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New London council votes to join state redevelopment authority; one councilor objects
Summary
The City Council voted to adopt a resolution joining the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority, a step council supporters said will improve access to state development funds; one councilor expressed reservations about transparency and local oversight.
The New London City Council on Feb. 18 voted to adopt a resolution to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority (MRDA), a state-level redevelopment body that proponents said can open additional funding sources for transit-oriented development and adaptive reuse projects.
The resolution, identified in the meeting backup as a formal adoption item, authorizes the mayor to enter a memorandum agreement with the MRDA and to create one or more development districts within the city limits if later warranted.
Supporters said membership increases the city’s visibility to developers and to state programs that target downtown and transit-oriented housing. President Pro Tem Akhil Peck said MRDA membership gives New London access to state programs and helps “fight for every single penny and nickel” for the city.
Council debate focused on oversight and public engagement. Councilor Hart said he had reservations about moving development authority beyond municipal oversight and asked who would be accountable; staff and other councilors said the MRDA works with DECD (state Department of Economic and Community Development) and that projects would still require local engagement and approvals.
The council adopted the resolution by voice roll call: five votes in favor and one opposed. The backup materials in the meeting packet described MRDA’s role in stimulating transit-oriented and downtown residential investment and noted that membership is intended to allow municipalities to pursue state redevelopment funding more readily.
Ending: Councilors said membership is an initial step, and any specific projects or development districts would come back to the council for review and local public engagement.
