2. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, Simsbury

Complete Address of Property: Town Forest Road, Simsbury

Number of acres to be transferred: 10.181 acres

View: map

Description of Property

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses: The Town of Simsbury has requested control of an existing public road known as Town Forest Road. A portion of this road, between Stratton Brook Road and Nimrod Road, is owned by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and is used as a public road with no dedicated use by DEEP for any business or recreational purpose.  The road currently terminates at Town Forest Park, land owned by the Town of Simsbury.  DEEP acquired this former rail line in 1941, as a part of its acquisitions that now comprise Stratton Brook State Park.  The developed Park lands and trails are located on across Stratton Brook Road to the northeast.

The property 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

The property is in the following municipal zone

Not zoned
Residential
Industrial
 Commercial
 Institutional
 Other: 
 Not known 

Value of property, if known: 

If checked, value is not known.

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: Town of Simsbury

Proposed use by property recipient, if known: The Town of Simsbury will continue to use this road as it is currently used as a public roadway.  As owner of the road, they intend to install public utilities in the road to service town facilities, including Tootin’ Hills Elementary School on Nimrod Road.

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses: The requirement that the Town will maintain the parcel as a Town road allowing the general public to pass and repass. The Town shall also mark the pavement and provide signage indicating that the road is to be shared with bicyclist and pedestrians.

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

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property: The Town of Simsbury has requested ownership of this public roadway, which has been maintained by the Town for public use.  In exchange, the Town is proposing to provide DEEP with 6.672 acres of land that abuts Massacoe State Forest.  DEEP accepts this proposal, as access to all DEEP land will continue with the Town’s ownership of Town Forest Road and DEEP will no longer have the responsibility for maintaining a public roadway that has no dedicated use for DEEP business purposes or recreation.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on    NOVEMBER 20, 2014

Comments may include information that you 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:

*E-Mail submissions are preferred.

Additional information, if any:  Delete this line if you have no additional information!

What Happens Next

When this comment period closes, the proposed land transfer can take one of three tracks:

1.   If no public comments are received, the sale or transfer can proceed with no further public comment and no further notices in the Environmental Monitor, unless the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection elects to conduct a review of the property (see #3).

2.   If public comments are received, the Office of Policy and Management will respond to those comments.  The comments and responses will be published in the Environmental Monitor.  Fifteen days after publication of the comments and responses, the proposed sale or transfer can proceed, unless the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection elects to conduct a review of the property (see #3).

3.   If the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) elects to conduct a further review of the property, it may submit to the Office of Policy and Management a report with recommendations for preserving all or part of the property.  The report and recommendations will be published in the Environmental Monitor, and there will be a 30-day public comment period.  The DEEP will publish its responses to any comments received and its final recommendation about the property in the Environmental Monitor.  The Office of Policy and Management will then make the final determination as to the ultimate disposition of the property, and will publish that determination in the Environmental Monitor.  Fifteen days after publication of that final determination, the sale or transfer can proceed.

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 publication date.