Commission approves 19‑lot Brewer Street subdivision after developer removes Handle Road connection

The Town of East Hartford Planning & Zoning Commission on May 13 approved a preliminary and final subdivision application from Brewer Development LLC to subdivide roughly 13 acres at the rear of 215 and 231 Brewer Street into 19 lots, subject to listed waivers and pre-endorsement conditions.

Attorney Andrea Gomes (Hinckley Allen) told the commission the applicant revised its plan to delete the previously proposed Handle Road connection after receiving a memorandum from town corporation counsel and staff feedback. Gomes summarized a key jurisdiction point from the counsel memo: “the Commission does not have the authority to deny or modify the subdivision if it complies with the regulations,” while noting the town council “retains its own independent authority to accept new public roadways” and could therefore affect whether a street becomes town-owned.

Gomes said the revised plan eliminates the road connection and requests a waiver of subdivision regulation section 8.3 I (the cul-de-sac connection requirement); she also asked that staff be authorized to approve minor engineering changes administratively. Engineer Gareth Wilson (BL Companies) told the commission the revisions should allow the project to comply with subdivision, erosion-control and stormwater regulations and that the team will coordinate sidewalk alignment, lighting and minor design details with staff.

Public comment included support from nearby residents and a petition circulated on Bridal Road opposing a through connection at the cul-de-sac. Christopher Keogh (35 Bank Road) urged approval and said the project would generate about $1,000,000 in incremental tax revenue over roughly seven years; no separate staff revenue estimate was provided in the hearing record.

The commission approved the subdivision motion with multiple waivers and conditions including: donation of approximately 6.3 acres for town open space (subject to town council approval), revised engineering sheets and monuments, revisions to Lot 18 lot lines to avoid abutting the Handle Road right-of-way, pedestrian access and lighting from the Handle Road cul-de-sac through the future town parcel to Eastwood Circle, a crosswalk at Eastwood Circle near Lot 1, driveway reconfiguration on Lot 18 for safety, a double-yellow centerline at a curve near Lot 18, surety bond requirements, insurance filings, and a final filing deadline of August 30, 2026.

Next steps include town-council action where required (for the open-space donation and any public-road acceptance) and administrative coordination between the applicant’s engineers and town staff to finalize minor grading, stormwater and sidewalk details before plan endorsement and recording.