Minutes - Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee

741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Land Use/Planning/Public Works

Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Gary St. Vil

Regular Meeting

Monday, July 6, 2026

6:00 PM

Town Hall Annex - Hybrid Format

WORKING DRAFT

REMOTE MEETING INFORMATION

In -Person Location: Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

Remote Participation: Information Noted Below:

Granicus/Legistar Meeting Portal:

Join Zoom Meeting from your Computer, Smart Phone or Tablet:

https://ledyardct.zoom.us/j/81174755993?

pwd=LMUne6kdkNdenpA8iOt8ZR9uUTdwOU.1

Or by Audio Only: Telephone: +1 646 558 8656; Meeting ID: 811 7475 5993; Passcode

648275

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Councilor Thompson at 6:14 p.m. at

the Town Hall Annex Building.

Councilor Thompson welcomed all to the Hybird Meeting noting for the Town Council

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee and members of the Public who were

participating via video conference that the remote meeting information was available on

the Agenda that was posted on the Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Jessica Buhle

Ty Lamb

Present:

James Thompson

In addition, the following were present:

Karen Parkinson

Doug Kelley

Anne Roberts-Pierson,

Eric Treaster

Joanne Kelly, Resident

Mike Marelli, Resident

Kevin Blacker, Property Owner

Roxanne Maher, Administrative Assistant

III.

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

Mr. Doug Kelley, 40 Pinelock Drive, Gales Ferry, Historic District Commission Vice

Chairman noted that he would be developing a plan for the historic Nathan Lester House for

improvements and to form a partnership to become a separate 501(c)(3) to eventually

operate the property as a self-sustaining business.

Ms. Lee Anne Berry, 78 Military Highway, Gales Ferry, addressed the sale of town-owned

property; and she questioned whether it was the town's protocol not to list the property for

sale for all to submit offers.

Ms. Anne Roberts-Piearson, 4 Anderson Drive, Gales Ferry, addressed the sale of 840R

Shewville Road (fka) Loftus Wellfield to Mr. Blacker and she questioned.:

(1) Whether the town-owned property should be listed for sale for a competitive bid process

(2) Whether the restricted covenants was researched to see if it could be relaxed.

(3) Mr. Treaster's June, 2016 Report regarding the Loftus Wellfield; and she noted that water

was a precious commodity and whether the town should retain the property it's citizenry's

future water needs.

Ms. Joanne Kelly, 12 Thames View Pentway, Gales Ferry, addressed the sale of town-owned

property 480R Shewville Road. She noted as a Realaaor that although the property had a

deed restriction; it would not preclude the property from being sold in the normal way on the

open market. She also commented on the recent Property Revaluation stating that 480R

Shewville Road was valued at $205,000, selling the property for $150,000 would be a loss.

Mr. Kevin Blacker, 11 Church Street Noank, stated that he wanted to correct the following

inaccurate statmens that were made this evening noting the following:

(1) Deed Restriction was placed on the property by Bill, II & Dotthry Loftus, who have

passed away, Bill Loftus, III, also passed away, His widowed wife Julie Loftus was currently

overseeing the Loftus Property.

(2) Mr. Blacker his wife and his uncle purchased 503 Shewville Road w which was a 38-acre

parcel that he has been farming.

(3) 480R is landlocked, therefore, there is no access to the 11 +/- acres is not

accissible.parcel from which the 11.5+/- acre was cut out of for the Loftus Wellfield.

(4) Mr. Blacker world be donating the Development Rights, meaning that it would be

preserved for farming only, on all of this land to either to the State of Connecticut or to the

American Connecticut Farmland Trust to permanently preserve the property for farming

purposes only.

Mr. Blakcer stated that he has been farming for 22-years, and he commented that some may

have an ax to grind beacuse of his outspoken comments regarding the Cashman

Development. However, he stated by preserving the 480R Shewville Road as farmland that

everybody would be able to enjoy the scenic beauty of that valley and to ensure land would

be farmed by future generations noting that this was something that he want to do

IV.

PRESENTATIONS / INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION to approve the Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee Minutes of May 4,

2026

Moved by Councilor Buhle seconded by Councilor Lamb

VOTE:

3 - 0 Approved and so declared

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

RESULT:

VII. NEW BUSINESS

Review the proposal to sell town-owned property located 480R Shewville Road, (fka) Loftus

Wellfield approximately 11.46+/- acres, for $150,000 to Mr. Kevin Blacker, of Noak,

Connecticut in accordance with C.G. S. Section 8-24.

Moved by Councilor Buhle seconded by Councilor Lamb

VOTE:

2 - 1 Approved and so declared (Lamb not in-favor)

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ty Lamb

SECONDER:

Buhle and Thompson

Lamb

AYE:

NAY:

MOTION to set a Public Hearing (Hybird Format - Video Conference and In-Person) on

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to be held in the Council Chambers, 741 Colonel

Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, to receive comment regarding the Town of Ledyard to sell

town-owned property located 480R Shewville Road, (fka) Loftus Wellfield, for $150,000 to

Mr. Kevin Blacker, of Noank, Connecticut; in accordance with CGS 07-163e.

Moved by Councilor Buhle seconded by Councilor Lamb

VOTE:

2 - 1 Approved and so declared (Lamb not in-favor)

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ty Lamb

SECONDER:

Buhle and Thompson

Lamb

AYE:

NAY:

MOTION to set Special Town Meeting (Hybird Format - Video Conference and In-Person)

on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. to be held in the Council Chambers, 741

Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, to consider, discus and vote upon the following:

“Shall the Town of Ledyard sell town-owned property located 480R Shewville Road, (fka)

Loftus Wellfield, for $150,000 to Mr. Kevin Blacker, of Noank, Connecticut?.

Moved by Councilor Buhle seconded by Councilor Lamb

VOTE:

2 - 1 Approved and so declared (Lamb not in-favor)

RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

Jessica Buhle

RESULT:

MOVER:

Ty Lamb

SECONDER:

Buhle and Thompson

Lamb

AYE:

NAY:

Any Old Business proper to come before the Committee.

None.

VI.

OLD BUSINESS

Continued discussion regarding the progress to designate the Spicer Homestead Ruins,

within the Clark Farm property, as a Registered Historical Site.

CONTINUE

RESULT:

Discussion regarding the establishment of a Long-Term Capital Plan for all of the

town-owned facilities.

Councilor Lamb has drafted a concept for the format of a Long Term Capital Plan. He would

review his draft with Public Works Director/Town Engineer Steve Masalin and Board of

Education Director of Facilities and Grounds before presenting the Long Term Capital Plan

Format to the LUPPW Committee.

Any New Business proper to come before the Committee

ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Buhle moved the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Councilor

Thompson

VOTE:

7:23 p.m.

3- 0 Approved and so declared, the meeting was adjourned at

Respectfully submitted,

James Thompson

Committee Chairman

Land Use/Planning/Public Works Committee

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.