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Residents press for more hydrogeologic review as Fair Housing 8‑30g proposal opens; commission continues hearing
Summary
An 83‑unit 8‑30g townhouse proposal on Liberty Street drew extensive concern about protection of the Pockatuck sole‑source aquifer. Developer representatives described a revised stormwater treatment system; dozens of residents and technical commenters asked for more hydrogeologic analysis. The commission continued the hearing to Oct. 21, 2025.
The Planning & Zoning Commission opened a public hearing on Sept. 16 for a proposed 83‑unit affordable housing project by Fair Housing of Connecticut LLC under Connecticut’s 8‑30g statute and continued the hearing to Oct. 21 after extended technical presentations and public comment.
Attorney Matt Reinelli introduced the applicant team and said the submission had been revised since an earlier iteration: the unit count was reduced from higher prior counts, additional adjacent land was acquired to accommodate stormwater treatment, and the developer proposed deed‑restricted rental units for the affordability set‑aside.
Engineer Sergio (name in submission) described a multi‑stage stormwater system located on newly acquired land south of the site. The design centers on a sediment forebay and two gravel‑wetland treatment cells that then discharge to an infiltration/detention area; the team reported modeled pollutant removal rates for total suspended solids, phosphorus, nitrogen and zinc that meet state guidance and town engineer recommendations. The applicant also said it will produce an operation and maintenance plan and coordinate monitoring and maintenance responsibilities with the owner.
Affordability and site details
Attorney Reinelli said 25 of the 83 units (30%) would be deed‑restricted and managed as rentals for the 40‑year statutory period; examples of estimated rents were provided under current income assumptions. The applicant said parking meets or exceeds the town’s requirements, garbage and emergency access plans are being coordinated with town departments, and traffic modeling found modest peak‑hour trip increases that would not reduce local intersections below acceptable level‑of‑service thresholds.
Public concern centers on aquifer protection
The public comment period was dominated by concerns about contamination risk to the Pockatuck (Pockatuck/Pockatuck spelled variably in the record) Basin — a federally designated sole‑source aquifer that supplies water to multiple towns. Several speakers urged the commission to obtain or require additional hydrogeologic studies, water‑quality monitoring, and agency sign‑off before any decision is made. One commenter cited a Connecticut court decision in which another town denied an 8‑30g application over aquifer risk.
Town staff and several commissioners asked for follow‑up materials, including the updated hydrogeologic report referenced by the applicant, a final solid‑waste routing plan for the town’s automated pickup system, stormwater operation and monitoring documentation, and any responses from Westerly Water and the Connecticut Department of Public Health regarding the revised design. The applicant said the team would submit the outstanding analysis and reply to town comments.
The commission voted to continue the Fair Housing public hearing to Oct. 21, 2025, to allow the public and staff to review the revised plan set and supplemental technical reports.
