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Property owner presents 8-30g plan for 50–60 rentals, including 30% affordable units, at Boston Turnpike
Summary
At an informal Dec. 10 briefing, property owner Richard Grodsky outlined a concept to develop 50–60 rental units under Connecticut’s 8-30g statute on two Boston Turnpike parcels; commissioners said the idea is worth exploring but asked for sewer, wetlands and access clarifications before any formal application.
Richard Grodsky, a property owner, told the Bolton Planning & Zoning Commission on Dec. 10 that he is exploring a subdivision of 1225 Boston Turnpike and an 8-30g housing proposal for 1230 Boston Turnpike that would include market-rate rentals and a 30% affordable set-aside.
Grodsky said he and his wife acquired 1225 through foreclosure and that "they never intended to own the property," and that one current tenant has expressed interest in buying half of that parcel. He said 1230 contains "approximately 50% of wetlands" and that his concept for the site would rely on 8-30g provisions to bypass local zoning for a higher-density development.
Consulting Director of Community Development Patrice Carson told the commission the 1225 parcel is zoned RMUZ and noted that lot-splitting would need to meet setback and lot-coverage rules; she also advised the commission to confirm access and utility arrangements because one access point on the site is currently closed. Carson said CRCOG and the town will coordinate on regional planning and that any 8-30g project would still have to meet health and wetlands regulations.
Commission discussion focused on infrastructure and feasibility. Grodsky said he has been advised by J. Rupert that sewer capacity is sufficient and that there is a roughly $10,000 per-unit connection fee plus charges to the Manchester treatment plant; commissioners asked Grodsky to confirm those figures with Manchester and the sewer authority. Grodsky proposed using the low-lying wetlands corridor on the 1230 site as a stormwater detention area if development proceeds.
Vice-Chair James Cropley said he would be supportive of exploring the 8-30g option to increase affordable housing in town, and Commissioner E. Loveland noted that grants tied to the new state housing bill might support the project. The commission did not take any formal action; Chair Tom Manning thanked Grodsky for the presentation and asked staff to follow up with the sewer authority and wetlands officers before any formal application was filed.
The discussion was informal and nonbinding; commissioners agreed the concept is worth further study and directed staff follow-up on sewer capacity, wetlands constraints, access, and developer interest.
