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City Council discusses eminent domain to take blighted properties in flight path

A group of Danbury City Council members are considering request for nearly $1 million to acquire two parcels of land near the airport.  The Airport Administrator requested about $815,000 for the land at 89 Wooster Heights Road and 25 Miry Brook Road.

The City is applying for a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration and Connecticut Aviation Administration for reimbursement.  Environmental studies are needed.  The FAA would pay 90-percent while the CAA pays 7.5, leaving the City to cover 2.5 percent.  The estimated cost doesn't cover legal fees. 

Council President Joe Cavo says the City is trying to take the properties by eminent domain, but that still requires the current owner be paid the fair market value on its current condition.  The actual cost of the acquisition is unknown because the City doesn't know if the FAA will cover environmental clean up costs.  The cost of abatement is also unknown at this time. 

Assistant Airport Administrator Mike Safranek says another appraisal then has to be done, and there are relocation fees to pay. 

Danbury went through the same process in 2006 with what is now the dog park.  The FAA did follow through with grant reimbursement there. 

The blighted properties are within the flight path of the airport and continue to be the subject of enforcement actions by the City, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and others.  City officials say that owning the property will ensure airport personnel and property safety. 

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Markley van Camp Robbins

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