Esty Still Silent On Land Swap

Connecticut’s environmental Commissioner sent a letter to three lawmakers today who asked him to weigh in on a controversial bill to swap state conservation land with a developer. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports Commissioner Esty says the issue is a legislative matter.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would exchange 17 acres of protected land with a view of the Connecticut River in Haddam with Riverhouse Properties for all or part of an 87 acre parcel next to a state forest. Riverhouse owns a banquet hall that overlooks the 17 acres. The developers want to build a hotel, restaurants and shops there. Up to now the state’s environmental commissioner Dan Esty hasn’t spoken publicly about the swap. But three lawmakers, including Senator Andrew Roraback, sent a request to Esty, giving him about a day to guide them on the bill.

“I believe the Commissioner abrogates his responsibility when he declines to offer an opinion that is at the core of his jurisdiction.”

In his letter Esty say’s it’s up to the Attorney General to give a legal opinion on the proposed swap. And he says he didn’t have enough time to weigh in on environmental and financial implications. "Ultimately," Esty wrote, "the proposal is a legislative and policy discussion.”

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen.