Selectmen accept 6-acre land donation

The Board of Selectmen approved a donation, as well as a legal transfer, of a more than six-acre parcel to the town on Wednesday. The official address is 2045 Hillside Road. Known as the Blanco property, and also as the "Top Hat" property, it is adjacent to Haydu Farm and the Aspetuck Land Trust and will provide "another corridor for people to go through and enjoy these properties," said Land Acquisition Commission Chairman Stuart Manley, who spoke at the BOS meeting.

He told the Fairfield Citizen, "It is a valuable piece of property from an environmental standpoint. It's headwaters for the Sasco Brook and its wetlands are undisturbed, unique and pristine."

Lyndhurst, N.J.-based Edison Tax Services LLC acquired liens against the property when it bought a group of liens some years back, according to Town Attorney Dick Saxl. It turns out the property cannot be developed, and so Edison -- deciding "swamp is swamp," according to Saxl -- was looking to part ways with the property. In a deal made with town officials, Edison has agreed to pay $9,850.51 in back taxes and its land will become the property of the Town of Fairfield.

Conservation Department Director Thomas Steinke, who reviewed the site in 2008, feels the property is noteworthy for its contributions to water quality, wildlife habitat, natural beauty, water storage and flood protection. Flatto said Wednesday that the town's acquisition of it "protects that area from any surprise."

Manley said this is the first successful land acquisition since the 9.4-acre Parcells property in early 2008.