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Avon Council votes to join Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority
Summary
At its May 1 meeting, Avon’s Town Council unanimously approved a resolution to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority. Council authorized the Town Manager to negotiate a memorandum of understanding; councilors discussed Beacon Communities’ project and tax-assessment timing.
The Avon Town Council voted unanimously May 1 to join the Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority (MRDA) and authorized the Town Manager to negotiate a memorandum of understanding to define how the authority’s services would apply in Avon. The vote followed a public hearing opened and closed by the council the same evening.
Town Manager Brandon Robertson told the council MRDA is a state-supported partnership that provides technical planning assistance to municipalities to support transit-oriented development, housing, and building rehabilitation. Robertson said this step would allow Avon to work with MRDA to identify development district area(s) for potential redevelopment and noted more municipalities have adopted the resolution recently. “It is not just for affordable housing,” Robertson said, adding that Beacon Communities had flagged MRDA as a potential funding vehicle in prior conversations and that the next step would be negotiating the terms of the relationship.
Councilor Bratton pressed for specifics about Beacon Communities’ involvement and whether any tax waivers were in effect during project development; Robertson replied the Town is not waiving taxes now and that the tax-assessment agreement has completion-based triggers for payments. He also said Beacon Communities has refiled portions of the project with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority for low-income housing tax credits and that the MRDA support would be used where additional assistance is needed.
Chairman Dan Polhamus and councilors emphasized that, if the resolution is approved, staff will return with a memorandum of understanding that explains the authority’s role and the geographic scope of any development district. The resolution cites Connecticut General Statutes sections authorizing the MRDA’s formation and powers. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Mr. Weber, seconded by Ms. Ausiello, and passed with all present voting in favor.
What’s next: Town staff will work with MRDA on a memorandum of understanding and identify the area(s) within Avon where MRDA assistance would apply. No specific projects or financial commitments were finalized at the May 1 meeting.
