A proposal to build a new electric substation in Greenwich received a rough reception before the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night.
Commission Chairman Donald Heller told Eversource Energy, formerly Connecticut Light and Power, that it should drop plans for a new substation at 290 Railroad Ave., which would replace the existing Pet Pantry store.
Members of the public spoke out against the project at the hearing and commission members expressed their own doubts.
Ultimately, Heller recommended to the utility they drop the plan and come up with an alternative or the commission would give a negative report to the Connecticut Siting Council.
The commission had earlier received a report from the town's Architectural Review Committee, which spoke out against the planned look of the structure for the substation.
"If you've ever had clear direction on anything, you're getting it tonight," Heller said to representatives from the utility.
However, the town is limited in what it can do, Heller said. The siting council is the ultimate authority, and while town boards and commissions can recommend against it, they have no formal power to stop it. Eversource could ignore the commission's recommendation and move forward without an endorsement.
When reached for comment on Wednesday, Frank Poirot, spokesman for Eversource, said the complaints had been heard.
"Since thoughtful public comment is an important part of the siting process, we are closely reviewing resident comments from last night's planning and zoning commission meeting before moving the substation proposal forward," Poirot said CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
New Milford approves high school turf fields
NEW MILFORD -- A cheer went up as town sports teams scored a long-awaited victory Monday night when the Town Council approved the installation of two synthetic turf fields at New Milford High School.
"This is an incredible asset for the town and the high school," said Councilman Joe Failla, who served on the Turf Fields Committee. "The athletes who play on these fields have come out and spoke about their need. These fields are going to do a lot for the pride and raising the spirit of our high school athletes playing on them."
Proponents for synthetic turf on the stadium field and one practice field at the high school have been vocal about the need.
"Obviously all of our sports teams have been disadvantaged by playing on grass fields at home," Marissa McLaughlin, a New Milford High senior and field hockey team member, told the council. "I'm a senior this year, but those coming up after me will benefit from this change."
Mayor Pat Murphy was authorized to form a Building Committee whose members will fashion a request for bids to install the new synthetic turf. How the turf will be paid for is still to be determined. The estimated cost is $3 million to $4 million.
Murphy said the town is still considering pulling funds from the Waste Management Settlement Fund for the project. But she also wants other options considered as well.
"I think this can be done without a negative impact on taxpayers," Murphy said. "I've spoken with the finance director, and am thinking maybe short-term borrowing would work. We've been getting good interest rates for that."
The Waste Management Settlement Fund balance is now about $7 million. When the fund was established in 2001, "the construction of public recreation and public education facilities" was included in the fund document. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Town Hall, PD discussions continue in East Hampton
EAST HAMPTON >> The Town Council moved ahead Tuesday with efforts that could ultimately lead to the construction of a new police station and a new town hall.
After reviewing the results of a Facilities Assessment Committee report on infrastructure improvements projects for the town, the council voted 6-1 to list its top three priorities. In order, those priorities are a new police station, a new town hall and some action to modernize Center School. That could lead either to a renovated school or use of the building as a municipal complex.
Separately, the council reviewed revisions of multiple drafts of a resolution to establish a police station building committee. However, given the number of revisions the council made to various versions of the proposed resolution, the panel agreed to wait until they got “a clean copy” to review before acting to approve it.
Separately, the councilors also agreed to try and draft a request for proposals to update a 2008 report on future uses of the Center School. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Construction of new Plainfield medical center pegged for April
PLAINFIELD — Developers hope to break ground on a new medical center in the spring and have the Plainfield complex open for business in a year.The plan by Branford-based O,R&L Plainfield LLC for a two-story, 40,000 square-foot center took a big step forward this week after the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special permit for the project, the last municipal hurdle required by developers. Construction is planned to begin in mid-April.The Backus Center for Specialty Care, to be run by The William W. Backus Hospital, will include several medical services, including physical rehabilitation, a women's health office, an infusion section and an ambulatory surgery center, said David Casale, the hospital's project manager."Hours of operation are planned from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the center is likely to be open five or six days," he said. "This is not a walk-in clinic, but a scheduled-appointment center."The center will include 201 parking spaces, 20-foot, LED lights and several landscape "islands" in the parking lot that include catch basins. An artist's rendering of the building shows a stucco and brick facade with an entry portico.The commission on Tuesday made slight changes to the submitted permit application, adding an extra fire hydrant and wider turn spaces on roads to accommodate emergency vehicles. The commission's decision allows for O,R&L to finalize land purchases for the project from the Disch Family Limited Partnership.The planned center is expected to be constructed on 3.68 acres on Gallup Street — just east of the Plainfield Backus Emergency Care Center at 582 Norwich Road. Developers still need final approval from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection before work can begin.A public hearing before Tuesday's vote drew just two residents, including Ken Welch, who lives close to the emergency center. Welch said his only concern about the project was the prospect of construction blasting. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Final Cargil Falls Mills project piece set to fall into place
PUTNAM — The final domino is in place for the Cargill Falls Mill project.
The State Bond Commission has on its agenda a $2.85 million Urban Act grant - the final financial piece needed to begin construction. The Bond Commission is also expected to approve a $5 million loan to the project.
“With the financial dominoes all lined up, ownership needs to finish up its action plan,” said Tim Sheldon, the director of development on the project. “If we’re quick and effective we should begin construction by mid-summer.”
The property is owned by Leanne Parker and Greg Renshaw, and they hired Sheldon two years ago. The project, called The Lofts at Cargill Falls Mill, is a planned multiple use development where a mix of market-rate and affordable residential apartment units will exist in a community setting adjacent to compatible clusters of office, retail, service and restaurant workplaces. When complete, The Lofts will offer 82 residential living units along with 29,954 square feet of mixed-use commercial workspace at the intersection of Route 44 and Kennedy Drive.
Sheldon said the project will need 12 months to 13 months for completion.
The state news is not the only positive developments for the mill project. Sheldon said Wednesday was the closing on the $2.5 million funding for the hydro-electric generation plant, which will make the mill Connecticut’s first fully sustainable mill project.
The project has been about 10 years in the making. Sheldon and local leaders involved in the project said it is the epitome of partnerships between the private sector and state and local government.
Putnam Economic and Community Development Director Delpha Very said significant investments by the owners of their own funds to clean up the site and make it suitable for housing was a significant step for the project and showed commitment to the project.
WEST HAVEN >> Funding for the new West Haven High School project is up in the air following the state’s declaration that it has yet to approve the change from a $109.3 million alteration project to a $132.64 million “renovate as new” project — and won’t approve it as configured, officials said.
State statute requires that the cost of a renovated facility built with state funds be less than that to build a new facility. Right now, that’s not the case, a state consultant wrote in a recent letter to the city. The letter also revealed that there are more than $7 million in expenses for the project that currently are not reimbursable. “Based upon current project file documentation, we have estimated construction costs for a new facility to be $124,697,7000...or 277,106 (square feet) at $450 per s.f.,” wrote state Department of Administrative Services education consultant Page Farnham in a Feb. 20 letter to Ken Carney, chairman of the West Haven High School Building Committee.
Carney shared the information with the building committee at a meeting Tuesday night. “Current estimated project costs of $132,639,000 exceed the costs to build new and, as a result, renovation status would not be approved,” Farnham wrote. As currently configured, the project’s cost would be $476 per square foot, said Mayor Ed O’Brien and Director of Finance Kevin McNabola. The city needs to cut $7.94 million to bring the plan in line with the maximum amount the state would approve, they said. What’s more, the state said it won’t approve additional reimbursements until the “renovate-as-new” status is approved and the city needs to pass a resolution authorizing more than $7 million in additional spending, said McNabola. The City Council last April approved an increase in project costs from $109 million to $132.64 million, with more 75.36 percent of that reimbursable by the state. The state now says that $7.34 million of that is ineligible for reimbursement, although it would be eligible if or when the state were to approve “renovate-as-new” status, he said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Milford board likely to deny housing plan
MILFORD >> The Planning and Zoning Board won’t vote until April 6 on a controversial proposal to build a 257-unit residential complex at 460 Bic Drive, but it’s looking good for the dozens of residents opposed to the plan. The board Wednesday asked City Planner David Sulkis to draft a motion for denial and they will vote in April. Several Board members who spoke on the plan said they have concerns about its impact on health, safety, traffic. But Attorney Thomas Lynch, who represents petitioner Garden Homes Management Corporation, said if the project is denied he will appeal and is “confident” there is nothing on the record that would support the claim that the project would compromise health or safety. The developer is seeking a special permit and site plan approval.
The audience was filled with residents from that area opposed to the plan, many of whom spoke publicly during a prior hearing.
Although there was no vote Wednesday, resident Cheryl Dato said she and others are relieved because it looks like the board will vote “no.” “This is a good sign that they’re on the same page,” Dato said. Resident Joseph Coci said they want the motion carefully crafted for legal reasons pertaining to the state’s fair housing act. Every time a board member was to comment on the proposal, 20 audience members held up papers that read in bold letters: “Keep us safe, vote, ‘no’ to building.” After each comment – they were all negative toward the project – residents clapped.
Some of the reasons board members are opposed include density, concerns about egress, traffic, water pressure, accessibility of emergency vehicles, the blasting that would be done during construction, proximity to a pipeline, no sidewalks. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
“I have always been optimistic about this project,” Very said. “I can’t wait to see it completed. It’s that important for Putnam and the region.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
State statute requires that the cost of a renovated facility built with state funds be less than that to build a new facility. Right now, that’s not the case, a state consultant wrote in a recent letter to the city. The letter also revealed that there are more than $7 million in expenses for the project that currently are not reimbursable. “Based upon current project file documentation, we have estimated construction costs for a new facility to be $124,697,7000...or 277,106 (square feet) at $450 per s.f.,” wrote state Department of Administrative Services education consultant Page Farnham in a Feb. 20 letter to Ken Carney, chairman of the West Haven High School Building Committee.
Carney shared the information with the building committee at a meeting Tuesday night. “Current estimated project costs of $132,639,000 exceed the costs to build new and, as a result, renovation status would not be approved,” Farnham wrote. As currently configured, the project’s cost would be $476 per square foot, said Mayor Ed O’Brien and Director of Finance Kevin McNabola. The city needs to cut $7.94 million to bring the plan in line with the maximum amount the state would approve, they said. What’s more, the state said it won’t approve additional reimbursements until the “renovate-as-new” status is approved and the city needs to pass a resolution authorizing more than $7 million in additional spending, said McNabola. The City Council last April approved an increase in project costs from $109 million to $132.64 million, with more 75.36 percent of that reimbursable by the state. The state now says that $7.34 million of that is ineligible for reimbursement, although it would be eligible if or when the state were to approve “renovate-as-new” status, he said. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Milford board likely to deny housing plan
MILFORD >> The Planning and Zoning Board won’t vote until April 6 on a controversial proposal to build a 257-unit residential complex at 460 Bic Drive, but it’s looking good for the dozens of residents opposed to the plan. The board Wednesday asked City Planner David Sulkis to draft a motion for denial and they will vote in April. Several Board members who spoke on the plan said they have concerns about its impact on health, safety, traffic. But Attorney Thomas Lynch, who represents petitioner Garden Homes Management Corporation, said if the project is denied he will appeal and is “confident” there is nothing on the record that would support the claim that the project would compromise health or safety. The developer is seeking a special permit and site plan approval.
The audience was filled with residents from that area opposed to the plan, many of whom spoke publicly during a prior hearing.
Although there was no vote Wednesday, resident Cheryl Dato said she and others are relieved because it looks like the board will vote “no.” “This is a good sign that they’re on the same page,” Dato said. Resident Joseph Coci said they want the motion carefully crafted for legal reasons pertaining to the state’s fair housing act. Every time a board member was to comment on the proposal, 20 audience members held up papers that read in bold letters: “Keep us safe, vote, ‘no’ to building.” After each comment – they were all negative toward the project – residents clapped.
Some of the reasons board members are opposed include density, concerns about egress, traffic, water pressure, accessibility of emergency vehicles, the blasting that would be done during construction, proximity to a pipeline, no sidewalks. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE