KENT, Conn.—Construction of 13 new units of affordable housing moved one step closer to reality when the Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved a site plan for a planned 13-unit extension of the South Common affordable housing complex.
The new building will be located on 1.15 acres of town land adjacent to the older 24-unit building complex and Kent Commons Park.
Kent Affordable Housing has been working on development of the property for more than a year, ever since the town gave a provisional approval for transfer of the land in April 2024. The transfer was contingent on the KAH getting the needed permits, which it has now accomplished.
During last week’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting it was determined that the site plan had been adjusted as requested to provide more retention of storm water runoff, thereby mitigating flooding below the site. Roy Seelye, of Cardinal Engineering, reviewed the updates, which included converting five drainage basins to dry wells, thereby increasing retention.
PZC Chairman Wesley Wyrick asked if there would be no discharge at the rear of the building onto town property and Seelye said the new design attempts to collect as much as of the runoff as possible and directs it toward the sides of the property.
“We looked at the total flow off the site and calculated how much retention was required for a 100-year storm,” he said. “Then we looked at how to mitigate our site so [it contributes] no increase.”
He said the original plan used a “level spreader” to convert concentrated, erosive runoff into a wide, shallow sheet flow, a retention pond and five catch basins. By converting the catch basins to dry wells, each of which will hold 100 cubic feet of runoff, the storm water from the new development would not increase at all, he reported.
“I think it is a better plan,” said Wyrick.
More difficult was the continued request from the Kent Volunteer Fire Department for access across Parks and Recreation land for its aerial truck. Parks and Rec ceded the 1.15 acres for the housing development, but is reluctant to relinquish any more of the tight area remaining for Kent Common Park, a position First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer supported. Parks and Rec has plans for further development of the portion of its site.
Fire Chief Alan Gawel reported that the fire department had a membership meeting and overwhelming agreed that aerial access is needed on that side of the building where the structure will be 30 feet tall. He expressed concerns about the mobility of senior citizens who may be residents and the difficulty of extricating them if the elevator cannot be used.
Lindenmayer said that providing access to the fire department off the land was never mentioned during previous negotiations, a statement confirmed by Parks and Rec Director Matt Busse. Busse said establishing a fire lane would encumber up to a quarter of the parking lot and could “create a little strife.”
Selectman Lynn Mellis Worthington said that, as a former member, she is “very supportive” of the fire department, but had real concerns about taking land from Kent Common Park. “I urge the PZC to be very careful about what they approve there,” she said.
Resident Matt Starr asked about the access that will be established through adjoining town land for construction vehicles and whether that would be continued as a fire lane. He was told that it would not be a formal fire lane, but would be kept cleared enough for emergency vehicles to use it. It could be gated so it cannot be used for general access to the site.
KAH member Gregg Sheriden contended that the land would not be taken from P&R and that the fire department was simply asking for a level place to park the aerial truck. But PZC member Darryl Cherniske said he was satisfied with the storm water collection improvements and that the original plan meets fire codes. Other members concurred and the plan was approved.
