Residents Speak Out Against Proposed Housing Authority Project

The West Hartford Town Council held a lengthy public hearing Tuesday night on an application on behalf of the West Hartford Housing Authority for a 47-unit project on Newington Rd.

A capacity crowd packed the Council Chambers Tuesday night for the 6 p.m. public hearing, which lasted more than an hour longer than its scheduled timeframe. Because another hearing needed to take place prior to the Council meeting, the hearing for the Newington Rd. project was suspended after the public comment portion and will be continued on Nov. 27.

The application involves a request for a zoning change and creation of a Special Development District for property at 189 and 203 Newington Rd. to allow for the construction of 47 units in a three-story apartment building.

The request is being made on behalf of the West Hartford Housing Authority, which claims that there is a need for affordable two and three-bedroom housing  units in West Hartford to serve families.

The proposed plan would include 32 "market rate" units which would rent for approximately $1,400 per month, and 15 "work force" units which would have a rental rate of $1,000 per month. The property under consideration is approximately 1.59 acres.

The plan includes 71 parking spaces – which meets the requirement of 1.5 spaces per unit. An existing single-family home at 203 Newington Rd., which is currently vacant, would be demolished in order to accommodate the project.

The project was unanimously approved by the Town Planning and Zoning Commission and the Design Review Advisory Committee before being sent to the Town Council for a public hearing.

However, the majority of those who attended Tuesday night's hearing spoke in opposition to the project.

"The concern was primarily that it was overwhelming for the neighborhood," said Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor. She said some of the concerns did not initially appear to be insurmountable to the Housing Authority.

Cantor stressed that this is not "low income" housing, but rather affordable housing, but was still a concern because it is higher density than much of the residential neighborhood it would border.

"Since the hearing is being continued, we are all keeping an open mind about what the applicant has to say," said Minority Leader Denise Hall.

Hall was pleased that so many members of the community came to the hearing – "more than I've ever seen since being elected," she said, but concerned that many appeared to have found out about the project at the last minute.

Notices regarding the hearing were sent to 90 residents, Cantor said, but State Rep. Joe Verrengia (D-20th), who represents the district and spoke out against the project, informed hundreds of others in area in advance of the hearing.

"We need to protect the integrity of the neighborhood - these are hard working people ... We don't bulldoze a single family house," said Verrengia.

A sign has been on the property for the required length of time, informing people of the upcoming hearing. "It is so important when you see a sign about a public hearing to pay attention and find out what it's all about," said Hall.

Hall also said that many of the "angry voices" who attended the hearing felt like it was already a done deal. "In a public hearing, everyone gets to have a voice. If nothing else, I hope people will take away that they need to pay attention, get involved, speak out," she said.

Questions and concerns about the size of the project, its density, and the impact on traffic in the area, will be some of the issues raised by Town Council members to the applicant when the hearing continues at 6 p.m. on Nov. 27.