Community Group on Ethel Walker Development 

May 23, 2005

Board of Selectmen
Planning Commission 
Board of Finance
Open Space Land Preservation Subcommittee 
Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency
Simsbury Town Hall 
933 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury CT  06070

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

	We represent many neighborhood communities in Simsbury.  We are writing to you regarding the plans presented by Ethel Walker for the development of its woodland property West of Bushy Hill Road.  We would like to assist the Town of Simsbury in preserving this woodland property in its pristine state.  

Preservation of the Walker property will (1) complement adjacent Town open space, State and Town parks and forests, and private open space, (2) preserve and enlarge an existing, continuous forest, wetland and stream corridor, (3) protect watershed land for Hop Brook and the major Stratton Brook aquifer, (4) preserve important and diverse wildlife habitat, and (5) preserve the natural, rural setting of our Town.   We understand that preservation of this property is consistent with Simsbury’s plan of development and State conservation goals.

	We acknowledge that Walker has financial needs and trustee obligations.  Walker has been a good neighbor to all of us for many years, and an excellent member of the Simsbury community.  The School has been generous in granting the public access to its beautiful property, and has thus significantly added to the quality of life in our Town.  

We believe it is possible to both meet Walker’s needs, and preserve the very valuable asset we all have in the Walker property.  We would like to provide assistance toward this goal in any way we can. We also understand that the Trust for Public Land is ready to assist the Town in this effort, and we ask that Simsbury’s Open Space Committee commence discussions with the TPL immediately.  

Thank you for your consideration.

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[Signature Page to Community Group Letter]

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