Danbury ad hoc closes after owner withdraws offer on Taylor Farm; 68 Great Plain Road to be considered separately

Frank Salvatore, chair of the Danbury City ad hoc committee on the Taylor Farm properties, closed the panel after the landowner withdrew an earlier offer to convey the full set of farm parcels to the city.

Corporation counsel Eric Gutshau told the committee that the March offer had been withdrawn and reiterated a basic contract principle: "offers may be withdrawn prior to acceptance," adding that because no specific price had been on the table, there was nothing for the city to accept. The withdrawal, he said, effectively ends consideration of the multi-parcel proposal that the ad hoc had been examining.

The withdrawal letter, which Salvatore read into the record, was signed by the property owner and states in part: "After much soul searching, and talks with family members and reading about all time spending and bonding city is undertaking, I don't think the city needs to spend on our properties. So we have decided to withdraw our offer under the 2008 agreement." The letter also asked that the owner be allowed to pursue the sale of a single residential parcel at 68 Great Plain Road to a long-term tenant.

The mayor's office representative told the committee the mayor had met with the owner after the withdrawal and suggested that the single-parcel request (68 Great Plain Road) be taken up separately by the full city council, because the considerations for a residential parcel differ from those for the entire farm.

Committee members asked staff whether appraisals had been completed and whether they had been exchanged as part of the 2008 agreement. Corporation counsel said the appraisals had been completed but had not been shared outside the mayor's office and that the appraisal-exchange process does not begin until the council votes to proceed.

Members also discussed procedural rights tied to the 2008 agreement, including the city's right of first refusal. The owner said he intended the prior terms to remain in place for any sale terms tied to that agreement, including the arrangement that would allot the city 50% of the appraised value under the original deal.

Faced with the owner's withdrawal of the full offer, the committee moved to close the ad hoc committee "with no recommendation to the council since Mr. Taylor has withdrawn his offer to sell to the city." A committee member moved the motion, Salvatore seconded, and members voted in favor. The committee then moved to adjourn.

Next steps: the committee closed its review of the full-farm offer and will forward the matter to the full city council; any separate request concerning 68 Great Plain Road is expected to be placed on a future council agenda for consideration and possible formation of a new ad hoc group or council-level action.