Hearing On Old UConn Site Resumes Tonight In West Hartford: UPDATE

WEST HARTFORD, CT — After months of fits and starts, town work toward, perhaps, the largest development project in West Hartford history began late last month and it resumes Monday, Dec. 11.

The start of the hearing didn't result in a vote or, even, a decision by the West Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission/Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency.

Rather, it was the start of multiple and lengthy public hearings on plans to transform the old University of Connecticut-Hartford campus into a massive redevelopment with housing, commercial and retail components.

After nearly four hours Nov. 29, the PZC/IWWA extended the hearing to a special meeting slated for Monday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m., West Hartford Town Hall, 50 S. Main St.

For those who cannot attend, they can view the hearing live online via Youtube at this link.

While some speakers expressed a bit of opposition and concern about the proposal's environmental impacts, most of Nov. 29's testimony was procedural and information-driven.

West Hartford PZC Chairman Kevin Ahern used Wednesday night to educate the public on what will be a lengthy, tedious, and complicated process toward completion.

For example, Ahern said Wednesday night's special meeting was only under the zoning board's wetlands jurisdiction and not the land-use aspect.

In West Hartford, the PZC serves as the town's inland wetland and watercourses agency.

"We will not get it all done tonight. This will be a multi-day, hearing experience," Ahern said. "Tonight, however, we are only seated in our inland wetland and watercourses role. It is a very limited role and this is a very large application."

"The scope of our review is limited to the wetlands regulations," Ahern added at the hearing's start, saying issues like traffic, signage, etc., are not subject to the IWWA review.

That would come later when the commission assumes its PZC role for the project.

Marathon meeting/hearing

The Nov. 29 marathon public hearing/meeting started after weeks and months of delays at the town hall level, a byproduct of the massive scale of what's being planned.

Redevelopment of the site, which was the UConn-Hartford branch from 1970 to 2017, has been part of town conversations for years after the campus relocated to downtown Hartford.

The hearing drew such a crowd, that it packed the meeting room, resulting in an overflow crowd utilizing a nearby auditorium, where it was broadcast live via Youtube.

In simplest terms, what was discussed were wetlands applications for 1700 and 1800 Asylum Ave., addresses located near wetlands, resulting in the need for an IWWA permit.

The developer, "West Hartford 1," purchased the 58-acre site in January 2022 and it has filed applications under the names WEHA Development Group LLC and WEHA Development Group East LLC. The working name for the project is "Oakwood Park."

The component at 1700 Asylum Ave., calls for the construction of four multi-story residential apartment buildings.

The 1800 Asylum Ave. component calls for the construction of 14 new buildings to have a diverse array of uses, ranging from mixed-use to housing to retail/commercial buildings.

Facets of the plan include multi-family residential housing; boutique-style retail components; restaurants; medical offices; a spa; an organic neighborhood market; public parks walking areas, trails, and ballfields; and a structured parking component.

Presentations

The early part of the hearing was from the applicants, who were represented by land-use attorney Robin Pearson of Alter & Pearson in Glastonbury.

She introduced several members of the development team who discussed and presented various technical elements related to the project and its wetlands impacts.

"As you are aware, both of the parcels that are of issue had been previously owned by the University of Connecticut, and that site is vacant," Person said, adding UConn has no interest in the sites and no bearing on the actions.

The goal is to determine if wetlands are "appropriately protected and preserved" by the project, Pearson said.

If no harm is determined, the IWWA is "obliged" to provide a permit, she said, adding if harm is determined, then the IWWA can work with the applicant to fix the problem.

The first presentation was on the 1700 Asylum Ave. component (the four apartment buildings), with the 1800 Asylum Ave. presentation expected when the hearing reconvenes on Dec. 11.

Before the hearing's start, the zoning board unanimously granted a trio of residents "intervenor status," meaning they will have the ability to publicly question the applicants and have all documents sent to the PZC also sent to them.

To be granted "intervenor" status, a person or party must prove that the project directly impacts them and is within their interests.

Filing the intervenor petition Monday, Nov. 27, were residents Christine Feely, Jessica Rubin and Dr. Gary Schulman.

Rubin, a Braintree Drive resident, spoke on behalf of the intervenors following the 1700 Asyluym Ave. presentation and briefly asked some technical questions about the project.

PZC/IWWA members then asked questions to applicants about the wetlands impacts.

The long night ended with some public comments, but only on the 1700 Asylum Ave. component.

Local resident Ruth Miller expressed concern about future flooding and its impact on the water supply.

"Given the flooding in this area that has been chronic because of global climate change, just how healthy are the watersheds in West Hartford, particularly close to this development?" Miller said.

West Hartford resident John O'Donnell, an attorney and former land-use official in town, expressed opposition to the proposal.

He said he opposes the 1700 Asylum Ave. application, saying it will negatively impact nearby wetlands.

"You heard zero evidence today about the social and economic benefits of this project are to this town," O'Donnell said.

He said the land, before being a UConn site, used to be farmland, and transforming it back to a more agricultural use might be a better use of the land.

O'Donnell said the land is actually zoned for residential/family and that might be a better use as well.

What's next

Ahern said the IWWA needed to get the wetlands permits decided by Dec. 15, meaning that if Monday, Dec. 11, goes long, then a special meeting for Wednesday, Dec. 13, could take place if needed.

"This will not be the last opportunity to speak," Ahern said.

When the meeting reconvenes, discussions on 1700 Asylum Ave. will continue, with the process starting over again on 1800 Asylum Ave.

The applications are available for public review in the Town Plan and Zoning Office, Room 214, West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107.

To watch the resumption of the hearing live, click on this link.

To see all public documents regarding the applications, click on this link.

From Nov. 6: 'Old UConn Site Action By WeHa's PZC/IWWA On Youtube: UPDATE'