Glastonbury may buy Nye Road property for affordable housing

Alex Wood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Oct. 12—GLASTONBURY — The town is considering buying a 10.86-acre property at the end of a cul de sac off House Street for $3.4 million in order to build an affordable housing complex.

HOUSING SITE?

WHERE: At the end of Nye Road, a cul de sac off House Street north of Salmon Brook in Glastonbury.

SIZE: 10.86 acres.

PRICE: $3.4 million.

POSSIBLE USES: Affordable housing, Board of Education offices.

The Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to hold a public information hearing on the proposed purchase at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25.

The property at issue is at the end of Nye Road, a short distance north of Salmon Brook and the multi-use trail the town has built along it. There are two office buildings on the property — street Nos. 50 and 55.

The property includes some 4 acres of what Town Manager Richard J. Johnson calls "conservation area," which can't be developed.

The property adjoins a 27.7-acre town-owned parcel at the edge of the Gateway area, the business development centered on Western and Eastern boulevards.

Most of the 27.7 acres is conservation area. But Johnson said in a letter to the council that the town-owned property includes 4 to 5 acres that could be combined with the Nye Road parcel to make 11 to 12 acres of developable land.

He said potential uses of the Nye Road property would include renovation of the office building at 50 Nye Road for town or education purposes.

One possible source of money for the purchase is the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal COVID-19 relief program.

Under a controversial state law — often referred to by its section number, 8-30g — private developers are exempt from most zoning rules if they dedicate 30% of a housing complex to affordable housing.

One developer has used that law to win approval for a five-story, 74-unit apartment building at Hebron Avenue and Manchester Road, and a second developer has revealed plans for a 44-unit building on Kreiger Lane.

One goal of development of affordable housing by the town, in cooperation with the Housing Authority, would be to win an 8-30g moratorium from the state that would prevent private developers from avoiding the town's zoning requirements for a time.

Council members of both parties have expressed dislike for Section 8-30g and the loss of local control over development.

Council Vice Chairman Lawrence Niland, a Democrat who has spoken against the building at Hebron Avenue and Manchester Road, said he doesn't like the law. But he described the proposed Nye Road land purchase as "an opportunity to make a giant step forward."

Citing the use of ARPA money, the revenue from tenants of the existing office buildings, and the possible use of one of the buildings as a Board of Education office, Niland said the purchase "would be a great win for Glastonbury."

But Kurt Cavanaugh, the council's Republican minority leader, said leases with tenants in the office buildings could delay development of affordable housing.

Democratic Councilwoman Jennifer Wang said she has heard some concern about 100% affordable housing developments, which is one way the property could be used.

Republican Councilman Whit Osgood also said towns are trying to move away from 100% affordable developments. He said Glastonbury is receiving taxes on the office buildings and suggested that tearing down buildings "seems a poor use of resources for what is a very important activity."

Council Chairman Thomas P. Gullotta, a Democrat, said that if the council decides not to go forward with the Nye Road purchase, "you can expect 8-30g's all over the place."

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