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West Haven approves easement and deed to close Green Farm trail gap
Summary
The City Council approved Resolution 01-2025 to accept a trail easement across homeowners association property and a quitclaim deed for a vacated street to provide continuous public trail access through the Green Farm subdivision. Council and staff discussed trail surfacing, maintenance responsibilities, and liability; the motion passed 4–1.
The West Haven City Council on the evening agenda approved Resolution 01-2025 to accept two trail-related conveyances tied to the Green Farm development: an easement across homeowners association property and a quitclaim deed for a portion of a vacated street repurposed as trail.
City Manager Sean said the transactions will provide a continuous hard‑surface corridor for people with limited mobility by connecting two existing trail segments. He described one parcel as already hard‑surfaced and the other as an approximately 6‑foot trail bed now surfaced with crushed granite that could be paved later if the city decides to do so.
The council’s discussion focused on surface material, maintenance and liability. Council Member Swapp asked whether the section proposed for easement is paved; staff said the quitclaim parcel (the former street) is paved and the easement portion now has a compacted, crushed‑granite surface. Sean said the easement agreement would leave maintenance of the unpaved portion with the HOA unless the city elected to pave it, in which case the city would assume maintenance and snow removal responsibility. Amy, a staff member present during the discussion, noted the easement language requires each party to “maintain it safely” and that the city would reserve the right to pave the segment in the future.
Council member comment also addressed the resolution text. A councilor requested striking an inconsistent whereas clause to make clear the city would receive a fee‑simple deed for one parcel and an easement for the other; staff agreed to remove the redundant language.
A motion to approve Resolution 01-2025, with the edit to strike the fourth paragraph from the bottom, passed on a roll call vote: Dixon — Aye; Saunders — Aye; Call — Aye; Swapp — Nay; Morse — Aye. The council chair declared the motion carried.
The resolution accepts property interests intended to secure public access through private development and does not commit the city to immediately change the surface material or to a paving project. Staff said any future paving or restoration work would be budgeted separately and would obligate the city for ongoing maintenance of that segment once completed.
