Recent Presentation by Former Selectman Matt Pugliese at March 9 DTC Meeting
Remember that all approvals have to go through our local town approval processes
The owner is taking on risk.
Reasons to acquire:
- Secures an underutilized parcel of property for the town connecting to adjacent town owned property to make a premier public park on the water.
- Revitalizes a blighted property
- Will be a destination location in the state – attracting out of town visitors which will be beneficial for Old Saybrook businesses
- Creates a more accessible restaurant (lower price point) along the river than currently exists at Saybrook point – which will be open and available year round.
- Creates the potential for an additional public transient boat dock.
- The first step in any municipal development project is site control. By executing this swap – the town gains certainty of control – and that allows us to dedicate financial resources to fully optimize the development into a public asset with plenty of opportunity for robust community interest.
What we need to manage:
- Yes, the town will need to spend additional financial resources to design and build the park – it does not make any sense for the town to spend these resources until we have site control and a path forward. This includes reviewing the properties controlled by the town – in all locations to determine if there is another location to build another public pavilion space.
- Mini-golf, fishing, the causeway and Saybrook point already drive plenty of traffic to Saybrook Point.
What happens if we vote it down:
- There have been a lot of conjecture and prognostication of what might be built on the Dock and Dine site if the town does not go forward with the trade. The site presents challenges for development due to its location and mapping by FEMA and DEEP.
- The easiest option – and biggest risk loss – would be for it to be turned into boat storage or overflow parking for Saybrook Point Inn guests and staff. Those options would be permitted and financially viable – and would make it private, not public property.
- It continues to sit like this and get worse- yes, the town can pass a commercial blight ordinance to try to apply pressure.
- The town begins a lengthy and costly legal process to use eminent domain to acquire the site