October 7, 2024
Members present: Mark Fiorentino, Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome, Frederick A. Moffa.
Members absent: Margaret Chapple.
Others present: Town Manager Mike Walsh, Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Student Liaison Ben LaVigne, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Lost Acres Fire Department Chief John Horr, Jr.
87 Simsbury Road
The property at 87 Simsbury Road is 4.8 acres and formerly the location of the West Granby United Methodist Church. When the church closed, the property reverted to the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving (HFPG). The town has been in discussions with HFPG to acquire the property in order to rejoin it to the Holcomb Farm. Walsh explained that when the Conveyance Agreement is approved, it is anticipated that the town will also execute an agreement with the Granby Land Trust (GLT) so that sufficient funding is available should the church building need to be demolished. The goal is repatriating the parcel back to Holcomb Farm. Walsh said no action was necessary at this time, with final action to be taken at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Public Input
Daniel Putnam Brown, Jr. (16 Broad Hill Road) gave a brief overview of the history of the property noting that Tudor and Laura Holcomb were considerate in the way the property would be transferred and that after the use by the church the property was transferred to the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving and the Hartford Foundation was agreeable to transferring the property back to the Town. Brown spoke in favor of the proposal and believes it is the right thing to do.
Mark Williams (68 Simsbury Road) spoke in favor of the transfer noting that their property abuts the parcel and that there is certainly enough land to sell and develop but that is not in the spirit of what Tudor and Laura Holcomb would have wanted.
Steven Perry (41 Heather Lane) spoke in favor of the transfer and bringing the property back to Holcomb Farm.
Dana Warren (West Granby) spoke in favor of the transfer and that she is both from the neighborhood and was raised in the church and that she has been working with the Friends of Holcomb Farm for the past year and that bringing this property back into the fold was a really good idea. Warren further went on to explain that her father was a member of the building committee of the church building and that the Town should consider doing the right thing to help protect the land and the building.
Joe O’Grady (115 Simsbury Road) spoke in favor of the transfer of the property and that renovating the church into office space for the farm to use would be a really good thing.
229 Mountain Road
The property at 229 Mountain Road is 16.91 acres that is currently vacant with the exception of a radio tower and associated equipment. The town would like to purchase approximately 4.7 acres along with an easement to locate a new emergency telecommunications tower to improve emergency communications. The purchase price would be $99, 740. The acquisition of the property is consistent with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. Walsh said no action was necessary at this time, with final action to be taken at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Public Input
Jay Martin (249 Mountain Road) inquired about the location of where the tower would be placed on the property.
Richard Kirschbaum (147 Silkey Road) inquired about where the access road to the tower would be placed on the property.
Emilia Sales (143 Silkey Road) raised concerns about the plans and wanted to learn more about the project and inquired about where she can get additional information as she is concerned about preserving the space.
Town Center Master Plan
The board established the Granby Center Advisory Committee on May 1, 2023 to consider and finalize the Granby Center Study Proposed Scope. As part of its process since, the committee requested the board issue a request for proposals to hire a consultant to assist with the study. There were seven responses and two firms were interviewed. The committee is recommending that BFJ Planning be hired to work with the committee on the development of the Granby Center Master Plan with the estimated total cost for this plan is $74,000, previously approved to be paid with ARPA funds. The board unanimously approved.