West Hartford Council Extends Rezone Hearing For Large Development

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A marathon hearing on one of the town's biggest-ever development projects didn't end last week, with the West Hartford Town Council opting to extend it to Feb. 25.

At issue is a rezoning application for the developers of the old University of Connecticut campus site at 1800 Asylum Ave., a decision made in West Hartford by the town council.

After three hours and 47 minutes of testimony and discussions on Feb. 11, the council kept the hearing open and was slated to resume the hearing on Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at West Hartford Town Hall. The motion to push it to Feb. 25 was approved 9-0.

The developer, "West Hartford 1," purchased the 58-acre UConn site in January 2022 and has filed applications under the names WEHA Development Group LLC and WEHA Development Group East LLC.

The 1800 Asylum Ave. portion comprises 33.5 acres subject to proposed rezoning from residential to business (shopping district).

Plans call for the demolition of all buildings on the Asylum Avenue site and building 12 new facilities for commercial/mixed-use residential developments, a new private roadway, and parking lots.

This aspect of the development would be at 1800 Asylum Ave.

The decision to continue the hearing came after a lengthy presentation by West Hartford 1 representative Robin Pearson, an attorney with Alter, Pearson & Hope in Glastonbury.

"Tonight we are presenting to you an exciting, comprehensive, mixed-use development proposal that has, frankly, been years in the making," Pearson said before the applicant's presentation.

After other presentations by applicant representatives, members of the public spoke, many offering mixed opinions on the rezoning application and the project itself.

Proponents said the residential aspect of the development could help residents' adult children be able to afford to stay in West Hartford, among other benefits.

Others questioned the impacts such a massive development would have on the community, claiming it would bring in extra traffic and make roadways even more dangerous.

Following questions and answers and, then, a recess to give the council and public a break during the exhaustive proceedings, West Hartford officials continued proceedings to later this month.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor said while the hearing was still open, the public comments of the meeting were finished.

The hearing extension was to allow West Hartford Corporation Counsel Dallas Dodge time to go over conditions of approval relative to the application.

Earlier in the month, the West Hartford Plan and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the council approve the zone change when it was time to vote after the hearing was closed.

The council, initially, was slated to have the special public hearing last Dec. 19, regarding the 33.5 acres of land at 1800 Asylum Ave.

But the hearing was simply opened that day and immediately continued to Feb. 11 to give the developers more time to finalize aspects of the application.

The working name for the massive development project is "Oakwood Park."

Facets of the development 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.

Following town council input on 1800 Asylum Ave. and the rezoning proposal, the PZC then has jurisdiction over the UConn site project, with necessary land-use permits to be decided, likely sometime this year.

History

So far, only wetlands permits have been approved for the huge development project.

On Aug. 5, the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission voted 4-1 to approve a wetlands permit associated with the 1800 Asylum Ave. component.

In West Hartford, the PZC acts as the wetlands agency when it comes to wetlands permits.

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

The wetlands permit for this aspect of the project was approved in January 2024.

For the minutes of the Feb. 11 West Hartford Town Council meeting, click on this link.

From Dec. 18, 2024: 'Rezone Hearing For Massive West Hartford Development Pushed Back'