Connecticut
In one affluent CT town, uncommonly little public resistance to affordable housing plan
Despite hitting widespread public opposition to its affordable housing plans in several wealthy Connecticut towns, Vessel Technologies has gotten mostly support for its proposed 64-unit apartment building in Avon.
Only one resident spoke against the plan at a hearing Tuesday night, and letters and email about the project ran 6-1 in favor of it, zoning officials said.
The town is expected to decide next month whether New York-based Vessel may build 64 small, high-tech apartments off Avonwood Road near Route 44.
The company has invoked Connecticut’s 8-30g law, which sharply limits the authority of local zoning commissions over affordable housing proposals.
Vessel has encountered a range of responses to similar 8-30g plans elsewhere: Cheshire approved one relatively quickly, while Granby recently rejected another. Vessel took Simsbury, Glastonbury and Rocky Hill to court after they tried to keep it out; the company negotiated a compromise with Rocky Hill, reached a settlement with Simsbury and is still pursuing its Glastonbury suit.
In most of those communities, groups of homeowners were outspoken in urging the town to stop Vessel from building. Mostly they cited concerns about too much density and traffic, but objections included water runoff from the parking lots, architecture that wouldn’t conform with the surrounding neighborhoods and excessive building height.
In some towns, hearings on Vessel plans have been adjourned to larger venues to accommodate overflow crowds. But in Avon, Vessel has gotten more pushback from the planning and zoning commission than from the public.
Only two residents spoke at Tuesday night’s hearing, with one man emphasizing that 8-30g doesn’t prohibit the commission from voting “no.” Instead, it gives developers an advantage afterward if they appeal a rejection — and that only comes into play if they’re willing to take the town to court, he said.
Avonwood Road homeowner Nancy Maccoll told commissioners that parking and traffic are serious issues with the Vessel plan. Since Avonwood is a cul de sac, Maccoll said it can’t accommodate overflow cars from Vessel ending up parked along the roadside.
“I’ve lived here for over 20 years. Avonwood Road is a very small, tiny road, there’s one lane going in and one gong out. I find it totally unacceptable that you would even consider people parking on the street,” she said.
There’s heavy traffic already when the Reggio Magnet School is in session, and putting even more cars through the Avonwood and Waterville Road traffic light will cause backups, she said.
But even though Avonwood has nearly 200 apartments, no other people spoke Tuesday night.
Two commissioners raised reservations about parking and fire safety, noting that 8-30g lists public health and safety as the two factors that could justify rejecting affordable housing plans.
After company President Josh Levy agreed to add three spaces to the 70 already planned, one commissioner pressed for more and warned that overflow visitors would end up parking along the street and potentially blocking firetrucks and other motorists. Levy said his consultants would work with town staff to see if reconfiguring the landscaping would allow a couple additional spaces.
Commissioner Robin Baran, though, cautioned that the zoning rules that cover Vessel’s plan require only 67 spaces.
“One thing I’ve learned in eight years here is that you have to vote to the regulation. That is legally how we have to vote,” she said. “I share everyone’s concerns up here and favor working together to maximize the parking, but this has been deemed a suitable property (under Avon’s long-term development plan) for affordable housing and apartment buildings.”
Vessel plans a four-story building with 61 one-bedroom, 560-square-foot apartments and three two-bedroom, 560-square-foot units. Levy would set aside 30% as “affordable” under state regulations, so rents would be restricted for 40 years to be affordable to people earning no more than 60% or 80% of the area’s median income.
Levy said that would work out to monthly rates of $1,240 at 60% and $1,450 at 80%, but noted those figures change every year based on state data. The other 70% of units would probably be leased in the $1,600 to $1,700, but that estimate isn’t firm, Levy said.
The commission discussed the public safety language in 8-30g, but Chairman Lisa Levin noted that the law brings that into play only when those concerns “clearly outweigh” the need for affordable housing and cannot be addressed by reasonable changes to the plan.
“This applicant has been making every effort to accommodate and make the reasonable changes with the overflow parking,” she said. “I don’t know that we can ask more.”
When one commissioner suggested more than 30% of the apartments should be limited to affordable rents, Levy said that would leave no way to control expense increases in the future. He said Vessel would be willing to talk with town officials if Avon wanted to provide long-term tax caps.
The commission closed the hearing Tuesday, and may vote when it takes up the matter again July 16.
DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.
New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.
The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.
According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.
“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”
Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”
“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”
Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.
Stormy Friday Weather
RELATED
Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.
Current Traffic Alerts:
- NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
- OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
- PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
- N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
- UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
- DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
- OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
- LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
- NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
- BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
- SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
- MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
- EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
- EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
- THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
- COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
- HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Doctors are voicing concerns on the rising number of flu cases, including a new strain some are referring to as the “super flu,” as many are gathering indoors with loved ones for the holiday season.
With Christmas just a week away, Dr. Ulysses Wu, the chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said there are growing concerns over the new H3N2 flu strain.
“We had a very late flu season this year, but we’re making up for it like gang busters,” Dr. Wu said. “What’s happening with this one is, this has changed a bit, making it a little bit more infectious. It invades our immune system a little bit more, and that’s why we’re seeing a rise in cases.”
The most notable jump in the U.S. has been happening in New York City, with 14,000 cases reported in the first week of December. That is a 460% jump from the same time last year, according to the state flu tracker.
Dr. Wu warned that, because of its location, Connecticut is at risk to see a jump in flu cases.
“Remember, we’re sandwiched between New York and Boston, and we do have our share of travelers and commuters as well,” Dr. Wu said. “Our rates have certainly increased and that’s to be expected.”
Dr. Wu recommended that it is best to listen to medical professionals when it comes to the flu vaccine and the new H3N2 strain.
“So people are saying, ‘Oh well it’s changed, the vaccine isn’t going to work.’ It is still going to work,” Dr. Wu explained. “The whole point is to modulate the course of the disease so it’s not as severe.
Dr. Wu said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also up among children and older adults in Connecticut. When it comes to holiday celebrations, Dr. Wu recommends using common sense — wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get vaccinated if you haven’t been already.
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