By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Dec. 3, 2020) The Berlin Mayor and Council agreed to deed a 11,000-square-foot property on Maple Avenue to the Willows at Berlin after a recent title search showed that the town owned the property.

SITE PLAN COURTESY TOWN OF BERLIN
The Berlin Mayor and Council agreed to deed a 11,000-square-foot property on Maple Avenue to the Willows at Berlin with the following conditions: Ingerman Inc. will pave Maple Avenue from the entrance of the development all the way to Flower Street, run sidewalks on Maple Avenue from the development to Elizabeth Street and retain the easement for the Stoll property, which is adjacent to the entrance of the proposed development.

Town officials agreed at the Oct. 26 meeting to work with the developer, Ingerman Inc., to allow the project to proceed without having to redesign the proposed apartment complex.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood recommended deeding the property to Ingerman Inc. for the Willows at Berlin with conditions.

• “To pave Maple from the entrance of the development all the way to Flower Street.
• “To run sidewalks on Maple Avenue from the development to Elizabeth [Street] that way we have a complete run of sidewalks on Maple.
• “To retain the easement, if you will, for the Stoll property, which is adjacent to the entrance,” Fleetwood said.

“None of those things will take place (i.e. deeding that over to Ingerman and Willows) until the work has been completed to town standard, and then in turn we ask that it be deeded.”

He added that the value of the Maple Avenue property is approximately $11,000.

“In fairness, we’re looking at about $33,000 worth of work for a $10,000 piece of property,” Fleetwood said.

All three conditions must be met to deed the property, according to the public works agreement and mayor and council’s motion.

“That public works agreement will be exercised soon as they close on the property,” said Dave Engelhart, the town’s planning director. “This item was an item we needed to clear up before the Willows at Berlin closes. Right now, the project’s known as Wolfe Terrace.”

Engelhart added that Ingerman Inc. is renovating the existing apartments.

“They’re building 34 more apartment units, townhouse-style apartment buildings and one clubhouse, a community building on-site,” he said. “They need this cleared up before they go ahead and complete their sale.”

Although the council approved the transfer of the land “upon satisfactory completion of these items,” the developer contacted Fleetwood during the meeting to express concerns, as the land needed to be deeded before closing.

Councilman Troy Purnell said there would be a bond on improvements.

“That’s going to be your assurance even after you’ve deeded the property over to him,” he said.

The council voted to approve the agreement as proposed with the amendment that the land will be conveyed before the mandated satisfactory completion of the improvements.