Planning commission recommends sale of two small city parcels adjacent to Willow and Bader streets

The Torrington Planning and Zoning Commission on June 25 issued a favorable CGS 8-24 recommendation to the City Council for disposition of two small city-owned parcels: one adjacent to Willow Street (Assessor Map 117, Block 026, Lot 025) and a second fronting Bader Street (Assessor Map 117, Block 026, Lot 024).

Staff said the Willow Street parcel (about 0.15 acres) is leftover land from street construction in the 1950s, undevelopable and of no current municipal interest, and that the Bader Street parcel (about 0.09 acres) was acquired in 1927 and was never constructed as a public street. Public Works director Ray Drew confirmed there is no departmental interest in retaining either parcel and that an abutting property owner has expressed interest in acquiring both parcels and combining them with adjacent land.

Why it matters: staff recommended the disposition to reduce maintenance and encroachment enforcement burdens, return the parcels to the grand list and assist adjacent property owners with access and parking. The staff memo noted the proposal is consistent with goals in the plan of conservation and development to support downtown redevelopment and to periodically review street rights-of-way.

Commission action: Commissioner Donna Greco moved a favorable recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried. The commission directed staff corrections to parcel identifiers in the record (one lot number numbering error was corrected in the minutes). The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council under Connecticut General Statutes section 8-24 for final action.

Next steps: City Council will consider the referral and any proposed conveyance terms; staff noted that abutting ownership includes pass-and-repass easement rights which may limit certain uses on the parcels.