Cheshire council schedules public hearing on possible sale of 58 acres near I‑691

The Cheshire Town Council voted to call a public hearing for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, in council chambers to consider the potential sale of about 58 acres of state‑owned land adjacent to Interstate 691 and fronting on Route 10 to 3 Squared LLC for economic development purposes. The council approved resolution 072325‑1 to set the hearing and authorized the town manager to publish the notice as required by law. The item matters because the property is sizable and adjoins a major highway; council members said they want more information about terms and any proposed contract before voting on final conveyance. Several council members asked whether the council would vote on the sale the same night as the hearing and requested earlier access to packet materials and any draft contract. At the meeting a councilmember asked whether the additional small parcel contiguous to the 58 acres was included; staff said the 58 acres does not include that small piece and that any buyer would need to negotiate separately with the state if they wanted to acquire the additional acreage. Town staff said the purchaser would have the option to work with the state to acquire additional land; the town would still need to process any conveyance of additional lots at a later date if required by law. Council members pressed staff for earlier distribution of the materials, saying they would like to review “as much as possible” before a possible vote on Aug. 12. Town staff said the hearing was strictly for calling the public hearing and that packet materials and any draft contract would be provided; the town manager said he would check with the town attorney about timing and distribution. The resolution was seconded and the council chair called the vote; the motion passed by those present. The council and staff also clarified the process: the town will post and publish notice according to law, and the town manager, with the council chair’s approval, will set or postpone the date, time and place as needed. Council members indicated they expect additional hearings or processes may be required if the purchaser seeks to acquire the adjoining state parcel through a separate conveyance. No formal sale, contract approval or final conveyance occurred at the July 23 meeting; the council’s action was limited to calling a public hearing and directing staff to post the notice and make materials available ahead of the hearing.