The Regional Water Authority (RWA) plans to sell 900 acres of land it doesn't need anymore to the highest bidder. The RWA has already sold 1,779 acres, the vast majority of which was bought by towns and conservation trusts to be maintained as open space. Currently, the RWA is attempting to sell 60-plus acres for $2.1 million.

The method the RWA is using to determine the price to sell this land is "highest and best use" and it appears to be non-negotiable. That means pricing the properties for potential development. By default, it makes it prohibitive to purchase the land to save as open space. I respect the RWA for wanting to keep the cost to the rate-payer down, but at some point it has to be more than just about the money. If handed directly to its customers, the proceeds of this sale would provide a one-time savings of only about $5.28 each.

I think most of us look at water company property as open space in perpetuity. Few of us ever consider that the RWA woodland down the street could be sold-and to a developer? There are real people involved here, 900 acres of unspoiled land potentially lost forever, and thousands of acres that surround those parcels that would be directly affected in countless ways.

At a recent hearing, in front of the RWA's Representative Policy Board (RPB), there were many frustrated farmers, homeowners, and townspeople and not a single one spoke in a positive way about this sale. In the RWA's presentation to the board, the very last bullet point read "No adverse impact on environment, purity of water supply, and in the public's interest." I'll let you be the judge of that.

The RPB will vote on this later this month.

David Sargent

Northford