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Undeveloped Town-Owned Land Referred for Possible Sale

An undeveloped plot of land near Chow Restaurant on Killingworth Turnpike may soon be up for sale. On Sept. 7, the Town Council unanimously voted to send a referral to the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) that could pave the way for the sale of the town-owned property.

The property, located at 36R Killingworth Turnpike, is measured at 0.41 acres, and according to Town Manager Karl Kilduff, an interested party has already approached the town about purchasing the property. At this time Kilduff said that there is no potential sale price and declined to name the interested party. Kilduff said the Council was first approached in August about the interest.

Kilduff also shed some light on what the PZC needs to do before the potential sale is complete.

“The action at today’s meeting is part of a multi-step process. By State Statute, if land is to be sold, the possible sale must be referred to the local Planning and Zoning Commission to provide a report back to the Council on a possible sale. The Commission has 35 days to complete its report to the Council,” said Kilduff.

After the report is back and assuming the PZC is in favor, Kilduff said there will be a town meeting to approve the move.

“Assuming the report is positive, the Town would go through a process to determine buyer interest, identify the buyer who will close on the property, and establish a sale price for the property. The final step would be a Town Meeting to approve the final sale of the property. After that action, a closing could then be scheduled with the appropriate attorneys much like normal real estate transaction,” Kilduff continued.

Kilduff said that the town has had possession of the property for close to 30 years and that by selling the property the town could get the land back on the tax rolls.

“The Town took the property as part of a tax sale during the early 1990s for unpaid real estate taxes. The unpaid taxes, penalty and interest at the time was $25,184. After the foreclosure by tax sale, it went off the tax rolls. There appears to be abutter interest in the property which is an opportunity to put the property back on the tax rolls,” Kilduff said.