The Town Council recently voted (Feb. 26) to pursue a grant through the Recreational Trails Grant Program administered by the CT DEEP to assist in purchasing a portion of the Janota Farm property at 2104 Chamberlain Hwy. The Berlin Land Trust is proposing the installment of trails from Heritage Drive to Edgewood Road with a goal of connecting to the Metacomet Trail.
Town Council Member (David) Evans questioned if any of the homeowners had been contacted about this plan as trails next to residential neighborhoods have resulted in concerns in the past. Despite the disclosure by Dennis Kerns of the Land Trust and James Mahoney, Town Economic Dev Dir., that there had been no public participation in the discussion and that no homeowner had been informed of the plan, all Council members except Mr. Evans voted in favor of pursuing the grant.
The homeowners of Heritage Dr. (and it's extension, Chippens Hill Dr.) learned of this project days after this vote and stand strongly against the installation of trails along the backyard property lines of their homes.
A special Public Information Session has now been scheduled to provide information and receive comments from nearby property owners and other general public members for March 21 at 6:30pm, Room 4, Berlin Community Center.
Kate Roman
