Land Swap Considerations

CONSIDERATIONS

The below is based on careful review of both sides of the matter with the prime concern of what is best for Haddam and its residents on the long term. This is from a 12 year former member of the Board of Finance, life long resident and in- town business owner / employer.

1. The land was the old DOT sand pit with waste materials dumped there for many years as evidenced by historical aerial photos. The land is not pristine in any sense of the word.

2. The land is not being taxed being owned by the state. Privately owned and developed land at that location will have a very high assessment and be a source of significant town taxes making up the difference in cost to the town in relatively few years. The long term tax income to the town will far exceed any real or perceived financial loss to the town from the land swap.

3. The developers have to pay a fair value difference for the swapped land as determined by the terms of the appraisal terms in the bill passed by the legislature.

4. Approximately 49% of the town is public lands with the state forests giving no real need for more public open spaces. All of this land pays no taxes to the town with the offsetting annual grant, if still continuing, is a tiny percent of what the taxable value of the land is.

5. The approximately 75% town tax burden from District #17 has to be met by all tax payers. It is the"tax ratable" commercial properties that make the major net tax contribution to the town. The average home property tax is around $6,000.00 with each student in district #17 costing approximately $11,000.00 in taxes. Haddam has one of the highest town tax burdens anywhere in this area of the state.

6. Eagles go strictly where the food is and are best seen where nesting sites are anywhere along the river, not just from that one "Eagle" site. Over 7 eagles at a time have been observed above in the Higganum area along with many seen in Chester, Deep River and Essex. Anyone seriously interested in watching the eagles is best observed by taking one of the excursion boats or a private boat to where the eagles actually are at a given time.

7. Jobs are needed! The River House development could easily see the addition of 50 jobs at all skill levels. This is of far overall greater importance and overall benefits to Haddam rather than for the likelihood of very few people going to the site to watch any eagles that might be visible.

8. The main objection of those in the land swap organization is a one sided benefit to a private party on an economic envy basis rather than the hard facts of the matter and real benefits to be realized to the town. The opposition to the land swap seems to be well intended, however ill informed to the actual benefits.

9. We all want "Haddam to remain Haddam" however the 21st century reality of providing reasonable livelihood opportunities in town has to be realized. The town would gain a net increase of approximately 60 acres of open space which is absolutely positive for the net preservation of nature.

10. There is an existing need for a public water supply in the Tylerville commercial area without any added development by the River House, therefore the argument of costs for water strictly due to the Riverhouse development is specious. All properties served by the public water supply, if it ever happens, will have substantial assessments to each of the served properties.

11. Additional costs for sewage disposal to the town is not going to happen as proper private sewage disposal for large facilities is already evidenced presently by the River House as well as by the nearby large assisted living facility. If public sewage is ever needed, it also will be subject to assessment to all served properties. Again, the argument for additional costs to the town for sewage disposal is specious.

12. The original proposal for the land swap was initiated by the CT Department of Environmental Protection, not the Riverhouse or its principals. The DEP routinely makes land swaps for beneficial addition to existing state properties, in this case, a net addition of approximately 60 forest acres.