Connecticut

In one affluent CT town, uncommonly little public resistance to affordable housing plan

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2024

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.

An illustration of Vessel Technologies’ proposed apartment project in Avon. (Courtesy of Town of Avon)

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.

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Connecticut

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

Published

11 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

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

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.

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Connecticut

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

Published

23 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

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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Connecticut

Lamont Seeks $168M From Emergency Reserve To Offset Federal Cuts To Health, Housing And Food Aid

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Lamont Seeks 8M From Emergency Reserve To Offset Federal Cuts To Health, Housing And Food Aid

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont has submitted a plan to Connecticut legislative leaders to withdraw nearly $168 million from a newly created Emergency State Response Reserve to offset recent federal funding delays and reductions affecting health and human services programs.

The proposal, totaling $167.9 million, marks the first time Lamont has sought to access the reserve, which was established in November under Special Act 25-1. The fund contains $500 million in state surplus dollars and was created in anticipation of potential federal funding reductions.

According to the administration, the proposed expenditures would help reduce health insurance costs for more than 150,000 residents, provide food assistance to more than 35,000 people and help keep approximately 3,500 individuals housed.

The plan includes funding to bolster food banks and pantries affected by changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, replace expiring enhanced health insurance subsidies linked to the Affordable Care Act, and provide interim support for homelessness prevention programs facing federal grant delays. It also would cover lost federal reimbursements for services provided by Planned Parenthood of Southern New England and expand capacity at the state’s 2-1-1 information and referral system.

“We should be supporting programs that increase access to food, healthcare, and homelessness prevention and response,” Lamont said in a statement. “Here in Connecticut we will stand behind them and do what we can to ensure that this most basic assistance remains available.”

Office of Policy and Management Interim Secretary Joshua Wojcik said the funding would help close gaps created by federal actions while supporting vulnerable residents.

“This is a responsible use of taxpayer resources to support our most vulnerable residents,” Wojcik said, adding that the administration continues to assess additional needs.

Under the proposal, $24.6 million would go to community food banks and pantries through June 2027, while $64.1 million would replace expiring enhanced premium tax credits for residents enrolled in Covered Connecticut. Another $50.8 million would address the loss of enhanced federal health insurance subsidies for certain income groups.

Additional allocations include $6.9 million for expiring homelessness grants and supportive housing vouchers, $10.4 million to replace lost federal funding for Planned Parenthood services and Title X programs, $4.7 million to expand 2-1-1 call center capacity and community outreach, and $1.5 million for administrative costs at the Department of Social Services.

As required by law, bipartisan legislative leaders have 24 hours after receiving the plan to review it and, if they choose, disapprove the proposed expenditures before funds are transferred.

If approved, $332 million would remain in the Emergency State Response Reserve. The governor is authorized to make withdrawals from the fund through Feb. 4, 2026, the opening day of the next regular legislative session.

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