State Will Help Groton, Ledyard Buy Property Near Sub Base

The state will work with Groton and Ledyard to buy land next to Naval Submarine Base New London to try to raise its value and , three state legislators said in a news release Tuesday.

The State Bond Commission is expected on Friday to grant $455,000 to Groton to help the town acquire property at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road and Military Highway, according to the release by State Sen. Andrew Maynard (D-Stonington) and representatives Tom Reynolds (D-Ledyard) and Elissa Wright (D-Groton).

Money would allow for upgrades at the base and prevent other developments from encroaching on its borders, the release said. The bond commission will also provide $225,000 to Ledyard to help the town acquire 20 acres of property near the base.

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“We want to ensure that the sub base remains here in Groton for a long time to come, and that means doing all we can to enhance the quality of the base and its value to the military,” Maynard said in a prepared statement.

“At present, the base is boxed in on all sides. This added land would provide a buffer between the base facilities and neighboring properties, which is an important part of the scoring matrix used by the military to assess bases and make closure decisions.”

Groton’s sub base was targeted for partial closure in 1993 and total closure in 2005, but congressional leaders and the local community organized and prevented the cuts.