Real Estate
Norwalk Land Trust Postpones Vote on Buying 2 Nearwater Rd.
First, Bruce Beinfeld's plan to build a much larger house on the little peninsula was controversial, then neighbors didn't want the proposed sale to the land trust. Now: a postponement.
The board of directors of the Norwalk Land Trust voted tonight to postpone a vote on acquiring the property at 2 Nearwater Rd. as a public nature sanctuary.
The board decided to postpone the vote until after the July 9 meeting of Norwalk’s Sixth Taxing District so as to allow for a full review and discussion in front of the commissioners of the taxing district.
It was decided that the board of the land trust would reconvene later in July, the date to be determined, to resolve whether to proceed with the acquisition.
An agreement with the property owner, Bruce Beinfield, to purchase the property — to add to 16 acres of undeveloped property on the north side of Farm Creek — was placed in abeyance with tonight’s vote.
The intention was to convert the Nearwater Road peninsula into a bird sanctuary. The land trust is a nonprofit committed to preserving open space to enhance the quality of life in the community.
Editor's note: Here's additional information about the property:
Norwalk Hour (March 3):
"Norwalk Land Trust officials announced Monday that it will purchase the .64-acre peninsula at 2 Nearwater Road in Rowayton from its current owner Bruce Beinfield, who last year submitted plans to build a 2.5-story house on the property."
From Nancy on Norwalk news blog (June 23):
"A plan to create a nature preserve on an “historic” piece of Rowayton property was voted down Sunday by members of the Pine Point Association.
"The vote on the Norwalk Land Trust’s plan to buy 2 Nearwater Road from architect Bruce Beinfield failed by a wide margin [...]
From the Norwalk Land Trust website:
Our property at Farm Creek has been the most ambitious project of our 41 year history. Four pieces of property have been joined together to form a 16-acre preserve on the Farm Creek tidal estuary emptying into Long Island Sound. The middle "jewel" in this site was a 2.2 acre property, 34 Sammis Street, in Rowayton. Its price-tag was $4 million.
At the beginning of 2014 we began another capital campaign to add to Farm Creek. Two Nearwater Road is across the estuary and is about one-half acre in size. It juts out into the estuary and was at one time the southern shore of a railroad track which carried passengers out to the Amusement Park at Roton Point. It's price-tag is $1 million.
Tidal estuaries are a vital part of a healthy Long Island Sound ecosystem. Tidal estuaries and salt marshes are the feeding grounds, the nurseries, and the safe havens for hundreds of species of plants and animals and birds, the second most productive ecosystem on our planet after a rain forest.
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Farm Creek Preserve is now a lovely, quiet area enjoyed by people, animals and birds. Trails on the 2.2 acre section known as the Schoendorf Preserve at Farm Creek provide quiet adventures for all. And it provides a perfect setting for 4th graders from Norwalk Elementary Schools and other children of all ages.
Please read of the Norwalk Land Trust's history of this property-the Farm Creek Preserve, the history of the Hart Castle which once stood on the Schoendorf Preserve and the description of the many living creatures found at the Farm Creek Salt Marsh.
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