No Decision Yet from Middlefield PZC on Powder Ridge

Middlefield's Planning and Zoning Commission has delayed a decision on whether to approve a request by the town to split off a 20-acre parcel from the Powder Ridge property. 

On May 23, the commission held a public hearing on the town's application, which, if approved, would separate the property by creating an "interior lot."

At the start of the hearing, PZC chairman Robert Johnson reminded the public in attendance as well as commission members that the commission was responsible only for determining whether the application met the town's regulations.

"This is not a discussion about the sale of the property and we won't be entertaining discussions about the sale of the property," Johnson said.

But, on several occasions, commission member William Waff questioned the motivation behind the town's request to separate the property. 

"The application to create an interior lot submitted by the First Selectman [Jon Brayshaw] is inappropriate and premature," Waff said, reading from a letter he'd written. "It is not the First Selectman’s position to initiate this action. In fact, it is not the decision of any commission to initiate this action. It is a decision to be made by the people of Middlefield."

Read Waff's full statement and First Selectmam Jon Brayshaw's talking points in the attached PDF

In February, the town announced that Sean Hayes of Brownstone Exploration and Discovery Park , minus the 20-acre parcel. 

Brayshaw told the commission the property should be divided in order to give "the citizens control over its final use." The 20-acres is more valuable to the town because of its proximity to the road and would not be useful in the operation of a ski area, he said. 

Brayshaw's statements prompted Waff to ask him whether anyone from the public had asked to divide the property.

"The truth of the matter is if we can sell Powder Ridge and maintain that area in the blue, why wouldn't that be a win-win-win for the town and for everyone concerned," Brayshaw said. "It's not as though we're giving it away."

Waff said he planned to vote against the town's request.

No vote was taken however, and the commission agreed to extended the public hearing at a special meeting on June 6.

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