Tense Meeting, More Delays For Fairfield Affordable Housing Plan

FAIRFIELD, CT — Tensions ran high at a recent Fairfield meeting, as a hearing for a controversial affordable housing proposal was delayed for the second time. Just as occurred in July, the developer presented new plans to the Inland Wetlands Agency at the meeting last week, forcing officials to push the hearing in order to review the changes.

Agency Chairman Kevin Gumpper expressed frustration throughout the discussion of the project, which lasted about three hours. At one point, Gumpper told Fairfield Housing Corp. attorney Bryan LeClerc, "You have to stop talking, Mr. LeClerc, and move on."

During the meeting, officials were presented with hundreds of pages of documents about the proposal for 980 High St.

"It's painful for us," Gumpper said, calling the situation a waste of time for staff and residents alike.

Many of the changes were made as a result of town staff suggestions. The new information relates to pesticides and pollutants found on the property, removal of invasive species and the addition of an elevation conversion factor.

LeClerc called several experts to speak at the meeting. Among them was environmental scientist Jay Soltis, who said soil near the existing structures on the property contains lead, as well as a pesticide. Although the pesticide can't be transported by water, Soltis recommended removing the top 12 to 18 inches of soil in the affected area.

The High Street site is about 2.5 acres, and is occupied by an 1895 Queen Anne-style home, a garage and two sheds, as well as an open meadow, a wooded area and more than 4,000 square feet of wetlands. The property was purchased for $2.1 million in late 2018 by the housing corporation, a nonprofit controlled by the Fairfield Housing Authority. The proposed development would include 40 apartments in five buildings, 80% of which would qualify as state-designated affordable housing. The corporation plans to restore the lot's existing home as office space and a community room.

Nearby residents have resisted development on the property, forming the corporation Fairfield Neighbors United and hiring a lawyer with thousands of dollars in donations. The group has raised more than $20,000 using both online donations and a variety of grassroots efforts, such as a recycling collection, tag sale and events. Residents' concerns include the potential for increased flood risk and wildlife displacement. A large crowd attended last week's meeting, but its numbers dwindled as discussions continued until nearly 11 p.m.

Attorney Joel Green, who is representing Fairfield Neighbors United, appeared to share Gumpper's frustration about the new information presented at the Aug. 7 meeting.

"I don't understand why we are receiving these at the public hearing," he said.

In response to objections about the amount of information presented, LeClerc said the housing corporation felt it was being treated differently and requested it be treated like any other applicant. He also said the corporation required a decision on its inland wetland permit application by early October to obtain available tax credit financing.

"A denial's not going to help you any," Gumpper said.

The hearing was tentatively scheduled for Sept. 25. As of the Aug. 7 meeting, town staff recommended the proposal be denied without prejudice.