Proposed sale of city land to stirs concern
NORWALK — Planning commissioners raised concerns about the long-term implications of a plan to sell a small tract of cityowned land at a heavily trafficked intersection near Connecticut Avenue.
Alan Lo, building and facilities manager for the city, on Tuesday presented to the Planning Commission a plan to sell a small, triangle-shaped tract of land at the corner of Scribner Avenue and West Cedar Street.
Lo said the city was recently approached by Gino Mattera, who owns an adjacent property that is used as a contractor garage, about buying the property. Mattera told officials he wants to use the property as the entrance to an underground parking garage he hopes to build in the future, according to Lo.
In return for selling the property to Mattera, the city would receive right-ofway for a portion of West Cedar that is part of his private property, as well as an easement over a portion of the small property that overlies the sewage system in the area.
“The way we look at it, the property is not currently being used and it requires maintenance from the city,” Lo said.
In October, the Land Use and Building Management
Committee voted unanimously to refer the recommendation to the Planning Commission.
The price for the property will be determined at a later date following an appraisal.
But the potential sale raised a number of questions from planning commissioners Tuesday night.
For one, commissioners said Mattera has an apparent history of not complying with zoning regulations.
Planning and Zoning Director Steve Kleppin said Mattera has been previously cited for running a contractor’s yard at a West Cedar Street property that is not zoned for that use.
“If they are currently using the space as it is not intended, should we expand on that relationship with them and sell them a parcel? If they’re not doing things right now, could they not do it right again?” Commissioner Steve Ferguson asked.
According to Lo, Mattera’s prior citations were one of the reasons the city balked at previous offers made in recent years. But Kleppin and Lo also both noted that Mattera has since been complying with regulations and has no open citations as of Wednesday.
Mattera could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
Another concern raised by commissioners was the potential loss of green space in an area that is largely dominated by pavement.
Commissioner Tammy Langalis recommended the city should keep the property and “keep it green.”
“That’s one of the only green spaces over there,” Langalis said. “As a city, we are losing trees every single day, and I think it just would be a tragedy to lose any more green space so that a contractor can potentially expand his yard or put his driveway on Scribner Avenue.”
Unlike his fellow commissioners, Mike Mushak welcomed the idea of selling the property to a private property owner in the area. He said the property is “always covered in trash” and is an “eyesore” to the community.
“It’s just one of those odd spaces that everyone forgets about,” he said.
Mushak said he would prefer the property be sold and “potentially improve property values in the area and add to the grand list.”
In response to concerns, commissioners required “green space” be included on any future site development “to the greatest extent practicable” and that the sold land be “left undeveloped as open space.”
The Planning Commission voted to pass the recommendation to the Common Council for consideration. Langalis was the only vote against the proposal.