Haddam land swap approved

Haddam, Conn (WTNH) - On the final night of the legislative session, lawmakers approved a controversial land swap in the town of Haddam just before the midnight deadline.

The deal involves the state swapping 17 acres of state land in Haddam near the river across from the iconic Goodspeed Opera House, in exchange for about 87 acres, now privately owned, further inland near a state forest.

The private owner wants the swap so he can develop the land near the river.

"We envision a tourist attraction, tourist destination, similar to Mystic, where people will come and hopefully see a... some sort of entertainment venue... shops, a plaza, a hotel," Trevor Furrer from Riverhouse Properties said.

The controversial land swap was contained in a non controversial conservation land conveyance bill affecting seven other pieces of surplus state land around the state.

"This is land that was purchased, and we're exchanging something of equal value, so we're leveraging 17 contaminated acres for 87 clean acres," said State Senator Eileen Daily (D-Westbrook).

"I don't think that's a fair characterization of the two properties," Martin Mador from the Connecticut Sierra Club said.

"The 17 acres is clearly conservation land, bought in 2003 with public funds, specifically for conservation, and the legislature should not convey conservation land as though it were surplus land," Rep Philip Miller (D-Essex) said.

Miller, who like Dailey, represents Haddam in the Assembly, says a large portion of the town is opposed to the land swap. Dailey says those who oppose the plan have been misguided by a lot of disinformation about the deal.

Opponents tried to derail the deal Wednesday night, but were unsuccessful.