Owner says Oakwood Drive land valuation jumped while property shows flood damage and rot

An owner representing a property on Oakwood Drive told assessor staff that the property’s land component rose dramatically under the town’s 2025 valuation and that the home suffers from chronic moisture problems that reduce market value.

The owner said nearby land comparables average about $64 per square foot; applied to his 6,250-square-foot lot, that figure would yield a land value near $400,000, he said, whereas the town’s packet recorded a land valuation of about $886,000. The owner described that gap as a major discrepancy and provided a written calculation and comparable-sale documents for the assessor’s file.

He also submitted photos and descriptions of physical conditions: wet beams in the basement, damp and musty attic smells in heavy rain, a garage that floods in heavy rain and portions of the deck and roofing in need of repair. The owner said the property is not built to current FEMA elevation standards and that repeated flooding has limited the basement’s functionality.

Assessor staff reviewed the comparables and condition notes and said they would include the material in the panel packet for deliberation. The assessor emphasized the panel’s process—staff will review each appeal and mail a written decision to appellants once deliberations are complete. The owner was advised of the option to pursue judicial review if the administrative decision does not provide relief.