Scenic Farm River Estuary Preserved As Open Space

Final papers were signed late last month giving the Town of Branford ownership of a scenic and strategically valuable piece of property that will be preserved as open space. There were smiles all around.

The 22 acres of land in the Farm River estuary features trees, grasslands, marshes and agricultural soils. The area helps protect water quality in the Farm River, serves as a habitat for numerous species of birds, and provides a flyway for thousands of migrating birds each year.

The property located at 8 – 46 Helen Rd. was sold to the town by Richard J. Kaczynski. Although the land is in the heavily populated Branford Hills area of town, it is near the Beacon Hill Preserve and can be seen from the Shoreline Trolley line. Here is Kaczynski and his wife with their attorney, David Grigsby, as they complete the paperwork.

“It’s a beautiful piece of land,” First Selectman Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos told the Eagle after the signing ceremony. ​“It’s a great addition to the town’s open space.”

Branford received a state grant of $137,000 toward the purchase price of $325,000, and supplemented the funding with money from the Open Space fund, the Branford Land Trust (BLT) and the town. The purchase was approved by the town’s regulatory boards.

Local environmentalist Bill Horne previously said the town had been interesting in preserving that area since 1972. It was one of nine properties on the wish-list when the Select Committee on Open Space Acquisition was formed in 2002, but Horne said the asking price was too high at that time. 5295.

Here is Horne ( in short sleeve blue shirt) along with James Perito, the land trust’s attorney, Jonathan Clark, vice-president of the BLT and Charles J. Donato, of Clendenen & Shea, the town’s counsel. 

Horne said Kaczynski approached the Land Trust in 2011 and offered to sell the land at a lower price. At the same time, Branford succeeded in acquiring state funds from the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant program.

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