East Haddam Selectmen Vote to Oppose Land Swap

The East Haddam Board of Selectmen has voted to oppose the controversial Haddam land swap proposal and will draft a letter to the state Senate outlining the board’s position.

The board voted to take that position during its regular meeting Wednesday night. First Selectman Mark Walter said Thursday he is working on a letter of opposition that will be sent to the Senate, where the proposal to swap 17.4 acres of state conservation land in Tylerville for 87 acres of privately owned woodland in Higganum is currently pending.

In testimony he submitted to a legislative committee in March, Walter said he supports efforts that could boost the economic climate in his town and that he supports the land swap proponents’ efforts to improve Tylerville.

But Walter has since said his testimony was not intended to support the land swap, but rather economic development that could generate additional tourism in the region.

The land swap idea is backed by Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, and calls for giving the Tylerville land, located on a bluff off Bridge Road and overlooking the Connecticut River at a point where the region’s iconic swing bridge and Goodspeed Opera House are visible, to the partners of the Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station, a banquet facility that sits on land that abuts the 17.4 acres. In return, the Riverhouse developers would give the state the 87 acres they own in Higganum and which abut the Cockaponset State Forest.

The developers want to build a boutique hotel and associated retail development on the 17.4 acres. They also have discussed the possibility of building a theater or other “entertainment venue” on the site, a plan that has many residents concerned that the Goodspeed theater in East Haddam may be considering a move across the river. Goodspeed officials have said they have no plans to move the theater to Haddam.

The move by the East Haddam Board of Selectmen to oppose the swap comes as grassroots opposition to the land swap plan continues to mount. During a forum about a week ago in Haddam more than 100 people turned out to hear a presentation by the “Stop the Swap” group. Residents from Haddam and numerous towns across the state attended the meeting. “Stop the Swap” also has started a petition drive against the land swap legislation and has sent letters to state senators, DEP officials and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Opponents of the land deal on Thursday castigated DEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty for not taking a position on the proposed swap and for his response to some residents’ requests for information on it. In a letter sent recently to some local residents Esty said that while “protecting open space for future generations and for the betterment of this state is important to me,” he counseled the residents who are concerned about the swap to “discuss it with your local officials and legislators.”

Esty’s response has angered some opponents who say that as the head of the DEP he should take a position on the land swap and should be more concerned about the potential of losing state conservation lands.

“Esty avoided accepting any responsibility for the 17.4-acre state property in Haddam, even though he is the person who has the primary responsibility for the property and protection of it,” John Kennedy, who serves on the Deep River Land Trust, said in an email to opponents of the land swap.

Meanwhile, one of the leaders of the opposition group has filed a complaint with state police regarding “Stop the Swap” signs that have gone missing. Sharon Botelle said Thursday that at least a half dozen signs were taken from private property in Tylerville. Other group members say numerous signs from around the region have been taken.