WILTON — Sale of the Wilton Tannery property draws closer as the Board of Selectpersons voted Tuesday to sign a purchase and sales agreement and a quit claim deed for the property to Wilson Stream Business Park, LLC.

In May, the board accepted a redevelopment proposal for the property at 833 Route 2 from brothers, John Black of Rocky Hill Landscaping and James Black of Black Acres Firewood for a purchase price of $1.

They proposed a three-phase development plan for a small business park to house multiple businesses, James Black said at that time.

Since May, the terms of the sale have been under negotiation while waiting for a report of the conditions on the property as it is a Brownfield hazardous site, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said after the meeting.

Terms were discussed under executive session. The board voted after the session to sign the agreement.

“We are getting closer to the sale,” she said. “The final closing on the property should occur soon.”

In other business, Irish discussed the environmental assessment Phase I report, received just hours before the meeting Tuesday, on the Forster Mill property on Depot Street.

“The report summarizes a site visit and records review of a property and its surrounding area to determine if any additional environmental investigation is warranted to understand the liability risks associated with the identified property,” according to an online description.  

Although there was little time to read the lengthy report before the meeting, Irish explained the Phase I report indicated a need for a Phase II assessment based on research and what engineers from the Department of Environmental Protection saw during a recent inspection.

Based on their review, a rough estimate of $500,000 was given for more asbestos removal.  

While they suspect there is likely asbestos in the roof, access and safety issues kept them from testing it, she said. She was unsure how much of the estimate would cover roof asbestos removal.

Amounts for removal of items such as lead paint, fluorescent lights were included. More testing is needed on stains from paints and dyes used by the mill and barrels of items left, she said. 

DEP will continue on with the Phase II analysis after which the town can apply for grants to help with demolition and removal of items from the property, she said.

Irish also updated the board on the town’s revaluation.

Representatives from John E. O’Donnell & Associates are in the midst of their field work for the town revaluation, she said. They are going to everyone’s property, taking pictures, talking with homeowners and entering the home if allowed.

The work is expected to continue through November. Most of their work has taken place in town so far, she said.

Two or three people are out everyday but they can only visit up to a half dozen homes a day before spending time posting the data they collect.

The workers wear badges but they encourage homeowners to call the town office if they are concerned, she said.  Few issues have arisen. If the homeowner is not there, they leave a card.

They are expected to discuss results with taxpayers by early next year.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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