Connecticut Water Offers Up Stafford Land As Open Space

STAFFORD, CT — Connecticut Water is offering two north-central Connecticut parcels to town officials and nonprofit land conservation organizations for use as open space. Land in Stafford is one of them.

The tracts are:

• 7 Acres in South Windsor inside the Sullivan Avenue-Pierce Road-Strong Road triangle, just north of Heritage Drive
• 35 Acres in Stafford that abut a reservoir, just sputh of Bradway Road

The tracts are part of 480 acres of land that the utility no longer needs for water supply purposes, Connecticut Water officials said.

"Connecticut Water has a strong record of preserving open-space land, working with local communities and land-holding organizations to preserve more than 1,000 acres over the past 20 years," said Maureen P. Westbrook, president of Connecticut Water. "We look forward to partnering with local communities and nonprofit land-holding organizations that have an interest in preserving this land. Most of these parcels are in their natural states and an asset to the community."

The process of offering these parcels for sale to land conservation organizations is outlined in a 2018 agreement between Connecticut Water and Save the Sound.

As called for under the agreement, Connecticut Water has notified towns and local land trusts that the land is available. The agreement allows land trusts an extended and expanded schedule beyond what's outlined in Connecticut state statutes, giving communities a longer timeline to assess interest in the properties and acquire funding for the designated parcels, with at least 24 months to execute a plan to secure the property.

"Water companies are significant holders of forested land that cleans air, filters our water, provides habitat for wildlife, and offers hiking and birding opportunities for Connecticut citizens. As such, they’re critical environmental stewards," said Katherine Fiedler, legal fellow for Save the Sound. Fiedler further stated, "Connecticut Water has demonstrated strong leadership in open-space preservation over the years, and we applaud its commitment to preserving additional land for future generations to enjoy."

Under the agreement, Connecticut Water is also evaluating other company-owned land to evaluate its suitability for passive recreation opportunities that provide for the protection of public water supply sources.

Connecticut Water owns more than 6,000 acres of land in Connecticut.