Maromas Proposals At EDC

(Plans for the proposed Arawana Golf Course.)


Normally sparsely-attended, the Economic Development Committee meeting in Room 208 in City Hall was filled today as presenters, interested residents and commission members gathered to hearpresentations by three groups hoping to sponsor "open-space recreational" developments on former state property in Maromas.

Among those presenting were The Connecticut Forest and Park Association represented by Eric Hammerling and John Leshane.

Hammerling explained that the group, which plans and maintains the 825 miles of blue-blazed trails in Connecticut, that the loop proposed on the property would offer a spur that would be accessible to downtown Middletown.

"If there is to be a blue-blaze trail," Hammerling said. "We want it to be compatible with the area but also in a beautiful place."

(ArtFarm's proposed post and beam barn headquarters.)

ArtFarm directors and advocates Dic Wheeler and Marcella Trowbridge described a low-impact development for their organization on a piece of the former state property identified as parcel 5. On the wooded parcel, with two beautiful meadows, ArtFarm proposed to build two post and beam barns. One barn, the larger of the two, would hold a small performance area for an audience no bigger than 80, rehearsal space, meeting space for weekly or weekend retreats, and bunkhouse lofts for those retreats. The other barn, labeled the agricultural barn, would house small farm animals, and be the site of nature programs for school children and visitors.

"What we'd like to do is get 200 people together for a barn-raising, to put up the frame," Wheeler explained. "And then you have 200 people with a sense of ownership."

Tony Pioppi, a local golf writer, ended the presentation with a proposal for the nine-hole Arawana Golf Course.

The proposed course, which winds through the hills on the property, would feature Integrated Pest Management, (meaning curative and not preventive spraying of pesticides and herbicides), a hardy grass blend which is not water sensitive, and standards which would Pioppi hoped would give it Audobon Sanctuary Status.

Piopi explained that the course designed by well-know golf course architect Brian Silva, harkened back to the Golden Age of Golf Architecture (1910-1935). Piopi foresaw a three and a half year planning and construction timeline if the golf course plan is accepted.

Members of the public, and some from the Conservation Commission expressed concern with the affect that the course would have on the environment. Neighbors to the proposed golf course, Councilman Earle Roberts, and local attorney Ralph Wilson came down on opposite sides of the issue. Both claimed longtime status in the hills above town, but Roberts urged the EDC to consider abandoning development and preserving the land for future agricultural use. Wilson, who indicated a cynicism toward the State's promises, and urged the EDC to support a golf course which would occupy the land and prevent the state from building any further unwanted development on the site.

EDC Tours RFP Proposal Sites in Maromas

(The Economic Development Committee listens as Dic Wheeler describes his vision for a new home for ArtFarm in Maromas.)



The last portion of the town Economic Development Committee meeting took place outside of the dreary (but air-conditioned) confines of Room 208 in City Hall.

Members of the Economic Development Committee took to the road to tour the sites of five proposed outdoor developments in the Maromas section of town.

Six proposals have been submitted, one for a 9 hole golf course, one for home for ArtFarm, one for a trail system, and three for existing uses including a tree farm, haying and model airplane flying.

The proposals submitted in the RFP will be formally considered, with presentations by those who have submitted proposals, at next month's meeting of the Economic Development Committee meeting.

The tour took a convey of committee members, and members of the public from River Road to Brooks Road, in the Maromas section of town to examine sites for the nine holes of the proposed golf course, and the site for the clubhouse and a practice ranges, which is being touted as the state's largest. The group also toured the tree farm, hayfields and drove by the model airplane landing strip. The final stop was at the proposed site of he new home for ArtFarm.

Dic Wheeler, director of ArtFarm, emphasized that the development and extension of ArtFarm is only possible if land, like the proposed site, is granted. City planner Bill Warner noted that the golf course is also affordable because of the nature of the land grant, and that competing courses in other cities would be envious of the low cost of development, and potential low greens fees.

(At the site of what would be the first tee of the proposed Arawana Golf Course. The building in the background is a CVH building deeded to the city and slated for demolition because of deed restrictions.)

Before the EDC departed City Hall, the committee approved a proposal to send a recommendation to the Common Council to purchase development rights to the Brook Farm property along South Main Street and Brush Hill Road. The 46 acre parcel which has been farmed since 1651 is one of the country's oldest farms. It has the distinction of once being a dairy farm with the third highest milk production in the nation. Currently it has the highest per acre corn and hay yield in the state. The purchase of development rights, with a DEP grant of $500,ooo, a USDA grant of $450,000 and $500,000 of open space dollars from the city would allow the owners to continue agricultural production and expand into blueberry farming and a possible vineyard .

Warner reported that negotiations between the city and the lessee of Harbor Park Restaurant, Frank Marotta, had been abandoned and that the dispute between the city and Marotta would be going to trial in November.

The committee also approved of a new method to pay for emergency expenses at the city-owned Remington Rand building allowing the building manager to make expenditures of $2000 or less with approval of the planning office.