By Ben Rayner, Sound Senior Staff Writer:
STONY CREEK:
The Town of Branford
is trying to negotiate the purchase of a quarter-acre parcel in Stony Creek
currently occupied by the post office. Town Hall says the move would not only
keep the post office where it is but would also let officials address the
growing problem of the Creek’s lack of facilities for tourists and sightseers.
Like any tourist town, Stony Creek can become inundated by
the masses as the seasons change. Numerous businesses operate along the tiny
stretch of waterfront lane that ends at the town docks and on summer days the
portable toilets at the beach see heavy usage.
Residents also wanted to retain the convenience and
community spirit by keeping their post office.
First Selectman Unk DaRos said the town hopes to acquire the
land and keep the post office where it is. He stressed that any deal would not
affect the town’s bottom line because, though no deal has been struck yet, the
anticipated lease income would offset the cost.
The property owner and the town are currently attempting to
negotiate a deal and DaRos said he is optimistic an agreement can be reached
with the owner.
“I hope we can work something out. It looks good and we hope
to talk with the owner pretty soon,” said DaRos. “But there will be absolutely
no burden on the taxpayers. We can do this in a way where there will be no
burden at all–that is the goal. We are hopeful. I think that we can get
something done fairly soon.”
The asking price is currently $1.3 million, but DaRos are
other town officials have stated the town couldn’t afford it at that cost.
According to DaRos, a long-term lease with the post office,
which expires with the current owner at the end of August, and the ability to
use the property in other ways would actually bring in funds.
“A long-term lease with the post office is what we are
hoping for. I think it would be a good fit for them, too,” said DaRos. “I think
we could lease some of those parking spots. There is room for 12 spots there
and I think that we could definitely find a business down there that would want
to lease a spot or two. I don’t expect this to be, and I won’t have it as, a
burden on the taxpayer. We can do this using our heads.”
DaRos, a Stony Creek resident himself, wants to keep the
post office where it is, but said that any lease with the USPS would depend on
purchasing the parcel first.
The current facilities, which amount to a row of green
portable latrines, are an embarrassment, DaRos said, and need to be addressed.
According to DaRos, with increasing crowds every summer, the town needs a
solution for the boat, bus, and tourist traffic that comes to the Creek.
“I know we can get something done on that end. That would be
part of all this. You can’t bring that many people in there and not have proper
facilities,” said DaRos.
DaRos said that renovations adding bathrooms to the post
office would be necessary, and that it would cut into its square footage, but
stated that he was optimistic a deal with both the owner and then USPS
officials could be negotiated.
DaRos said grants might be available to defray the cost of
the facilities upgrades.