New CT law that affects land listings

Something just came to my attention regarding a land listing I have in Westport, CT:

 In 2007, my owner went to considerable time and expense to get approvals to build a single family home on an undeveloped piece of land in Westport.  Because it was on the Saugatuck River and Taylor Salt Marsh (owned by the Aspetuck Land Trust), we had to go through Conservation Commission in addition to the other Town offices.  Also because the land was on a State Road, we also had to get the curb cut and sewer approvals from the Connecticut Department of Transportation. As it turns out, we did not build a house, and asked the Town of Westport Planning & Zoning for extensions on the permits.

It has come to my attention that the in May of 2011, the CT State Senate approved Public Act 11-5 which extends the site plan approvals (which are the costly and time-consuming ones) for 9 years.

This means that while local zoning boards might require a new application if the current permits expire, the costly site plans are still good for 9 years.  That is good news for owners and builders alike,  who need more time because of the current economic situation in the real estate market.  As with everything, some restrictions apply, so if you think you are affected by this, check the actual wording of Public Act 11-5!

The link to Public Act 11-5 from the Connecticut State Senate is: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/act/pa/pdf/2011PA-00005-R00SB-00859-PA.pdf

This does not cover every permit we have received, but it does go a long way to provide relief!

By the way, if you want more details about this amazing property for sale, let me know.  It is very rare to have a waterfront property which is also walking distance to downtown.  There is a sidewalk that takes you from the property site right to Main Street in less than 1/2 mile!  Contact me at dsledge@prudentialct.com or cell 917-579-0631 for more information!

Strategic Alliance for Healthy Living

A powerful pair has emerged in Fairfield County: Huge New FitnessEdge facilities within 1/2 mile of Whole Foods markets! 

If getting in a healthy habit appeals to you, this is a winning combination.  FitnessEdge did not allow me to photograph anything inside, but the outside of the Norwalk facility looks like this (see above) and the web addresss is http://www.theedgefitnessclubs.com/. Feel free to check it out, either on line or in person.  "The Edge" has a full sampling of the latest exercise equipment (with tvs so you can multi-task), personal trainers, locker rooms, sauna, showers, etc. PLUS a large menu of classes ranging from cardio, like Cycling, Kettleball bootcamp, kickboxing, Zumba and more; weight training (edge flex) and others, like yoga, power yoga, and Pilates.   I love the classes!

THEN

After a nice workout,

what is better than something healthy to eat?

Whether by accident or design, if you work

out at a Fitness Edge in Fairfield County, you

will probably find a Whole Foods Market

very close by!  While some people think Whole Foods is pricey, don't be fooled!  The salad bar

and breakfast bar are very reasonable and full

of really good quality, tasty food!

Here is an example: 

This sample meal from the breakfast bar has scrambled

eggs, turkey sausage (at least 3 links), home fries, french toast topped with real maple syrup, fresh rasberries, blueberries and strawberries.  Add to it a 16 oz cup of EXCELLENT quality

coffee. (This is considered a medium size - others serve 8oz)

The food portion of this order was $3.69

The 16 oz coffee was $1.85

The total for this entire meal was $5.64 and it is a lot of food -

good food, not just buns, buscuits, and fillers.

Like bacon?  They have apple smoked bacon and turkey bacon.

When is the last time your breakfast included fresh rasberries?

The salad bar is 3 times as large as the breakfast bar, with plenty of meat, fish, grains, salads, fruits, yoghurts, you name it.  I like to eat, and as you can see from that breakfast plate, I don't eat just "bird food". The salad bar has plenty of variety - something for every appetite.

So take advantage of the winning combination of convenient exercise with great food, reasonably priced. If it seems like this blog is skewed toward the food aspect, it is only because I couldn't photograph any specifics about the FitnessEdge, but try it - it is great!  My favorites are Zumba (fun, cardio with lots of dance steps) combined with Edge Flex (weights and strength training).  Other friends like the machines and go through the circuits that cover each muscle group.  Plenty for everyone!  Get strong - get healthy!

A Currier and Ives Moment: cutting the holiday tree

Fairfield County is a wonderful place to experience wholesome holiday fun!  Whatever your religious leanings might be, a holiday tree is both inviting and a lovely addition to the home.  For those who love to make a family event out of cutting down a live tree, there are several in the area.  Jones Tree Farm in Shelton offers 200 acres of all varieties of evergreens. http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/.  One of my favorites is Maple Row in Easton, http://www.mrfarm.com/.  Our family spent many years coming here, visiting the snack bar, having hot cider, hot dog, and grabbing our handsaw.  A tractor rides would take us to the fields, and off we go, trudging through the snow, arguing about which tree is just the right one (we all have opinions) and lobbing a few well-aimed snowballs at each other. On bitter days, the choice would come very quickly ("does that one look OK?  Yes, great, let's cut it and go to the warming station") and in the balmier years, the workers would be out in nothing but a T-shirt, and we would spend all afternoon looking at trees. Prices at these farms vary, so check; but in previous years, a tree was about $60, just to give a ball-park.  I think there is a fixed price regardless of size, so if your house is large enough, go for the big tree! Maple Row is a large farm that gets loads of crowds, so if you want something really down to earth (no pun intended), try the Audubon Society on Sasco Creek Road in Westport.  One warming hut, not as much variety, but no crowds either.   There are several other cut-your-own places in the area listed on this area blog: http://ridgefield.patch.com/articles/fairfield-countys-cut-your-own-tree-parks-4
If you are not into cutting down your own tree, no problem.  Most of our local nursery shops have pre-cut trees, or live ones to decorate and later plant on your property.  Stew Leonards (http://www.stewleonards.com/) also has a good selection of holiday trees.  Many areas in the US have to ship their trees from long distances, only to sit in an empty parking lot, so this is real chance to enjoy a wholesome family moment - New England style!

Operation Tree Rescue

Remember my Oct. blog about the tree in Winslow Park with the vines covering it? Here it is now, after Operation Tree Rescue! 
It took a while to get those vines cut, but
hopefully they will not have a chance to come
back. With time, the dead vines will fall off and
the tree will be free of its deadly 'alien' invaders.

Do we enjoy fall foliage in CT? It is one of our crown jewels, isn't it?  People come from all over the world to view it.  This popular site tells where to go for best viewing, and when to time your trip: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2697&q=322764&depNav_GID=1631

Fall foliage was not in the cards for this tree in Winslow Park this year.  But with a little help from 'Cyndi Lopper' and friends, I think we might see its fall colors next year!  Most of the vines seen here are an invasive species called Asiatic Bittersweet, with trunks that are as big as your arm, or larger!! The trunks wrap around the tree, strangling it .  Homeowners, watch your property.  This stuff is everywhere!  Protect your investment! Don't let your trees look like these below.  You can't even tell what type of trees they are - the vines have covered it like a blanket.  Do you want to help?  Start with your own property, then take a look at our local parks.  If you have any questions about which plants are invasive (but I think we could tell with this one, couldn't we?), go to UConn's website www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwq



 

Global Experience offered in Westport - Rotary Exchange!

My son, Chris just graduated from Staples High School in Westport a few months ago.  Rather than go straight to college, he was fortunate enough to be sponsored by the Westport Rotary to spend a year in Brazil.  There, he will take classes with the local students in their native Portuguese (here's Chris with his Physics teacher), stay with 3-4 host families, take sightseeing trips to see the country, and immerse himself in the culture, language, food, climate and lifestyle of  that country!  What a wonderful experience!  I encourage all parents and students to look into this program.  The students are sponsored by their local Rotary Clubs from Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Stamford, Ridgefield and others.  Parents, you don't have to reciprocate by hosting a foreign student, unless you want to.  The application process begins in the fall for international travel the following summer/fall.  Students pick from over 46 countries in Europe, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, South America, Asia and Africa.  Parents pay a small fee ($300?  I can't remember), as well as the one plane ticket, health insurance and optional side trips.   Rotary pays for schooling abroad, room and board, trips with host families, and even a monthly spending allowance - FOR 10+ MONTHS.  What a fantastic experience!  Why aren't more students doing this?  I have no idea!!!  Details about the Essex Exchange Program can be found at http://www.exchangestudent.org/.  Also, visit the blogs of Westport's 2  2010 exchange students at http://www.sledgenobrasil.blogspot.com/ and http://www.alexinvenezuela.wordpress.com/

I'm not ready to drop the price....

I ran into someone at the park yesterday.  We knew each other's dogs, but not really each other. She told me that her house was on the market. The house has been on the market for over 3 weeks with NO showings. The interesting thing was she said "I HAVE TO SELL" and in the same breath, she said "I AM NOT READY TO DROP THE PRICE".  I steered the conversation to another topic, since I was not allowed to talk to another agent's client about a listing, and I make it a point to be a highly ethical agent.  But the statement reverberated in my mind: "I HAVE TO SELL BUT AM NOT READY TO DROP THE PRICE".  In a rising market like the one we enjoyed for 20 years, that strategy would ultimately work: if you wait long enough, the market will ultimately catch up to the price.  But with a flat or declining market, it means that the house is doomed from the start!  If the price is too high (as evidenced with NO showings), then you can wait until the cows come home - the house will only become stale, and the flat or declining market will never close the gap.   I bit my tongue and mentally wished that realtor good luck...

WASA Top Dog Event

Last Saturday was warm and sunny: a great day for Westport Animal Shelter's 2nd annual WASA Top Dog Event!  It was a fun-filled day a live DJ, food, silent auction, celebrity judges, and lots of activities for dogs and their owners.  Proceeds went to WASA (http://www.westportwasa.org/).  In the photo/essay contest, Nimbus and 91 year old "Grandmo" was chosen to be included in their 2011 calender. Calendars will be on sale at WASA in early December.  Nimbus the 10 year old beagle also took 2nd place in the Best Dog Trick contest, a fierce competition indeed! The inspiration for his many tricks was a juicy piece of hotdog.  Nimbus was interviewed by The CT Post, the Norwalk Hour and the Westport News.  Hopefully this won't go to his head!