Selectmen authorize conditional easement swap to resolve driveway access at Sandy Hollow Park

The Board of Selectmen voted May 5 to authorize a conditional easement that would formalize driveway access off a Sandy Hollow cul‑de‑sac in exchange for the property owner relinquishing an older right‑of‑way that currently would permit vehicular crossing of Sandy Hollow Park to Minor Avenue.

Attorney Jonathan Peck explained his client bought a foreclosed property (identified in the backup as 7166) and discovered title issues: the predecessor owners had been using a short strip of town land to access the cul‑de‑sac while also holding a recorded right‑of‑way across open space that predates the subdivision. Peck said his client is prepared to abandon the recorded right‑of‑way that traverses town open space if the town grants an easement that legitimizes the curb cut and short access the owner has long used.

Town planning staff and the director of planning (Woodwitz) recommended the swap, saying the proposal would reduce vehicle traffic across parkland and limit headlights and vehicle movement near private homes. The board approved the authorization to have the first selectman execute the easement, conditioned on: a survey and meets-and-bounds prepared at the applicant’s expense; review and approval of the plan by the town attorney and the planning director; and final documentation clarifying dimensions and legal terms.

The board directed staff to receive and review the survey and report back; the action is intended to resolve a recurring right‑of‑way issue and remove the potential for vehicular traffic across town open space while preserving legal access for the homeowner.

Next steps: the applicant will provide a survey within 30–45 days; town counsel and planning staff will review the proposed easement description before execution.