Land Acquisition Commission recommends conservation acceptance of Center Street parcel

The Fairfield Land Acquisition Commission voted on April 28 to recommend that the town accept a parcel on Center Street in Southport and forward the recommendation to the board of selectmen.

Staff presented the parcel as a proposed donation listed on the agenda as 0.17 acres but later described in the meeting record as 3.17 acres and noted nearby hydraulically connected wetlands just over 4 acres in size. The staff member said the parcel is currently undeveloped, dense with invasive plants, and sits between the I‑95 on‑ramp and the next street; conservation and planning-and-zoning have approved moving the item forward. The agenda memo cited roughly $23,000 in back taxes for the property. The staff member said the donation would “continue it moving through the process, to board of selectmen and beyond.”

A commission member moved to recommend the acquisition; the Chair seconded and members said “Aye” on a voice vote, after which staff indicated the item will appear on the selectmen’s agenda. The motion as spoken was to “recommend the acquisition of 561 Center Street, Southport,” and the commission recorded assent by voice. The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

Commissioners discussed potential next steps and constraints. Staff noted the parcel’s wetlands are hydraulically connected to tide gates owned by the state Department of Transportation and said DOT has not maintained those gates for years; acquiring the parcel could entail responsibility for failing tide gates and related infrastructure costs. Commissioners said the town could approach the Pequot Landing condominium association or DOT for cooperation on wetland restoration, but staff cautioned that major tide‑gate work could carry seven‑figure liabilities. The staff member described the acquisition as “a start” toward connecting this land to existing Westway open space if access and infrastructure could be coordinated.

Why it matters: the parcel would expand contiguous conserved wetlands in a corridor that connects to existing town open-space holdings. The Chair said the commission will advance the recommendation to the board of selectmen, where elected officials will review and decide whether the town will accept the parcel.

The commission’s next procedural step is to place the recommendation on the selectmen’s agenda; staff also noted that an appraisal or title work may be required depending on the board’s preferences.