Town 'Secures Protections, Maintains Control' as Tweed New Haven Airport Agreement Moves Forward: Mayor

The Town of East Haven statement following the announcement of agreement framework on Tweed New Haven Airport terminal expansion:

EAST HAVEN, CT —The Town of East Haven is issuing this statement in addition to the joint press release released earlier today regarding the Memorandum of Understanding and proposed legislative framework for the potential development of a new East Terminal at Tweed New Haven Airport.

Read that story here.

The framework represents a critical step in establishing a structured process for evaluating the proposed project while securing enforceable protections for East Haven. It includes provisions for traffic, infrastructure, environmental impacts, public safety, and governance, as well as proposed state investment in East Haven, which includes funding for public safety facilities, roadway and drainage improvements, and long-term financial support through an enhanced payment in lieu of taxes. The framework also establishes a balanced governance structure at the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority, ensuring that neither municipality can act unilaterally on significant airport matters and that East Haven has a controlling role in decisions affecting airport operations and any future expansion.

The Town makes clear that the MOU is not an approval of any project and does not predetermine any outcome. Any proposed development must fully comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and must proceed through every required permitting and approval process, including the Town of East Haven’s independent municipal land use review.

Any proposal must be formally submitted to the East Haven Planning and Zoning Commission and will be subject to its complete and independent review under the Town’s zoning regulations, including site plan and coastal site plan review. The Commission retains full authority to apply its regulations, impose conditions, or deny any application that does not meet applicable standards. The Town’s boards and commissions will act strictly within their fiduciary obligations to the Town and its residents and will require full compliance with all legal, environmental, traffic, and public safety standards before any project is permitted to proceed.

While this framework establishes a path forward, there remains a fair and appropriate level of skepticism as to whether the applicant can ultimately meet the standards required by the Town of East Haven and other regulatory authorities. This process provides the applicant with the
opportunity to present a complete proposal and demonstrate compliance through a thorough and transparent review.

The framework reinforces critical protections for East Haven, including a defined traffic configuration, strict restrictions on the use of Thompson Avenue for general airport and
construction traffic, and required environmental, noise, and infrastructure review. These protections are intended to ensure that impacts are fully evaluated and that no aspect of any proposed project proceeds without appropriate safeguards in place.

The Town also recognizes the substantial work of its staff in evaluating the potential impacts of any future project. In particular, the East Haven Police and Fire Chiefs devoted extensive time and expertise to analyzing operational needs and public safety impacts, which form a substantial basis for the funding and public safety provisions reflected in the framework.

"The framework establishes a process, not an approval," said Mayor Joseph A. Carfora. "Any proposal will be subject to full and independent review by East Haven’s Planning and Zoning
Commission. Our boards will apply their regulations as written and will require that every standard is met. Our responsibility is to protect this community, and we will not compromise that
obligation."

The Town will continue to actively participate in all regulatory and technical review processes, including coordination with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Town further emphasizes that nothing in the MOU waives or limits East Haven’s legal rights or regulatory authority. The MOU is a framework for cooperation, not a commitment to
approve any aspect of the proposed project.

East Haven remains committed to transparency, public engagement, and ensuring that any future decisions are based on a complete record, sound analysis, and the best interests of its residents.