Developer Withdraws Application For Massive Development Project

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Plans for a large upscale apartment/condominium complex downtown are on hold, with the developer this month withdrawing a zone change application for the development.

The move came after town officials expressed reservations the project was too large for the neighborhood and didn't fit with the types of buildings in the area.

Both the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission and West Hartford Town Council had the project on their respective agendas this month.

A development group called "The Arapahoe Group" is looking to transform an abandoned office building and parking lot into upscale condominiums and apartments in the center of town.

The condo/apartment project is called "75 LaSalle and Center Park Place" and it would be located at LaSalle Road and Arapahoe Road.

But on Sept. 7, the PZC had a requested zone change application on the agenda to facilitate the building of a "mixed use redevelopment along Arapahoe Road, LaSalle Road and Farmington Avenue."

That application was withdrawn, according to meeting minutes.

The town council a week later Sept. 13 then voted 9-0 to accept The Arapahoe Group's withdrawal letter for the zone change application.

Through attorney Robin Messier Pearson of Glastonbury-based Alter & Pearson, Arapahoe said it needed more time to tweak its plans to address concerns by town staff and a town review committee.

"The applicant believes the proposed development will benefit from additional time to consider and improve upon certain design elements of its proposal before re-applying and presentig to the town council," wrote Pearson to the council earlier this month.

Fueling the withdrawal was the West Hartford Design Review Advisory Committee's Sept. 1 review of Arapahoe's plans, plans the group did not support as submitted.

West Hartford Town Planner Todd Dumais wrote to the council to explain why the advisory group did not recommend approval of the application.

Committee members, Dumais wrote, said the scale and mass of the project is not compatible with the site or adjoining buildings as well as the neighborhood itself.

"The mass and placement ... does not create a visually pleasing or coherent site design," wrote Dumais.

"As currently presented, the design does not foster a sense of place that fits within West Hartford Center, the abutting properties and the community," wrote Dumas.

Though not binding, the committee's lack of support for the development likely would have impacted future council and PZC votes on the matter.

According to Arapahoe, the proposal was to feature 64 condominiums built at Center Park Place and 18-20 apartments built at 75 LaSalle Road.

The building at 75 LaSalle was to be four stories total with three levels of apartments on top of one level of ground floor retail space that is approximately 3,500 square feet.

Center Park Place, which would be set back from the street, would have four levels of condominiums above three levels of parking, two of which are underground.

According to the developers, the project, once it gets the proper approvals from the town, would take about two years to finish once ground is broken.

Dumais said the committee recommends the applicant come back with an alternative project design addressing the concerns, something Arapahoe said it plans to do.

For the letter explaining West Hartford's reservations of the project, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Sept. 7 West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For the minutes of the Sept. 13 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From June 28: 'West Hartford Developers Pitch Massive Condo/Apartment Plan'