Massive WeHa Hearing On UConn Site Development Continued Again

WEST HARTFORD, CT — After nearly six hours of testimony, plans to transform the old University of Connecticut site in West Hartford into a massive community development still have not been acted on by wetlands officials.

Following a massive four-hour-plus hearing on Nov. 29, the West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission/Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency heard nearly six more hours of testimony on Monday, Dec. 11.

An exhausted board voted to continue the hearing to Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall.

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

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.

Such sentiments were similarly expressed at Monday's continuation of the hearings, with a parade of residents and developer representatives going before the commission.

In West Hartford, the PZC also acts as the town's wetlands agency, something board chairman Kevin Ahern reminded the audience about before Monday's marathon forum.

"This is the inland wetland and watercourses agency that is acting tonight. We do have multiple roles," Ahern said. "We're not looking at the zoning regulations. We're not looking at the traffic counts or heights of buildings, things that would be the consideration of a different hearing."

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.

In simplest terms, what is before the commission are 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.

Once approved by the wetlands board, applications for the development would then go before those same individuals, who would then be acting as a planning and zoning commission.

Only when the PZC approves the necessary applications for the development can ground be broken.

From Nov. 30 (updated Dec. 11): 'Hearing On Old UConn Site Resumes Tonight In West Hartford: UPDATE'

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