Yes, the land trust can be trusted
Jan 13th, 2010 by admin
Recently, Avon resident Greg Frey has been complaining to the media about a land swap that we are pursuing. The proposed swap would trade a 3.8-acre parcel on Haynes Road, which Mr. Frey’s property abuts, for a 17 acre parcel off of Chidsey Road which currently only has private access. The Avon Land Trust has proceeded thoughtfully, judiciously and entirely lawfully throughout the multi-year process of bringing this transaction to fruition. We have the full support of both Nora Howard, whose family donated the parcel, and the Nature Conservancy, which has reviewed and approved the swap.
For over 40 years our volunteer organization, has successfully pursued a mission to preserve open space in Avon, and to make our larger spaces accessible to – and useable by – the public. Through donations from individuals and developers, we have acquired and currently hold over 350 acres of land. The proposed Haynes Road land swap will add a net 14 acres to our holdings, and provide Avon residents with access to an extraordinary, functioning preserve and opportunities for recreation and education.
The following is a reprint from the Tuesday, January 12, 2010 Avon News titled “Yes, the land trust can be trusted”:
The Avon News recently published an opinion piece from Greg Frey regarding the Avon Land Trust’s plan to swap land with a developer, titled “Can you trust the Avon Land Trust?”
While this opinion piece was perceived to be a “news” article by some of our readers, it was not intended to be so; Mr. Frey submitted his opinion to us as a letter and it was published with that intention.
The Avon News staff plans to pursue the story in future issues.
Below is a letter from Nora Howard, the daughter of Elinor Oakes. Oakes donated the land to the Avon Land Trust in 1970. Ms. Howard submitted her letter in response to Mr. Frey’s letter.
The Avon News apologizes to the land trust and our readers for any misuderstanding regarding Mr. Frey’s letter, published as an opinion piece. We also apologize to Mr. Frey for not clearly defining his letter as such.
Yes, the land trust can be trusted
I am writing to report that the residents of Avon can completely trust the Avon Land Trust.
My mother, Elinor Oakes, donated the three-acre parcel of land that Mr. Greg Frey wrote about in your recent issue. Here is the accurate story.
My mother, who passed away nine years ago, gave this land in 1970 to benefit all of Avon, not just adjacent homeowners. She trusted the Nature Conservancy (and its successor, the Avon Land Trust) to use it as the organization saw fit. She made the donation primarily as a tax-deduction, with no emotional connection to it. She put no restrictions on future use. The land use restriction Mr. Frey refers to was placed on the conveyance deed when the Nature Conservancy transferred the property to the land trust in 1980.
The Nature Conservancy, upon my request as well as the land trust’s, will lift this restriction if the swap takes place. They have seen the properties, evaluated their values and approved the swap.
That 3-acre parcel, after all these years, proved to be of excruciatingly limited benefit to the majority of town residents. It became simply a small buffer between Hanes Road homes — not an enticing place to go for a hike or nature study.
In addition, when Mr. Ferrigno develops his 4 acres adjacent to the property, he has the right to widen and improve an existing driveway that is on the land trust property. This will further diminish its appeal.
One of the Avon Land Trust’s missions is to increase the acreage under protection in Avon. The land trust is to be commended for seizing this incredible opportunity to swap a three-acre parcel for a wonderful 16-acre parcel on Chidsey Road near the Farmington River.
When this idea became a possibility, the trust immediately contacted me (as the only remaining family member) to ask permission. The trust wasn’t required to do this, but believed it could not ethically proceed without my approval.
Land trust members led my husband and I on a tour, where we were thrilled by tall trees, enchanting vistas, sparkling waters, a meandering stream, jumping insects, tiny frogs, wildflowers, swaying waist-tall grasses, a remarkable stand of buttonwood trees, a former pond that supplied ice to Avon, and a remarkable 18th-century dirt roadway that leads to the site of the original 1754 meetinghouse and parsonage. It is an easily-accessible 16-acre outdoor classroom. My mother, a former president of the Garden Club of Hartford, would have been thrilled beyond measure to think that her original gift could be turned into this 16-acre nature preserve.
As a final note, Elinor Oakes also gave 13 acres in another part of town — a piece of land she truly loved. Like the three-acre gift, she gave this beloved piece with no restrictions. She trusted that her gift would be used well.
The people of Avon can be grateful that their Avon Land Trust is enthusiastically and tirelessly working for the good of the town. They can trust the Avon Land Trust.
Nora Oakes Howard
Avon
Reprinted from The Avon News Vol. 1 No. 4 Tuesday, January 12, 2010
