Committee leaves urban-farm lease and $250,000 funding request on committee with no action

The Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee on Monday took no action on a resolution to lease city-owned property at 280 Enfield Street to a nonprofit for an urban farm and to release $250,000 in previously committed funds.

Wayne Diaz, development services staff, said the proposed lessee has experience distributing hydroponic home kits and working on community food projects; the city previously committed $250,000 for urban agriculture initiatives by council resolution. Owen Deutsch, a planning staff member, told the committee that the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission had approved a special permit for the urban farm at a recent meeting, and that an administrative approval remains to be completed.

Diaz described the proposal as an outdoor hydroponic system on vacant land that formerly hosted apartment buildings and said the nonprofit requested the release of $250,000 for materials, moveable containers and related setup costs. The presentation included plans for modular, movable hydroponic systems and a reverter clause in the lease to allow the city to reclaim the parcel if a future long-term redevelopment opportunity arises.

Committee members said they would not act before the public-hearing process is complete: the planning-related public hearing is scheduled for June 16. Chair John Gale said the committee would keep the item on the agenda with no recommendation and, if public comment does not change members’ positions, discharge it to the full council so it could be considered at the June 23 council meeting. No vote was taken on the lease or the release of funds at this meeting.