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Residents press council on town‑center redevelopment, traffic and tax impacts
Summary
Public commenters urged caution after announcements about a $2 million state downtown planning grant and developer pre‑applications, warning denser housing could increase traffic and service costs; councilors said funds will follow the community-led town-center master plan and encouraged input to TPZ.
Several residents used the June 9 public-participation period to press the council for clarity about town‑center redevelopment and a state-backed planning grant. Elena Star told the council she feared the planning process favors higher‑density housing and warned new units would add long‑term operating costs to town services — police, fire, schools, water and roads.
Other residents sought updates on the status of three downtown parcels referenced during recent planning conversations: the Keaney (developer pre-application was mentioned in the meeting), the Hartford Hospital property and Market Square. Rose Lions and others asked for regular council briefings and said they expected the town to discuss use of the $2 million in partnership with the town‑center master plan steering committee.
Councilors responded that the $2 million award is intended to implement recommendations from the town-center master plan (a community-led steering committee will reconvene to advise on specific uses). Council members repeatedly urged residents to attend TPZ meetings when formal applications arrive and to offer direct feedback at those hearings. "Those funds are going to be used in accordance with the town center master plan that was approved last year," the mayor said, and councilors said staff will reconvene the steering committee to refine recommendations.
Several councilors acknowledged concerns about density, traffic and tax abatements for past developments, and invited residents to submit feedback to TPZ as the place for detailed land-use comments. They also noted that some project permitting decisions (e.g., Keaney) fall to TPZ rather than council vote.
