Planning staff reported at the special April meeting that key agreements for Phase 2 of the Hartford Mall redevelopment have been executed and are now held in escrow, and that the town expects to formally accept a sewer conveyance that had been a stumbling block for the developer. Commissioners discussed a developer request to extend existing approvals and emphasized they may condition any new Phase 3 approvals on demonstrated progress on Phase 1 and Phase 2.

According to planning staff, after months of legal work all parties have executed the approval and development agreement for Phase 2; the agreement is being held in escrow pending the purchase of the subdivided lot by CDP North. Staff said the developer had previously been delayed by a sewer-line ownership issue but that the town expects to accept the sewer line formally at an upcoming Town Commissioners meeting, clearing a technical impediment to starting work.

Staff said the developer has asked to extend an approval that otherwise expires in January; commissioners discussed whether to grant a one-year extension or require the developer to return with specific progress. Commissioners noted they could condition approvals for later phases on completion of earlier phases, and staff said they would check code provisions and return with options.

Other business discussed

Commissioners also discussed vacant and abandoned commercial properties and a proposed vacant-property registry to require contact information and annual fees for long-vacant commercial parcels; the registry is intended to give the town a point of contact for security, fire or nuisance issues. The commission heard reports about 510 Johnny’s, where a demolition application has been filed and which staff identified as a property with repeated vandalism and trespass incidents.

The commission did not take a formal vote on extending approvals at the meeting; staff said they will provide the commission with legal options and timeline details at a future meeting so the commission can decide whether to extend approvals or require developers to demonstrate progress before additional entitlements are granted.

Ending

Staff expected a subdivision closing by CDP North by year-end and said Phase 1 bond timelines and other milestones remain relevant to whether later-phase approvals will be extended or conditioned. The commission directed staff to report back with the code options for handling extension requests and the potential for conditioning future approvals on completion of prior phases.