Rep. Buchsbaum Testifies on Land Conveyance Bill

Hartford, CT. – State Representative Jason Buchsbaum (R-69) testified on Monday before the General Assembly’s Government Oversight Committee on HB 7281, An Act Amending a Prior Conveyance of a Parcel of State Land to the Town of Southbury to Change the Restrictions on Ownership and Leasing of Said Parcel. HB 7281 was generated at the request of the Southbury Board of Selectmen.  It addresses property located at the Southbury Training School known as personnel village and seeks to amend prior legislation to provide Southbury more flexibility with respect to future development of the property.

“This property was identified years ago by a local nonprofit named Pierce Hollow Village, Inc. as a site for an affordable senior housing development. There was widespread community support for this plan, but as priorities changed, state and national funding became limited for this type of project,” said Rep. Buchsbaum.

In 2013, the legislature adopted Special Act 13-23 (later amended by Public Act 16-1) to allow for the conveyance of the Subject Property to Southbury for senior housing purposes, tailored towards the Pierce Hollow Village project.

“Due to the existing legislation, the Town of Southbury is limited to leasing the land to a nonprofit for senior housing purposes. This proposal under consideration today would remove this restriction,” noted Rep. Buchsbaum.

This change would allow Southbury the needed ability to explore alternative housing opportunities that may be feasible for the property, which could still include senior housing. The bill would give the town greater flexibility as to the use and manner of future development.

The existing legislation does not contain a condition that is included in HB 7281 concerning payment of proceeds of a sale or lease to the State.

“I am requesting a modification to standard language in the proposal requiring that any funds received by Southbury from a sale or lease of the Subject Property be paid to the State. I am proposing the language be amended so that Southbury could recover costs expended in furtherance of a transfer to it and pursuit of development, including any ongoing costs of ownership,” said Rep. Buchsbaum.

The existing legislation requires various costs to be incurred by the town as part of the transfer, and there are unknown future costs of ownership and with respect to pursing a development.  Therefore, this change would protect the town’s ability to recoup any costs it incurs in the process.

“The subject property is what was known as Personnel Village, where individuals who worked at the Southbury Training School lived when the school was more fully operational than it is today. It was identified as a good place for this type of development because it already includes housing. There is already infrastructure, roads and structures on the property,” added Rep. Buchsbaum.

The proposed bill is currently under consideration by the Government Oversight Committee.  The legislative session ends June 4.

###