In one of the more bizarre twists coming out of the binding vote today, $2.5 million is headed to Bethel & Danbury despite opposition from current Bethel First Selectman Bob Burke. In the waning days of the bonding package, State Senator David Capiello-R Danbury removed both the $500k for a library expansion in Bethel and $2 million for Danbury to use towards purchasing Terre Haute, undeveloped land in Bethel. Capiello maintained in his caucus that it was his funding requests to cut. The funding was actually requested by State Rep. Jason Bartlett-D.

Burke has other ideas about the property, including an expansion of industrial use that most Bethel residents oppose. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton-R supports the purchase of Terre Haute.

In an earlier News-Time report”

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said purchasing the 200 acres of Terre Haute property that is located within the city is his No. 1 priority for open space acquisitions.

“We haven’t made it a secret that we would like to purchase the land,” Boughton said. “We would love to make some kind of deal with Bethel. But whatever deal we come up with, it has to work for both Bethel and Danbury, and I understand that.”

Boughton said he has made preliminary arrangements with Burke to meet in the next two weeks to further discuss their visions for the property and how it could be preserved.

Bethel resident David Olson, who is running for first selectman on the Democratic ticket, said he would be interested in meeting with Danbury and state officials about a possible sale if he were elected.

“I would work with all parties, regardless of their political affiliation, to make sure the property is preserved as open space,” he said. “Bartlett’s proposal has merit, but Burke seems to be allergic to making a decision on the issue. He says that he is for preserving it as open space, but he won’t act to guarantee that.”

The Terre Haute property became embroiled in controversy earlier this year when Bethel’s Economic Development Commission requested a zone change for a southern portion of the property in the hope of expanding the Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park.

That proposal, however, was withdrawn so a more complete application could be submitted sometime this fall. It would not be affected by a land sale to Danbury.

State Sen. David Cappiello, according to Bethel State Rep. Jason Bartlett-D did not even show up to vote today on the bonding package.

Cappiello has said in the past that the focus in Bethel should be on the 170 acres in Bethel known as Bogus Farm. The owner has rejected an offer from the DEP for $2.8 million, because he thinks his property is worth more if he sells it to a developer.

Jason Bartlett has said that Bethel could use the $2 million it could receive from Danbury to purchase additional open space, such as Bogus Farm. Bethel First Selectmen candidate David Olson supports the preserving of Terre Haute as open space. From Olson’s web site:

I personally support the proposal to sell the portion of the Terre Haute property within Danbury’s
borders to Danbury thereby permanently assuring it as open space guaranteed by the State of
Connecticut. This is a clear double win for Bethel. Our town derives nearly $3 million from the
sale of land that has been left fallow and unprotected for more than 30 years and the town gains
state-protected open space. I would reserve this money for conservation initiatives, preferably to
acquire additional open space in Bethel.

Source: Danbury News-Times, Terre Haute property’s fate sparking debate, by Dirk Perrefort, Aug 23 2007