A plan for the Town of Ballston to purchase an iconic piece of farmland has failed, much to the chagrin of the landowners and open space advocates.
A resolution to put the purchase of the Cappiello Farm to a public referendum was brought forward at a Town Board meeting Wednesday, Sept. 26, but no board member seconded Supervisor Patti Southworth’s motion. The town was set to offer $600,000 for 272 acres and bring the land under a preservation plan formed by the Ballston Farmland Protection and Preservation Committee.
Southworth said from listening to the public at two public meetings, it was clear voters should have been given the decision as opinion seemed split.
“Obviously I’m disappointed. I knew that this was a piece of property that the town felt very strongly about. But more importantly I think this was an issue where we had an opportunity to let the public vote and tell us how they wanted us to proceed,” said Southworth.
According to Councilwoman Mary Beth Hynes, the board was not comfortable seconding Southworth’s motion because they were informed by Town Attorney Murry Brower prior to the meeting a public referendum would not have been timely. She added the offer was available for only the one night.
The Cappiello family and farm have been fixtures in the Ballston community for more than 50 years. After the passing of the family’s patriarch Julio Cappiello in December of 2010, the family decided to put the 289-acre Route 50 property up for sale. In a statement by Nancy Cappiello that was read at the Wednesday meeting, Cappiello lambasted the board for not pursuing the sale.
“A proposal to purchase an enormous parcel of the property at far below market value comes before the board and you say what? ‘Oh no, this is happening too fast,’ and actually accuse our family of holding a shotgun to your heads. Really?” said Cappiello. “How dare you? How many of you would be willing to wait and wait and wait to sell a valuable asset that you own?”
According to Margaret Phillips, owner of Olde Orchard Real Estate, the property went under contract on Friday, Sept. 28, for $2.7 million. She said that there were indications at both meetings the property would be sold quickly.
“The board was told that there were other interested parties and that if they failed to act, the property would, in fact, be sold. I can only assume that the board members did not believe that to be true,” said Phillips.
The property had been on and off the market for several years. Phillips first listed the property in July 2011.
“Since I’ve had it listed, we’ve had a lot of interest,” said Phillips. The property includes the acreage along with three homes, one barn and other outbuildings. We had several buyers actually looking to buy the property and we were willing to work with the town and the buyers were willing to wait and see what happened with the town.”
She added once the town “dropped the ball,” buyers were ready to move. Closing on the sale will happen before the end of this year.
“(The Cappiellos are) very excited that the property is being sold. … They had some definite hurt feelings with regard to the way the town handled this,” said Phillips.
According to Phillips, the buyers intend to keep the property as farmland and not develop it. About 80 acres are now being leased by farmers for haying.
Members of the Cappiello family were not available for comment.
Joan Pott, chairwoman of the Ballston Farmland Protection and Preservation Committee said she was very disappointed in the board’s indecision. She said the meetings over the two nights got heated and offended the Cappiello family, which was willing to offer the land to the town at well below market value.
“It is my heartfelt hope that readers will recognize the tremendous gift the family originally endeavored to offer the town,” she said.
Pott added the committee was recently awarded a grant of $25,000 from the Department of Agriculture and Markets that would have helped codify their plan for preserving the Cappiello Farm. The grant will still be used in protecting farmland in the town.