LAND USE
Subject/Motion:
title
Conduct an 8-24 Review to “Lease Agreement between Robert and Mary Graham and the Town of Ledyard” for the lease of approximately .75-acre +/ parcel on Bush Pond (Lantern Hill Valley Park) to be used as a waterfront park for non-motorized activities.
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Background:
Bob and Betsy Graham purchased a piece of land on the twenty-three-acre Bush Pond which was parallel to Long Pond.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham removed a number of the decrepit cottages and cleaned up the property.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham would like to give/gift about 550 linear feet of the pond frontage to the Town, which was the middle section of the pond. Because Ledge Light Health District required a certain amount of reserve area for the remaining cottages on the parcel (one cottage on the south side and three cottages on the north side) that the property could not be divided to give a portion of the parcel to the Town.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham have offered the Town an opportunity to enter into a 99-year Lease to provide a waterfront park for the Town.
The Town would not be allowed to construct a building on the parcel but could erect a a gazebo for picnicking. In addition, the Graham’s would allow the town to place a port-a-john on the property seasonally.
The parcel would be under the Administrative Control of the Parks & Recreation Department and would allow fishing, picnicking canoeing and kayaking.
Meeting Action Detail:
Town Council Meeting 7/272022
File #: 22418 Version: 1
Type: Land Use
Title: MOTION to authorize the Mayor to engage professional services to conduct a survey and draft a legal description of the .75-acre +/ parcel on Bush Pond in preparation to enter into a 99-year lease for $1.00 with Robert and Betsy Graham.
In addition, appropriate up-to $5,000 from Account # (Open Space Acquisition) to pay for the survey, the legal description and other administrative services associated to the proposed leasing of the parcel.
Mover: Saums Seconder: Ryan
Action: Approved
Minute Note:
Moved by Councilor Saums, seconded by Councilor Ryan
Discussion: Councilor Saums provided some background noting that Bob and Betsy Graham purchased a piece of land on the twenty-three-acre Bush Pond which was parallel to Long Pond. He stated Mr. and Mrs. Graham hired a demolition contractor to remove the decrepit cottages, which included the structures and all the subsurface infrastructure, foundations, etc., and the land has been returned to its original state. He went on to explain that Mr. and Mrs. Graham would like to give/gift about 550 linear feet of the pond frontage to the Town, which was the middle section of the pond. However, he explained because Ledge Light Health District required a certain amount of reserve area for the cesspools for the remaining cottages on the parcel (one cottage on the south side and three cottages on the north side) that the property could not be divided to give a portion of the parcel to the Town. Therefore, he stated that they were discussing a 99-year lease to provide a waterfront park for the Town. He because Mr. and Mrs. Graham have already taken on a lot of the expense, with the removal of the decrepit cottages as noted above, that there would be some expenses for the town that would involve surveying and drafting a legal description of the three-quarter acre parcel to attach to the Lease. He stated the leased property would be under the Administrative Control of the Parks & Recreation Department and would allow non-motorized activities such as fishing, picnicking, canoeing, and kayaking. Councilor Saums concluded by stating that this area of Bush Pond was previously inaccessible to the public because it was surrounded by private property owners. He concluded by stating that Mr. and Mrs. Graham’s generosity was amazing
Mayor Allyn stated the Town would not be able to construct a building on the parcel, but they could put in a gazebo for picnicking, and the Graham’s would allow the town to put a port-a-john on the property seasonally.
VOTE: 8- 0 Approved and so declared
Action: Approved
__________________________________________________________________________
Finance Committee Meeting 7/20/2022
File #: 22418 Version: 1
Type: Financial Business Request (FBR)
Title: MOTION to authorize the Mayor to engage professional services to conduct a survey and draft a legal description of the .75-acre +/ parcel on Bush Pond in preparation to enter into a 99-year lease for $1.00 with Robert and Betsy Graham.
In addition, appropriate up-to $5,000 from Account # (Open Space Acquisition) to pay for the survey, the legal description and other administrative services associated to the proposed leasing of the parcel.
Mover: Ingalls Seconder: Ryan
Action: Recommend to Approve
Minute Note:
Moved by Councilor Ingalls, seconded by Councilor Ryan
Discussion: Mayor Allyn, III, stated Bob and Betsy Graham purchased a piece of land on the twenty-three-acre Bush Pond which was parallel to Long Pond. He provided an overview of the property as shown in Attachment LHBA-Bush Pond Aerial below and he noted the following:
• Two structures were condemned (south end of map).
• The third structure was a detached garage.
• The fourth structure located on the point was the only habitable cottage.
• The property also included two or three cottages further north on the parcel, which were in good condition, and would remain in place.
Mayor Allyn went on to state that Mr. and Mrs. Graham hired a demolition contractor to remove the decrepit cottages, which included the structures and all the subsurface infrastructure, foundations, etc., and the land has been returned to its original state.
Mayor Allyn continued to explain that Mr. and Mrs. Graham would like to give/gift about 550 linear feet of the pond frontage to the Town, which was the middle section of the pond. However, he explained because Ledge Light Health District required a certain amount of reserve area for the cesspools for the remaining cottages on the parcel (one cottage on the south side and three cottages on the north side) that the property could not be divided to give a portion of the parcel to the Town. Therefore, he stated that they were discussing a 99-year lease to provide a waterfront park for the Town. He stated because Mr. and Mrs. Graham have already taken on a lot of the expense, with the removal of the decrepit cottages as noted above, that there would be some expenses for the town that would involve surveying and drafting a legal description of the three-quarter acre parcel to attach to the Lease. He stated the Town could not construct a building on the parcel, but they could put in a gazebo for picnicking, and the Graham’s would allow the town to put a port-a-john on the property seasonally.
Mayor Allyn, stated the use of this parcel was a great opportunity for the town, noting that it would be under the Administrative Control of the Parks & Recreation Department and would allow fishing, picnicking, canoeing and kayaking.
Councilor Ryan stated with the decrepit cottages being removed the property has increased in value. He questioned if the town does move forward with leasing the .75 acres on Bush Pond whether the property owners would be responsible to pay the taxes on the property.
Mayor Allyn stated because the use of the .75 acres of land would be “Open Space” that he did not know the value of the property at this time and that he would talk to the Tax Assessor. He stated the use of the Open Space Fund would be appropriate to pay for the survey, and legal description that would be associated to the land lease. He stated because Mr. and Mrs. Graham would still own the property that it would not come off the tax role and he noted that the Grahams were aware of this, and they were willing to pay the taxes on the property that the town would be leasing.
Mayor Allyn also noted that Lantern Hill Valley Association and area property owners have provided letters of support to offer the .75 acres of land on Bush Pond to the Town for public access. Councilor Saums noted that the Conservation Commission has also provided a letter of support dated June 21, 2022.
The Finance Committee noted that Mr. and Mrs. Graham’s generosity was amazing.
VOTE: 3 - 0 Approved and so declared
Action: Recommend to Approve