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Westbrook Adds 12.7 Acres as Open Space

At a Board of Selectman Meeting on Aug. 9, First Selectman John Hall announced the Town had officially closed on a deal to purchase the Ross property on Horse Hill Road, a deal years in the making.

The 12.7-acre property located at 558 Horse Hill Road had been purchased for $190,000. The Zoning Commission is set to receive an application from the Conservation Commission on Aug. 26 (after press time for this article) for constructing three to four parking spaces on the property to allow for better access to the trail.

Town Environmental Planner Heidi Wallace explained in 2023, “The property is located on the east side of Horse Hill Road, and connects to property that the town owns in Horse Hill Gorge.”

While the Town has an easement to walk to Horse Hill Gorge, there is not enough space to create parking.

Hall commented at the meeting that the town and property owners have been discussing the property “for several years.” The Town had conducted a yellow book appraisal in 2023 to help develop a fair price for the property.

The owners of the property, Steven and Frani Ross, told the Harbor News last year that the property was originally purchased by Frani’s grandfather in the 1930s. Steven Ross said that the property was originally about 53 acres, but about 28 were sold to the Town at one point. The remaining 25 acres were divided into two parcels.

Ross said that none of their children or grandchildren were interested in building on the property, so the couple was interested in selling it to the Town.

“Frani and I want it to remain as is, so the win-win is to sell it to the Town as open space. This would enable them to put four or five spaces for parking,” Ross said at the time.

The Ross family will still be recognized by the town as the parking lot application states “A portion of the field will be preserved as Frani’s Field as per the Town’s purchase agreement with Mr. and Mrs. Ross.”

The Town was interested in purchasing the property due to the beautiful views and ample wildlife viewing options on the property.