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Bethel hotel owner seeks small state strip behind I-84 for expansion; attorney cites economic-development benefits
Summary
An attorney for Gayatri Corporation asked the Government Oversight Committee to convey a narrow strip of state land in Bethel to allow construction of a retaining wall for a second hotel and associated grading and drainage work (HB 7,279). The firm said the transfer would minimize construction disturbance, repurpose land that currently serves no
Peter Olsen, an attorney representing Gayatri Corporation, told the Government Oversight Committee that the company seeks a small strip of state-owned land north of Interstate 84 behind its 18 Stony Hill Road hotel to allow grading and construction of a new retaining wall for a second hotel on the property.
Why it matters: Gayatri has a site plan and special-permit approval from the Bethel planning and zoning commission for a second hotel. Mr. Olsen said a small DOT-owned strip of land immediately north of the property does not form part of the highway right-of-way and that a conveyance or easement would reduce construction disturbance, lower engineering costs and return the strip to the town’s tax rolls.
Details and concerns: Olsen said town assessor records list the strip as 0.4 acres but he expects the actual conveyance footprint will be smaller once surveyed. He asked the committee to consider the conveyance as a tool to permit a project that has local approvals and asserted the strip serves no current public purpose.
Formal action: The hearing was informational only; no committee vote was recorded. Committee members asked for a site survey to fix acreage and boundary lines before any conveyance proceeds.
Ending: The committee requested a formal survey and documentation from the town and the applicant to confirm parcel size and to ensure the transfer would not impair highway operations or public access.
