WeHa Council Aims To Spend $1.5M On Land Deal

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Town officials this month moved closer to spending $1.5 million to purchase two parcels they say will enhance emergency services and public works in town.

The West Hartford Town Council voted 9-0 Dec. 13 to create an ordinance that would appropriate no more than $1.5 million in bonded funds into the town's capital improvement fund for 2022-23 to purchase the properties.

The parcels are located on Oakwood Avenue and Brixton Street, across from town's public works department.

The sites — one at 705 Oakwood Ave. and the other at 12 Brixton St. — are owned by Cunningham Brothers Realty LLC.

Local officials said town ownership of those sites could facilitate multiple town uses, including positive impacts for public works as well as emergency management.

Regarding public works, the sites would allow for more space for both DPW and recycling operations, officials have said.

Specifically mentioned is possible relocation of town vehicle fueling operations to that site.

West Hartford is already working on a $1.37 million plan to create a so-called "material solutions center" at West Hartford's 25 Brixton St. transfer station facility and the land purchase would complement that project.

As for public safety, the land purchases would allow for the possible relocation of firefighter training and animal control operations.

This would not only result in improved services on those fronts, but would free up space that could be utilized by emergency services, especially during times of emergencies like the October 2011 snowstorm, town officials have said.

The $1.5 million is not quite set, but the ordinance for its approval will be discussed and, likely, voted on by the council Jan. 24 at West Hartford Town Hall, with a public hearing slated for 6:45 p.m. that night.

Meanwhile, the council — in a separate motion — unanimously approved authorizing the purchase of those properties.

That issue, however, was also referred to the West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission, which next meets Wednesday, Jan. 4, at town hall at 7 p.m.

It is not known if that will be on the agenda that night.

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

From July 15: 'West Hartford Council Clears Way For Land Purchase'