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Public Hearing - Resolution - Sale of Pharos Farm

Submitted on February 13, 2013 - 8:43am
Date: 
Monday, February 25, 2013 - 2:00pm

TOWN OF SIMSBURY
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, February 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of Town Hall, 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070 to receive public comment concerning the proposed Resolution for the Sale of Pharos Farm.  The Resolution is as follows:

TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
RESOLUTION
SALE OF PHAROS FARM


WHEREAS, the Simsbury Land Trust (“SLT”) has outlined a proposal (the “SLT Plan”) to the Town for the SLT to obtain a conservation easement on two parcels of Simsbury farmland totaling 50.3 acres.  The first parcel is the 10.6 acre George Hall Farm at 180 Old Farms Road (“George Hall Farm or Parcel I”).  The second parcel is the town-owned 39.7 acre property known as Pharos Farm (“Pharos Farm or Parcel II”); and

WHEREAS, the SLT Plan requires that the Town agree to the sale of Pharos Farm to George Hall for its fair market value; and

WHEREAS, the proposal will allow SLT to obtain funding for a conservation easement for the preservation of the George Hall Farm in West Simsbury and Pharos Farm; and

WHEREAS, SLT believes there is a linkage between the two properties because George Hall has organically farmed Pharos Farm since the early to mid-1970’s on annual leases from the Town; and

WHEREAS, SLT proposed transaction will be taken in three steps leading to a conservation easement on both the George Hall Farm and Pharos Farm with SLT as the grantee.  At the conclusion of three transactions, (1) George Hall will own Pharos Farm (Parcel II) subject to the SLT conservation easement; and (2) the George Hall Farm (Parcel I) will be protected by the SLT conservation easement as permanent farmland; and

WHEREAS, the original SLT Plan included an option for construction of a residence on Pharos Farm.  Subsequent to a public hearing on December 10, 2012 the SLT Plan was modified to restrict construction on Pharos Farm to exclude a residence but to include an option for construction of a barn (the “Revised SLT Plan”);

WHEREAS, according to the Revised SLT Plan, while the Town would no longer own Pharos Farm, the Town will benefit because (a) it will receive full value for the property and the proceeds from the sale can be used to purchase other valuable open space; and (b) Pharos Farm land will continue to be protected from development by virtue of the SLT conservation easement; and

WHEREAS, the Revised SLT Plan has been approved by the Simsbury Open Space Committee and the Simsbury Planning Commission pursuant to General Statutes §8-24.  The Simsbury Planning Commission recommended additional terms addressing an existing easement on the Pharos Farm property, maintenance of Pharos Lane and certain limitations on barn construction; and

WHEREAS, the sale by the Town will be contingent on the concurrent purchase by SLT of the conservation easement covering both properties described above. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

1.  The Board of Selectmen approves the sale of Pharos Farm to George Hall for its fair market value as established by an independent appraisal commissioned by the Town and further contingent on the sale of a conservation easement by George Hall of the George Hall Farm to the Simsbury Land Trust as outlined in the Revised SLT Plan described herein.

2.  The First Selectman is authorized to take any and all actions necessary to consummate the sale of Pharos Farm to the SLT.

Public Hearing Date:  Monday, February 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.