Haddam Land Swap Opponents Consider Suing

Haddam’s Citizens For the Protection of Public Land is considering suing the state to overturn the legislature’s approval to swap 17 acres near the Connecticut River in Tylerville for 87 acres of woodland in Higganum.

“Most people in town think the swap is over, but it’s not over,” Melissa Schlag, one of the leaders of the grassroots group that opposes the land swap, told about 50 people who turned out for a strategy meeting Tuesday night on ongoing efforts to overturn the swap.

Martin Mador, the legislative and political chair of the Sierra Club’s Connecticut chapter, said the swap group is currently working with about eight lawyers and may soon begin seeking donations to pay for additional legal advice if the organization decides to sue.

Toward that end, Citizens for the Protection of Public Land is also currently seeking federal status as a tax-exempt organization so it can raise tax-free money to continue fighting the swap.

“A legal remedy is very much under consideration if we do go forward,” Mador said. “All of what we’re doing takes a little bit of money.”

Shortly after making that plea one anonymous donor offered to match any donation of up to $100. Within a minute, that pledge had been met and exceeded as residents began dropping cash and checks into a large jar at the back of the room.

A standing-room only crowd of about 60 people turned out for the meeting at the Youth Center/Old Fire House in the Higganum section to hear organizers of the opposition group lay out their newest strategies for fighting the land swap.

The legislature several months ago approved a measure to give the land near the Connecticut River to the developers of the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station in exchange for the 87 acres the developer owns, land that abuts the Cockaponset State Forest in Higganum and would be added to the forest.

The Riverhouse partners want the 17 acres so they can build a boutique hotel and other associated retail developments on the land, which abuts their banquet facility. The partners and proponents of the swap say the plan would boost the local economy.

Opponents, however, have said the swap sets a terrible precedent for land conservation efforts in Connecticut and would destroy a significant parcel near the Connecticut River. The state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection purchased the property in 2003 with land conservation funds.

While the group mulls a possible lawsuit, Mador said the best way for residents to continue opposing the swap is by convincing their neighbors and town officials that the land deal is not in the town’s best interest.

“The task before us is to make sure the swap does not happen,” Mador said. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time trying to figure out what the fix is going forward so that what happened in Haddam doesn’t happen elsewhere in the state.”

Many of the questions at Tuesday night’s meeting focused on the next phase of the state’s efforts to swap the land, appraisals of both properties.

Rob Smith, a retired DEEP official working with the land swap opponents, said those appraisals are underway. Under state law, the 87 acres must be of at least equal value to the 17 acres.

Suzanne Haig, a member of the swap opposition group, questioned what would happen if the two properties do not appraise at least equally.

If the appraisals indicate the 87 acres is not worth as much as the river land, the Riverhouse partners can offer additional money or land to the state to make the deal more equal, Mador said.

Swap opponent Jerry Matthews urged residents to also attend the Planning and Zoning Commission meetings since that agency will ultimately have to vote on whatever development is proposed on the river land.

John Kennedy, a member of the swap opposition group urged residents to attend an Oct. 17 public hearing on proposed zoning regulation changes that could clear the way for the proposed Riverhouse development.

The swap opposition group is seeking to expand its roster of supporters and asked residents to share the group’s email with others to help the organization do that.

“The number one task that I see for everyone is getting (our) numbers built up,” Kennedy said.