741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339-1551

(860) 464-3203

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Town Council

council@ledyardct.org

Meeting Minutes

Chairman Gary St. Vil

Public Hearing - Transfer Property to Avalonia Land Conservancy

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

6:15 PM

Town Hall Council Chambers

In-Person: Council Chambers Town Hall Annex

Remote: Information noted below:

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

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85931742238?

pwd=QBnqcVHTwLKVVQnUIW3oLjGEeKCwhw.1;

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 859 3174 2238; Passcode: 647936

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman St. Vil called to order the Public Hearing at 6:15 p.m. regarding the transfer

of town-owned land -19 Avery Hill Road Extension and 13 Applewood Drive to

Avalonia Land Conservancy.

II.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III.

PROCEDURE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

Chairman St. Vil welcomed all to the Hybrid Meeting. He stated for the members of

the Town Council and 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.

Chairman St. Vil provided an overview of the procedure of the Public Hearing, and

he asked those attending remotely to put their name and address in the “Chat”

noting that they would be called upon during the Public Comment portion of

tonight’s meeting.

IV.

CALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

The following call of the Public Hearing was read by Town Council Administrative

Assistant Roxanne M. Maher:

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF LEDYARD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

In accordance with CGS 07-163e the Ledyard Town Council will conduct a Hybrid Format

(In-Person and Video Conference) Public Hearing on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at

6:15 p.m. to receive comment on the following:

(1) The transfer town-owned property located at 19 Avery Hill Road Extension,

Ledyard Connecticut (Parcel ID:50/130/19), known as the “Kettle Hole” property

to Avalonia Land Conservancy for no consideration, to be combined with other

lands of the DDJJM, LLC., at 173 Stoddards Wharf Road and 175 Stoddards

Wharf Road, to be transferred to Avalonia Land Conservancy, to remain open to

the public for passive recreation and to be protected in perpetuity under the

Conservancy care with the following conditions:

1). Avalonia Land Conservancy will pay for all conveyances and fees regarding

the

transfer of the property.

2). In the event Avalonia Land Conservancy determines they no longer wish to

own

or no longer can own the so-called “Kettle Hole” property, Avalonia Land

Conservancy will first offer the property back to the Town of Ledyard as the

last owner of record. Such conveyance will be at no cost to the Town, other

than customary recording and legal fees. The Town shall have 120 days to

accept or reject re-acquisition. The Town shall notify Avalonia Land

Conservancy in writing of its intent to accept or reject. Should the Town

choose not to accept the property back, Avalonia Land Conservancy will then

have the right to convey the parcel to a third party of their choice.

(2) The transfer town-owned property located at 13 Applewood Drive (parcel ID:99-

530-13) to Avalonia Land Conservancy for no consideration, to be combined with

the Avalonia Land Conservancy “Pike Marshall Preserve to remain open to the

public for passive recreation and to be protected in perpetuity under the

Conservancy care with the following conditions:

1). The 10-foot wide access to the property shall be clearly marked in the field by

a Land Surveyor engaged by Avalonia Land Conservancy.

2). Appropriate signage identifying the open space parcel shall be installed by

Avalonia Land Conservancy.

3). Avalonia Land Conservancy will pay for all conveyances and fees regarding

the transfer of the property.

4). In the event Avalonia Land Conservancy determines they no longer wish to

own or no longer can own 13 Applewood Drive property (parcel ID:99-530-

13), Avalonia Land Conservancy will first offer the property back to the

Town of Ledyard as the last owner of record. Such conveyance will be at no

cost to the Town, other than customary recording and legal fees. The Town

shall have 120 days to accept or reject re-acquisition. The Town shall notify

Avalonia Land Conservancy in writing of its intent to accept or reject. Should

the Town choose not to accept the property back, Avalonia Land Conservancy

will then have the right to convey the parcel to a third party of their choice.

Please join the Public Hearing in-person or remotely as follows:

In-person attendance will be at the

Council Chambers, Town Hall Annex Building

741 Colonel Ledyard Highway, Ledyard, Connecticut

Join the video conference meeting from your computer, tablet, or smartphone at:

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

<https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85931742238?pwd=QBnqcVHTwLKVVQnUIW3oLjGEeKCwhw.1>

or by audio only dial: +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 859 3174 2238; Passcode: 647936

At this hearing interested persons may appear and be heard and written communications will

be accepted at towncouncil@ledyardct.org <mailto:towncouncil@ledyardct.org>.

A vote regarding the conveyance/transfer of these properties will be held at a Special Town

Meeting scheduled for November 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.

Dated at Ledyard, Connecticut this 23rd day of October, 2025.

For the Ledyard Town Council

s/s Gary St. Vil, Chairman

PLEASE PUBLISH: October 29, 2025 & November 3, 2025

MOTION LEGAL NOTICE -TOWN OF LEDYARD- NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

-November 12, 2025 at 6:25 p.m. - Transfer town-owned property to Avalonia Land

Conservancy.

PRESENTATIONS

Transfer Town of Ledyard transfer town-owned property located at 19 Avery Hill Road

Extension “Kettle Hole” to Avalonia Land Conservancy.

Chairman St. Vil called on Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth Burdick to

present the proposed land transfer.

Land Use Director/Town Planner Elizabeth Burdick provided some background noting

that in preparation for tonight’s Public Hearin and Special Town Meeting that will

following the Public Hearing that she presented the proposed land transfer at the

October 22, 2025 Town Council Meeting.

19 Avery Hill Road Extension

Ms. Burdick explained that the property located at 19 Avery Hill Road Extension was

4.978 acres; known as the “Kettle Hole”, was donated to the Town of Ledyard by Mr.

Main’s parents. She stated that Avalonia Land Conservancy has requested that Ledyard

transfer 19 Avery Hill Road Extension to their Organization to be added to other Open

Space parcels they currently own and maintain.

Ms. Burdick went on to note at their September 11, 2025 meeting the Planning& Zoning

Commission conducted an 8-24 Review and provided a Favorable Recommendation

with some conditions as noted in the Motion. She explained that a Planning & Zoning

Commission Referral was required prior to the transfer of any town-owned property,

noting that in accordance with changes to Connecticut General Statutes that this has

already been done.

Ms.. Burdick stated that 19 Avery Hill Road Extension “Kettle Hole” was a

good-size piece of property. She explained that Avalonia Land Conservancy’s

proposal was to take the Kettle Hole property along with all the land in the grey

crosshatched area; which was being donated

by DDJJM, LLC., to Avalonia, and combine them into one large open space piece.

She pointed out that there was a house within this area, which would remain as a

private property.

Ms. Burdick reviewed the property maps that were attached to the Agenda on the

meeting portal as follows:

Transfer town-owned property located at 13 Applewood Drive to Avalonia Land

Conservancy.

VI.

RESIDENT & PROPERTY OWNERS (COMMENTS LIMITED TO THREE (3)

MINUTES

Mr. Mike Cherry, 5 Whippoorwill Drive, Gales Ferry, stated he heard this presentation

regarding the transfer of these town-owned parcels to Avalonia Land Conservancy three

times, when it was presented to the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting; when it

was presented to the Town Council; and again this evening. He stated he was serving on

the Planning Commission when they approved the open space parcel on Applewood

Drive. He stated the advantage of transferring open space parcels to Avalonia Land

Conservancy was that they actively maintain and manage their open space properties. He

stated the Applewood parcel would provide a second access point into the Pike Marshal

Preserve. He stated with the addition of the open space off of Stoddards Wharf Road

and the former Pfizer Property across the road that it would provide connectivity and

could greatly benefit the Tri-Town Trail (Bluff Point to Preston Plains Park). He stated

by transferring the property to Avalonia Land Conservancy that it would save the town

money because they would no longer have to manage the open space. He stated they

were not looking to change the designation of these Parcels on the tax roll because they

were already open space. He stated they would only be changing who managed the

properties. He stated that he was in-favor of the town transferring these open space

parcels to Avalonia Land Conservancy. Thank you.

Mr. Eric Treaster, 10 Huntington Way, Ledyard, attending remotely via Zoom, stated he

was opposed to the town giving away land in perpetuity. He noted as an example, that it

was a huge mistake when Ledyard sold the Reservoir to the Town of Groton, noting that

it was also his opinion that Ledyard should have also kept the Founders Preserve

Property. He stated the benefit of having someone else manage the open space could be

achieved with a $1.00 per year lease; noting that the lease conditions could include the

care and maintenance of the trails, noting that the Town of Ledyard would still have the

ownership- rights to those open space lands. He stated that he was opposed to the Town

giving away land in perpetuity. Thank you.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Chairman St. Vil stated hearing no further public comment, that the Public Hearing was

adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

________________________________

Transcribed by Roxanne M. Maher

Administrative Assistant to the Town Council

I, Gary St. Vil, Chairman of the Ledyard Town Council,

hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct

copy of the minutes of the Public Hearing held on November 12, 2025

Attest:________________________________________

Gary St. Vil, Chairman

DISCLAIMER:

Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the Town.

The Town Council's Official Agenda and final Minutes will be on file in the Town Clerk's

Office.