Committee backs sending brownfields assessment grant to council

The Planning, Economic Development and Housing Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to forward a mayoral resolution to the full City Council recommending acceptance of a grant from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development to fund environmental assessments of several city-owned parcels.

The resolution, presented by William Diaz, project leader for economic development, would authorize the city to accept assessment funding and engage a licensed environmental professional to perform Phase I and, where indicated, Phase II and hazardous-material (hazmat) studies on multiple parcels.

The grant covers assessment work for parcels the administration identified as development opportunities. Diaz said the list includes “$73.77 Homestead Ave, which is a city owned part, parcel, currently undergoing a homestead area study,” 92 Walnut Street (a property in transfer to a community organization), and properties on Capen and Barber Streets tied to letters of intent with the Barber Renaissance District. “They wanna build a digital inclusion center on this site,” Diaz said of a Capen Street proposal. He added the Barber Street and Capen Street parcels already had Phase I work indicating a need for Phase II investigation and that 73 Homestead “we wanna do a phase 1 and and also a hazmat for that.”

Council members pressed Diaz on next steps after assessments. One member asked whether Phase II findings and remediation costs would fall to prospective developers. Diaz said the assessment grants are limited to studies: “these are just assessment grants,” and that the city typically provides environmental data to developers so remediation costs can be “incorporated into the redevelopment of the project.” He also said larger remediation needs could justify applying for additional grant dollars.

A motion to send the resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation passed without dissent. The committee vote sent the item to council for final action.

Background and context: the grant application was submitted through DECD and targets parcels the administration said have the best near-term development prospects because of owner status and active interest from developers. The administration said the assessment work will enable clearer cost estimates for remediation and help determine whether redevelopment remains viable for each parcel.

The committee discussion did not specify exact grant award language or the full dollar amount in the public comment at the meeting; Diaz said the assessment award would be applied according to the parcel-level needs described to DECD.