Land Buy Approved in Special Town Meeting

Goshen residents voted to purchase a 13.84 acre property located along Route 4 across from the Firehouse for $200,000 in a Special Town Meeting held on Tuesday, May 9th at 8 pm. The votes were 78 in favor for the purchase and 35 against with one abstention. Members of the Board of Selectmen plan to construct a new storage facility for the town’s Public Works and Fire Departments on this property along with a solar panel array to power the facility. First Selectman Todd Carusillo said this new facility will protect town vehicles and equipment from environmental wear and tear that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs,  “I’m trying to protect our investment… We have a brand new million dollar fire truck coming. We got no room for it and I ain’t parking it outside”.

11 people spoke on the motion before voting commenced. Four commented on why residents should vote against the purchase, three commented in support of the purchase, two asked questions to clarify concerns regarding the type of facility to be built on the property and the establishment of the solar panels, and one commented neutrally on the purchase, urging selectmen to answer questions addressed.

Marissa Wright, owner of the local organic produce Wright Farm and adjoining property owner to the Land Purchase, spoke against the purchase to protect the landscape and preserve the rural identity of the town. Wright created the petition “Preserve rural character of Goshen. No development adjacent to land trust on RT 4” in preparation for this vote which garnered 116 signatures out of their 200 signature goal. She warned how this development may harm the Common Nighthawk which uses this area to nest, “I think about what it would be like to not hear them anymore…Preserving our rural character and viewsscapes and preserving an endangered species is a necessity but it is also our duty”. According to the National Audubon Society, the Common Nighthawk is listed as a declining species, not yet listed as endangered but is considered to be a threatened species in Canada. United States Nighthawk populations declined by 48% from 1966-2019, partly due to their eggs being harmed after being laid on gravel surfaces or roofs. Carusillo later responded to Wright regarding the birds nesting on the property’s fields, saying, “They’re going to have to fly to the other side of the field.”

Scott Olson spoke in favor of the purchase for its central location and how it may promote community growth for the town’s future. He told attendees that Goshen is changing and the town needs to prepare for the future, “...Think ahead 20, 30, and 40 years from now. This is not just a piece of property, this is an opportunity… but if we need it today, we sure as hell are gonna need it 30 years from now.” Olson previously had the Planning and Zoning Commission vote in favor to amend its regulation regarding permitted principal uses in the center business zone in October so that he could submit an application to build an indoor pickleball facility. This project was endorsed by the Gochen Business Circle.

Anthony Cocchiola, a Goshen resident of three years, spoke against the purchase advocating the $200,000 be used to pay fire department employees. He thought the funds would more positively impact town employees financially if given to them and their families instead of building a new facility, “Give the guys more money! You know? And I’d rather see that done: pay all these employees, volunteer fire department. Give them money when they go out on a call. Give more money to the workers that work for public works. To me that’s more important than this land cause you’re gonna put a lot of money into that.” In his youth, Cocchiola worked with his dad in a small garage-based construction business. His father once constructed a larger garage and expanded the business in Prospect but soon struggled to pay for his new employees. Cocchiola convinced his father to return their small garage in order to better pay his employees and he hoped Gochen would do the same regarding the land purchase. Carusillo later responded to Cocchiola stating that the funds come from federal grants.

Philip Koenig, a town resident of 21 years and a member of the Goshen Fire Company, spoke in favor of the purchase. He conveyed a firsthand account of the storage necessity fire and emergency equipment require so as to not deteriorate from outside elements, “...Public Works, they have a lot of equipment outside that needs to be stored. Can’t have diesel equipment outside, needs to have some type of warmth for the motor, electricity”. In addition to the upcoming new fire truck, millions of dollars worth of equipment have remained outside during winter storms, rainfall, barrages of road salt and intense heat. This includes a $151,000 tractor purchased in January, plow blades, a loader, excavator, bulldozer, and grader.

In regard to adding additions to the existing public works facility, the facility is grandfathered in and cannot be changed. The Fire Company had a contractor examine the possibility of adding additions to their facility but was told it would cost $1.5 million.

Attendees took part in a paper vote ballet for the purchase following the speakers, resulting in the approved motion. Resident Kathleen Danielczek told Goshen News, “I thought [the vote] was pretty close. Relatively 35-78. I guess it’s better that they buy the land to keep it rather than have developers come in and develop it so that’s good.”

The new storage facility is currently designed to have a red metal barn appearance. Estimated to be 12,000 square feet, the facility will house Fire Department and Public Works equipment. Once a concrete design is formulated, the Board of Selectmen will apply for a $500,000 grant to begin developing the site. Carusillo assured attendees that another town meeting will be held to vote on the building design before development begins but notes that it may take years before the facility is actually complete.