Finance Board Hears About Projects To Boost Commercial Growth

By John Voket

The Board of Finance met Tuesday, November 13, to hear a brief presentation from representatives of the local Economic Development Commission and Fairfield Hills Authority about an idea to possibly attract renewed interest among commercial developers for appropriate, tax-generating projects on the campus.

Then the board moved into its next phase of reviewing the proposed Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which also contains a number of projects that could, if funded, directly or indirectly enhance commercial development potential.

Town Economic and Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker, EDC Co-Chair Don Sharpe, and Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman James Bernardi asked the finance board for its written endorsement of a conceptual program that would provide developers with commercial space at Fairfield Hills under a $1 per year, 30-year lease, provided the developer performs all the required demolition and remediation required to get their proposed projects completed.

While specific details of this idea have yet to be completed, according to Mr Sharp, the plan is being touted as the latest idea to jump-start commercial development in permitted areas of the now stagnant Fairfield Hills campus. Finance board Chairman John Kortze, at one point, asked how the town could ensure the required level of remediation was being done, if it was left in the hands of private developers.

Mr Bernardi and Ms Stocker responded that any remediation would have to follow strict established protocols and monitoring by the town’s own environmental consultant to ensure the town would not be exposed to any liability at any point after any remediation and demolition is completed.

“We are planning to require the developer put up a bond, to be sure they have the capacity to complete the project,” Ms Stocker said.

Ms Stocker explained that a request for proposal (RFP) process would outline which buildings are included, stipulations tied to potential developers tapping into the $1 lease program, and would target the regional development community. Mr Kortze then asked if the idea would be attractive, and if it make sense from a builder’s perspective.

Ms Stocker said the cost for certain buildings would be much greater than others, but she and the EDC “haven’t done all the math yet.”

She also said that for a period of time, even parcels already remediated would be included in the offer.

Mr Kortze said he would slate final discussion on the Fairfield Hills proposal for his board’s next meeting, and asked Mr Sharpe to respond by that time with any suggested language he would want to see in a resolution or statement of support from the finance officials.

The presentation will now go before the Legislative Council at its next scheduled meeting, which is December 5. Once and if the finance board and council provide endorsement of the idea, the Board of Selectmen will work with the EDC and authority to formalize specifics and the RFP program.

Firehouse Plans

Moving into ongoing discussions about the CIP, the finance board heard from representatives from Hook & Ladder, the town’s Land Use office regarding requests for open space acquisitions, the public works director about the Hawleyville sewer project, and the school board chair.

Speaking to Hook & Ladder member and building committee spokesman Rob Manna, along with company President Rick Camejo, the finance board learned that the fire company is in the preliminary stages of attempting to secure another building site, this time on Johnnycake Lane.

As a result, the fire company, along with First Selectman Pat Llodra, requested to keep a three-year, $1.5 million CIP allocation active. If and when a successful offer is negotiated on the new prospective site, the fire company would activate the appropriation, which would be paid out in three, $500,000 increments.

Mrs Llodra also asserted that if this proposed site fell through, the fire company would likely face no other choice than to relocate its headquarters to a parcel at Fairfield Hills with the prospect of also developing a remote substation in the lower Hanover Road area to provide better response to the farthest reaches of its district.

Deputy Land Use Director Rob Sibley appealed to the finance board to keep a three-year, $2 million allocation active. Mr Sibley said the town is in the process of looking to acquire a substantial 145-acre parcel for about $1.6 million, and that the residual $400,000 should remain available for either added acquisitions, or to fortify a permanent acquisition fund for future land purchases or other conservation measures.

Hawleyville Sewers

Public Works Director Fred Hurley discussed the potential, long-term benefits of financing both the exploratory study and installation of sewers in the Hawleyville area. The initial $500,000 analysis would essentially identify what the improvement would look like, how the soil properties would influence the project design, surveying work and performing appraisals to ascertain which parcels will be best served by the sewer improvements.

Mr Hurley said a preliminary design is already in place, and once the analysis is completed, the town would be poised to go out to bid to construct the new sewers and improvements. Town Finance Director Robert Tait added that if the project is completed as planned, the estimate of assessment revenues would generate $500,000 annually over 20 years to offset borrowing costs for the $5 million in anticipated development and construction costs.

Before closing the meeting, Mr Kortze asked Ms Leidlein for a brief review of the needs to complete the proposed $2.3 million high school renovation, which is slated for 2014-15. Ms Leidlein explained the particular issues requiring the repairs and renovations to the facility.

She also indicated the school board is still planning for Sandy Hook and Middle Gate School window replacement projects in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Following the meeting, Mr Kortze told The Bee that the current CIP is very diverse, and contains projects that would touch and potentially benefit all taxpayers. He said that infrastructure projects like the sewer installation provide a “very important backbone for commercial development, which will ultimately respond to the outcry from residential taxpayers to enhanced opportunities for new industrial projects in town.

“This Hawleyville project is one of, if not the biggest driver for commercial development potential that I’ve seen,” Mr Kortze said.

The finance board will complete its deliberations, and will plan to vote on the proposed CIP when it meets next on December 10.