Selectman Raises Concerns—

Housing Study Grant Application Focuses On FFH

By Kendra Bobowick

Selectmen were split on an idea pitched by Land Use Director George Benson Tuesday regarding an application for potential grant funds. Selectman Paul Mangiafico baulked at the focus on Fairfield Hills, for one. “I have a few concerns. It seems to me this report is replete with references to Fairfield Hills…”

Mr Benson defended the Fairfield Hills Adaptive Reuse Incentive House Zone (FHAR-IHZ) Study — an application for a grant to fund a feasibility study to create a FHAR-IHZ utilizing both unoccupied former state hospital staff dwellings and new multifamily construction.

“It’s a planning tool,” he stressed, without commitments to implement the study. The town needed to provide an example of how it would use the funds for one simple reason. “The state encourages ideas ahead of time, and Fairfield Hills presents possibilities.” Or, as Mr Benson stressed, they could not simply ask for money without indicating how it might be used.

As Land Use Deputy Director Rob Sibley noted, the town is simply trying to get its piece of a limited amount of grant funds that many municipalities are now “clambering for,” he said. In a brief overview leading to the grant funds request, he had told selectmen, “The state requires a certain percentage of each municipality to have affordable housing and each municipality struggles to reach [that percentage].” He said the state then decided, “We should help the municipalities plan for housing,” which is where the potential grant funds enter the equation. “What we’re looking at is what other towns are clambering toward.” He stressed the importance of securing the money.

The purpose of the $50,000 grant will be to plan where and how to zone affordable housing, Mr Sibley explained. With so many towns reaching for some of the money, he warned, “Now is the crest of the wave.” It is a request for the town for grant funds, primarily. While First Selectman Joe Borst was “prepared to move forward” in seeking funds through the state grants, Mr Mangiafico was firm in his concerns. Stressing again his distrust at the number of times Fairfield Hills is mentioned, his feelings conflicted with the first selectman’s. “I am not prepared to say yes,” he said.

It is not about the former hospital campus, but about funds, and the benefits of a study, Mr Benson argued. “This is really trying to get someone on the outside to give us ideas — this is just to get a study completed.” Referring to the application now in the selectmen’s hands, he said, “This was drafted as an example,” he said. “I see it as an effort to find areas in town that are compatible for affordable housing.” Referring to the application again, he said, “This is just something to present to the state.”

Taking the application more literally, Fairfield Hill Authority Chairman Robert Geckle addressed the selectmen. Thinking of the particular former staff houses described in the application, he offered his interpretation of the most recent draft of the Fairfield Hills Master Plan. “If the houses are set aside and if someone develops a plan for use, it should be considered…” He noted, however, “Housing is not on the list for reuses” of Fairfield Hills space.

Supporting the land use office’s application, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Lilla Dean spoke up regarding reasons Fairfield Hills is the example in the application. “We tried to pick something that already had water and sewer that the town owned.” Explaining that she feels town regulations are “good” as far as affordable housing, she noted, “We have not had one person apply under our regulations.” She favors a study. “We hope this will give us the information we need to make decisions for the town as a whole.”

Mr Mangiafico suggested they were setting themselves up for future problems. “Are we moving down a road toward development at Fairfield Hills?” he asked.

“You would have to change the master plan,” Mr Benson answered. As Mr Geckle had stressed, housing is not on the list of primary reuses on campus. Ms Dean soon argued again for the application, and the information a study would bring.

“We would like to develop a process for looking at things — economically, lending, infrastructure,” she said. Reassuring Mr Mangiafico, she said, “I don’t think it’s dangerous.” Addressing the dissenting selectman she said, “You think we’ll end up with [many] units of housing up there?” Mr Mangiafico agreed. Ms Dean repeated what Mr Benson had said earlier regarding the possibility of housing. “We would have to change the zoning and master plan.”

Concerned that the application may actually lead to changes, Mr Mangiafico said, “I need time to think about this. I think you’re asking us to take the first step in a long journey toward a strategic decision.”

Mr Benson responded quickly, “I think you’re getting hooked on Fairfield Hills.”

“You brought it up,” Mr Mangiafico replied.

Mr Benson answered back, “To fit criteria and in order to get grant funds we needed to show what might be feasible. It’s a study.”

Turning to Mr Mangiafico, the first selectman said, “It’s not cast in stone.”

Not appeased, Mr Mangiafico answered, “With all due respect, [the application] identifies Fairfield Hills 20–25 times…Is it the only place?”

“It was the most feasible,” Mr Benson answered.

Mr Borst asked his fellow selectmen, “You’re not ready to OK them?” Essentially, the answer was no.

Mr Mangiafico said, “I am willing to listen in greater depth, but you’re hitting me cold.” He had said earlier that the draft before him Monday evening was the first time he had seen the application. Looking at Mr Benson, he said, “I am willing to look at the package — with more explanation.”

“OK,” Mr Benson said.

On July 3 zoning members endorsed pursuing the grant application. Land use officials are trying to put the application before various town boards for approval.