for acquisition of the North Property in Moss Forest. UConn seeks to increase the size of its Moss Forest education and research forest property. UConn conducts research, educational, demonstration and outreach programs through its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In addition, UConn's forest management practices provides protection to the Fenton River watershed and its aquatic resources.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on January 7, 2010.

Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.

Written comments* should be sent to:

Name :	Patrick O’Brien
Agency :	Office of Policy and Management
Address :	450 Capitol Avenue MS#52 ASP
	Hartford, CT 06106-1379

E-Mail :	Patrick.Obrien@ct.gov

*E-Mail submissions are preferred.

(Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head. Scanned copies are preferred.)

What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor. Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.

Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality