001If you would please um begin by joining me in the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America >> and to the republic for which it stands >> one nation under God >> under God >> indivisible with allies for all. >> Thank you. Um next item of business is uh roll call. And I do not see Joanne here, but I believe she's going to be watching the recording for note-taking purposes. Um, so for that purpose, uh, Shala Fleming, uh, vice chair, joined by Rick Bolton, David Rosenberg, Jennifer Winshell, who's our town council leazison, Jim Cordone, attorney, Reena Balar, who's one of our guests for this evening, and, uh, Phil from the town of Trumbull doing technology for us. Um, up next we will talk about correspondence.
002Uh, we have not received any since our last meeting, so there is nothing to report there. Um, and now we'll move to public comment. Um, so Phil, if you would just check to see if anyone's out there for public comment. >> I do not see any attendees at the moment. >> Great. Thank you. And now for uh the record, uh, Rodney Gray. Good evening, Rodney. Thanks for being here. >> Hello. Oh, absolutely. >> Um, so up next is approval of our minutes from the April 9th, 2026 meeting. So, uh, needed a motion in that regard. >> I move to approve the April 9th minutes. >> Second. >> Was there a second? Also, >> thank you, Rodney. Um, any discussion or revisions that we need to make? All right, seeing and hearing none, uh, all those
003in favor of approving the minutes from April 9th. Uh, all right, that carries unanimously. No, um, abstensions. Uh, so that brings us to um our discussion with Reena Bakalar who is here joining us this evening. Um, Reena is the director of economic and community development here in Treble. um she has been with us at least one other time in the past, maybe twice before. Um and so Reena, we're really glad to have you back with us again. Um and so uh turn the floor over to you just to hear a little bit more about um you know, what's happening in the town as it comes to uh economic and community development and um you know, how how equity, diversity, and inclusion is um playing a role in the work that you do. So thank you
004for being here. >> Well, thank you for having me. Can everyone hear me? >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. Um and and I'm happy to be back and this is my second uh time I believe before the committee. So, um I haven't been here for a while and I just want to sort of size up what you're most interested in. So, you know, from the economic development side, are you interested in new development projects? Where they stand? um projects that are maybe not moving forward yet uh but you have some questions about um from the community development side. Um are you interested in community development sort of infrastructure projects um you know other projects within town that fall under that umbrella like the schoolhouse project that you may have read about in the paper. Are those
005the kinds of projects? some we have some grants that are out there. So, I'm just trying to get a feel for what you want to hear most about so that I use your time. Well, I know Rodney and I have kind of corresponded a number of times on various things. Um, and we were going to collaborate on a job fair at one point, but a lot of things were going happening, so to speak. Um, but I did, Rodney, um, work with the, uh, St. Joseph's Manor folks when St. Joseph's Manor was being shut down by the state. Um, I worked with the Department of Labor on the job fair um, for those employee uh, employees that were going to be losing their jobs so that they could and we had a huge turnout. It was
006actually very successful. So, we kind of that's the the job fair piece. I just thought I'd mention that since Rodney and I had talked a little bit about a job fair. It's not exactly what we were envisioning, Rodney, but um you know, it was definitely helpful to the employees and well organized and well attended. Um so tell me what you're most interested in so that I can focus in. >> Yeah, thank you for for asking. I uh will certainly turn it over to the group for uh other other notions, but but for me, you know, sort of all of the things that you mentioned definitely sound interesting and and feel relevant and I would love to um just learn a little bit more about uh I don't know if there are any other committee members
007who have uh thoughts or preferences on on what you're interested in. Uh Jennifer, I see your hand. Go ahead. >> I have interest in that uh potential grocery store up on 111. >> Okay. >> What is the status of that? Okay. So, that grocery store is anticipated um long anticipated. The project has changed a little bit since it was first introduced. >> We lost her. Really lost your audio. That's >> what she warned us about. She gets kicked off by the internet. said she'll be right back. >> Yeah, she said she could still hear us, so I'm sure she's making the adjustments. >> Okay, [clears throat] we'll give her a minute. I'll never know what happened to that grocery store. Are you there now? >> Yes. No. >> Okay. Sorry about that. That was weird.
008I went totally out and back. Um I don't know. It did it automatically. Um but anyhow, so One Tree Foil Drive, which is the corner of um 111 and Treefoil Drive is slated to be a 39,000 square foot grosser. Initially, the project was a little bit different. it came back um it was a multi-tenant project with a grocery store that was smaller and you know this project has dragged out a little bit because there's an appeal um that was filed an appeal in court meaning that someone that had standing objected to the project or had concerns with the project and has taken it to court and it's been moving through that process we've dealt with this situation on other projects. Um, unfortunately, and when they drag a project out, when these appeals drag a project
009out, it can affect the potential tenants and the development project. We were lucky that there was a another grosser right behind this situation and the plans were changed and it went back to planning and zoning and now it is one grocery tenant that is slated for that site. I can't talk about the name of the grosser, but if you looked at the planning and zoning meeting and you looked at the the renderings, you can kind of get an feel for who the grosser is. But it's a it's a good grosser I think that the town would like here. And we're hoping and I and Jim's on the line. He's going to kill me for saying this, but we're hoping by September that this moves through the next some of the next steps uh in court
010and and we can start making some progress toward getting this development moving. It's unfortunate. It's a time delay, but so far that the uh tenant is solid and nothing is falling apart, so to speak. So, um thank you for asking. Does anyone have any questions about the grosser? >> You said that all perfectly by the way, Arena. >> Okay. Thanks, Jim. You can you get me if I'm going off. >> No, you're you're you're you got it. You're perfect. >> So, we have Would you like Does anyone have another specific question about a project before I start rattling down some the list? I am going to talk about the mall a little bit and let you know where that stands. >> That sounds good. Okay, >> sounds good. >> All right, so the next project
011before we get to the mall, I want to run down a few other ones so we can spend some time on the mall. Um, there's a project that was called Gateway Commons. It's now called the crossing at the Puquanic at Puquanic. Um, that is a project that crosses the town line. So about 39% of the project is in Monroe and 61% of the project is in Trumbull. We've been collaborating across town lines. Um the project has been stalled was stalled for a number of years. It's now got new partners, um, excuse me, new new potential owners coming to the project who will, uh, be closing soon on the project on the property. And it is a 88,000 square foot um, development. It is about 27,000 to 28,000 square foot of commercial on the first floor
012and the upper floors are primarily onebedroom apartments. There are a few two-bedroom apartments. Uh but it's so it's a mixeduse development across town lines uh with about you know that much commercial on the first floor which we expect a very good mix of businesses. There's a lot of interest in leasing. um you know in leases already uh and we expect that this will be a uh very successful development when it gets moving. So that is again a mixeduse on the town line on Route 25. Any questions on that? Okay, I want to move to uh the uh the project on 48 Monroe Turnpike that's been stalled for a long time. It it is I can't get into too many details about how that project is moving or changing. uh but it was stalled so long
013that there will be some changes to that development project and when it comes forward to the planning and zoning commission the community will hear more about that and I'll leave it at that because a lot of things happen behind the scenes that are confidential and this is one of them. Um, the project at Lake and Main Street, which is starting uh is out of the ground and being built, is a uh small convenience store uh and gas station redo. People have been driving by it. You'll see that it's finally making progress. It was slowgoing, I have to say. Uh but it is making progress and it is being built. Um any questions on that? Okay. Um, we have Trumble Center. A lot of people are interested in what's happening in Trumble Center. You can see
014that some new businesses are coming. Wonder should be opening imminently. Um, if you've read about it or not, it's a food hall concept and that is in the space between uh Starbucks and CVS and it's taking both of those boxes. It's approximately 4,000 square ft and it again is a food hall concept and I think you know people uh that that like that kind of convenience and diversity of options for eating w will like that. Uh there's one in Fairfield and there's several around. Um and there it's a growing um model that folks are starting to get familiar with. Um, we also have opening today, I believe it was, is the uh restaurant Trumble Cafe and Grill that is in the former Fatty Patty space and they will be um offering dinner as well. They
015are maintaining their existing location for a period of time. Uh it could be long, it could be, you know, shorter. Uh depending on, you know, how they um move forward, you know, it's it wouldn't, you know, they're going to be there for a period of time, both restaurants. So that will be opening. That was opening today, not will be. Uh I think they were doing sort of a soft opening. So, but I think as soon as that word gets out, they're going to be inundated because it's really a beloved business in town. um also in the um plaza that is next door to Echo um and where Mariana's was and I think everybody was not excited to lose Mariana's but that was you know their business decision along with the owner of the plaza and
016you know that were you know went forward in a way that certainly upset some people in town to lose that business but um it didn't have anything to do with the town. I mean, we certainly wanted to retain that business or, you know, both businesses, the business that's replacing it in another, but there was not a lot of available space um that fit the needs of that business. So, unfortunately, for now, they've opened in um they've opened in Stratford, but we're hoping that at some point they'll open a second location in Trumbull that they've expressed that as their desire. The problem we have is, you know, the real estate here is is not cheap um to lease. So, uh but anyhow, what's going in place of that is um an Arthur Avenue concept for a
017um it's I think it's going to be called Arthur Avenue. Oh, I don't have my my name of it in front of me, but Arthur Avenue Market and um Delhi. I think it's it's going to be a market deli concept. and the folks that own Echo uh are opening that and it's being built out right now. So, that's going to be I think a popular stop in town as well. Um and I hope that I can report again to the community how that's going in the next month or so. Like I said, it's under construction. There's a number of other there's a new yoga place opening right across from town hall. There was one unit um in the plaza that was not rented for a variety of reasons. They have now rented that space. It
018will be a yoga type uh business um excuse me, not yoga, pilates, pardon me, yoga, I mean Pilates studio um and some dance there. And it's a local family that's opening that business. So, we're really excited about that and I think it's a great location for them. So, they are under construction now and they will be opening soon. Does anybody have any questions about any new businesses that are opening that you've heard about? There's a number of different things going on, but those things are definite. Anything you wanted to ask or inquire about? Jennifer, perhaps you mentioned it earlier and I missed it. Is the um Trumble Center, is that going to turn into apartments and retail or is it going to just sit as a parking lot? >> So, the Trumble Center has full
019approvals from the land use boards. It is pending and it has their sewer situation has been resolved and that is all set. uh the the they are waiting right now for the FEMA office to approve the FEMA flood maps and that has been we've been waiting for well over a year um for that. So there are multiple efforts by our first selectman and others to try to chime in to get that moving faster. Um you know the shutdowns have you know affected uh timing other issues. FEMA is not the quickest uh department at the federal level from what I understand through my years of experience either. So there is an issue. We cannot move forward until those flood maps are finalized and are approved at the by FEMA and at the local level. Jim, jump
020in and correct me if I have anything wrong about >> No, not not at all. Again, perfect. Exactly the situation. >> Yeah. So, that's that's a challenge and that affects the ability to build there and that's not the owner at this point doing that. They're they're they're not they're not trying to they want those flood maps to be approved and move forward. So, unfortunately, we're stalled because of FEMA. Um, but we'll report, you know, to the community over time how that's moving. And again, people are not sitting id idle. They're trying to get that moving and they have been trying to get that moving uh for a while now, months, maybe a year. >> This has been, you know, hanging out there and people have been pushing to get this done. So, um, that is
021that apartment building, that complex. So, most people know that it's going to be a mixeduse development with about 14 15,000 I think it's 14,000 square ft of retail on the first floor and the apartments which were pretty controversial because they're slated to be a five it's slated to be a fivetory building with commercial on the first floor. So, four floors of apartments above. Um but that was approved um at all of the land use boards and if if it moves forward that at this point there's been no change that I'm aware of to the plan for that. Um so you know stay tuned. um you know it's hopefully going to move at some point and again right now it's with FEMA. So [clears throat] >> thank you. >> You're welcome. Any other questions about Trumbull
022Center before I move on? Any other development projects before I go to the mall and then ultimately to the community development side of things? Um, any other questions before I go to the mall? Any other projects that you've heard about that I didn't touch? >> Your hand up before. Did you have a question? >> Um, >> David, did you have a question? >> No, no, I think I got answered. Thanks. >> Okay. Okay. I think we're good to move on to um the mall. Thank you. >> Okay. So you know the mall is a controversial topic no matter what and it is a major property and area in in transition. So it is not going to be easily understood by people because it's got multiple facets to this work and to this effort and to
023the history of what has been and where it's going. So in a in a very difficult media environment to communicate in, it's it's very hard to get a clear message and an understandable message out about what's happening there. For folks that may not know, there was a full um study done and that was done with um funding from former Senator Marilyn Moore. um she helped secure that and that funding helped us to develop a comprehensive study. The study includes very important information about the the property there, the leases, the infrastructure. I mean many people don't know that that a river runs under the mall. So all of that discovery and information had to be you know really looked at brought to light. Um this is not just a marketing study although there is a market
024feasibility and land use study is what it's called and all of those components are part of this but the details behind it are significant and they needed to be understood at a level to help us to position the area not just the one property but the area and that property. Okay. So that is the work of the study and it is in final draft meaning you know there's always an opportunity for us to add to it but it is a final document at this point. Um that study then informed zoning regulations that in order to and and the vision, let me go back to the vision of the study that was developed with the input of all kinds of stakeholders, residents, multiple meetings with residents, um stakeholders including tenants at the mall, people that frequent
025the mall, people that work at the mall, um people in the area, residents that live in and around the area, um you know, uh property owners, you know, etc. It was a very very diverse group of stakeholders that were involved. And if you went to any of the meetings, I think you will see that there were meetings that at least 100 people attended from the community. We did mailings um to people in and around the area etc. Now the study area is bigger than just the mall. It encompasses Main Street to Madison a I mean Main Street Madison Avenue um Mer to the Merit Parkway and to the Bridgeport line. that is the study area and everything was looked at um in that area that again infrastructure all of the things that I mentioned already.
026So then we and the vision that was developed was developed with multiple stakeholders. So, if you read the study or or look through it at least, I know it's long document, it will give you an idea of where this is going. And we're going from a parking lot with a mall on it that has, you know, some issues and is sort of an outdated model to and and a neighborhood around it that certainly um is older and has tried to, you know, that area has tried to be reinvented a few times and it really hasn't taken hold. So that area is poised for redevelopment. And the vision is to go from the mall and a large piece of property with some older housing stock around it, etc. to a mixeduse sort of live, work, play
027area. more of a district than just a mall and some surrounding residential. Okay. So, it it's moving to a district concept. That will not happen overnight and it will take a lot to get it there. On a parallel track, the ownership that came in in 2023 for the mall, you know, didn't do much to try to elevate the property. They started to try to engage early on when they bought the mall. And when they realized that they weren't going to get from the debt holders a fire sale on the mall, they kind of backed off and let them all go into default. That's my telling. Jim might tell tell it a little differently from the legal side, but um they you know, so the the mall went into default. The debt holders, it went through
028a foreclosure process. the debt holders, just to use a basic term, um are in the process of selling them all. Um this is not negative in my mind. When we saw how the owners were not really taking care of the mall, investing in it, we felt strongly that them them getting out of the picture was the best thing for Trumbull. So that's this is moving. It's It's cleared the foreclosure. It is for sale as of mid January. The broker is in place. We know the broker. We are dealing with the broker. We know all of the players involved have been working with the town in various ways since this process started. I can't get into all the details, but you can understand basically what I'm saying. And this is moving toward a sale. Okay, I
029can't give an exact timeline, but I can say to you that the interest in this property is immense. Um, and this will move forward over the course of the next several months. The steps are it cleared the foreclosure, it went for sale, it is being marketed. Initial initial um interest in the mall was um went through a process where folks had to the people looking to buy the mall had to um file disclosures etc. in order to get the information on the mall sale. Now, those people are, you know, whoever's surfacing, those people will move forward in a process and the the property will get sold. Once it gets sold, that whoever the new owners are, they're going to need some time to get their hands around that property. And once they do, they'll come,
030you know, they'll be talking about what the future is from their perspective and what they'd like to see. I can tell you this that everybody that had is informed about the study, the reasonzoning that happened, it was all in the broker listing. So the reason I tell you that is so that you understand and people understand that this was not this this study was not in vain. This is intentional. The work that's been done so far by the town and our consultants and the staff and the for selectman's office etc has been very intentional to position this property for success. People want immediate success. We're turning around a major property and area of the town. This is not going to happen overnight. If you look at what's happening around the country with malls, similar to
031Trumbull, they are moving to this district concept, mixeduse district concept. They are, it takes time. They're repositioning. I think we're ahead. People have been calling asking, "How did you get to this point?" Okay. So, the problem is the people that are used to their mall being the way it is and they're upset because it has deteriorated a bit. Not a, you know, it has deteriorated in some respects. They're upset, okay? And I get that. And they want to lash out and everything, but in order that we don't own the property, okay? So, we can try to influence the process. We can try to position the property with the control that we have through planning and zoning and through, you know, the the efforts that you just heard about, but we do not own it. So,
032we have to work collaboratively. Um, and we have to work through the process and it's not overnight, as I said. But I I do feel that there's a bright future. It's just going to take time. I mean, I use this. Someone was talking to me the other day and they're like, "Why can't it happen and now? What's taking so long?" I'm like, "You're turning around a major piece of real estate." Smaller projects take years from the time they get um envisioned to the time a groundbreaking happens. I used the example the other day of the Hankle project. Has everyone heard about Hankle Corporation? They are investing $70 million um to expand their campus in Trumbull, a major research and development um investment in our town. And previous in 2018, they invested 20 million. So this
033is up from that another 70, right? So it's a great project. From the time they came to me looking to talk about sites, potential sites, they were looking at three communities to expand in. And we were trying to identify sites with them that they would meet their needs, was in a campus type of setting. From the time that started to the time the shovel went in the ground was 3 years. And that's a corporation that already had a foothold in Trumbull and was able had the capital to buy a building and now is under construction. And that is quick if you have and it flew through planning and zoning. If you have longer processes at your land use boards because of the complexity of projects and so forth. If you have financing issues um for
034a project, it can get stalled after planning and zoning because it you know that they the financing is not fully in place, the markets changed, whatever. So that happens. They had the capital to move forward. So that wasn't an issue. So that was 3 years and that was like I said a lightning speed pro project going through the process of development. So, u the gateway commons now called uh I forgot Pu uh P on the Pquuanic. What did I say? Pquuic Gateway on the Puquanic or whatever the new name of it is. That's over on the Monroe Trumble line. That project's been in the works for years and it's been stalled. It had to be approved in two towns. Then they they didn't have their financing fully in place and then the shot price of
035construction shot up through the roof and financing uh p um rates went through the roof and it got stalled again. that has been going on for almost 7 years and now is ready to, you know, close and break ground imminently, you know. So, I just say that because people really don't understand what goes into things and how how this works and we don't control real estate values really, right? So if the office market gets soft, okay, like it has because postco covid and then postcoid a lot of people started working differently, right? So those folks, you know, the office uh stock was, you know, threatened. It was losing value. Um as well as especially the aging old office stock. So that those values that's nothing we can control locally. That's what the market is bearing.
036So you know there's a lot of forces that impact development and economic development and economic growth and grandless growth and all of those things. Now we have to manage those things and as you know um and bring in development and growth in other ways to offset those things. But sometimes people really think that you know the market you know is what it is and it won't change and the values are going to and that doesn't affect anything. Yes, it does. I we had buildings in town that were worth $20 million at one time, office buildings that are worth four or five now. Okay? I can't control that. That's a market force. Okay? So, I just I I'm going to pause there just I know I'm going on long and I I don't want to run
037your meeting. Um, I c I want to stay uh keep a few seconds for community development and other things, but does anybody have any questions at this point about anything that I've spoken about? >> I don't have a question, but I just uh want to express some gratitude. I just appreciate the the sort of clarity and um honestly like conviction with which you are sharing this information. as you talked about, you know, there's a lot of ways that people get information and get misinformation, spread information, and spread misinformation. And um it's really it's just really important to to to know what's what and to understand um you know, so much of what you expressed here. And so um you know, I don't ever know how much of an audience we have here, but just appreciate
038that you've taken the opportunity to be here and just um you know, really clearly and transparently share all this information with us. Well, thank you for being interested that that it's a two-way street, right? Um and and I appreciate that. And like I said, Rodney and I have talked a number of times. So, I want to if I can just zip into community development, which is largely um larger housing initiatives can fall under community development. um some infrastructure that connects people to places. I mean, George Estrada and our town engineer is really in charge of, you know, general infrastructure, but where I come in is where we're trying to connect infrastructure to places like in Long Hill Green, like the trail connections we're look we're finishing um this year that connect u you know uh
039Whitney Avenue to the trail. those are uh infrastructure projects that are community developmentbased projects. Um, so the schoolhouse I mentioned earlier, which is a is a community development project, a historic um res um renovation project that I think the community is getting increasingly interested in and knowing about more. And it's going to be a real engagement for this community because we're going to have some community build dates and that might be something that your group is interested in getting involved with when we set those dates. Right now we're in the we had to design um the reconstruction which is almost finished. U John Ner who's an incredible guy. He works at um Christian Heritage School but he's been sort of leading the volunteer efforts for this. Georgia Estrada, Dimmitri Paris, um the library director, our
040historical society folks. There's a whole group of people working on this um to prep for this project. It's only a 600 square ft building, but it's going to have I think be a point of pride for this community for the future. Um, it will be built on the town hall campus or reconstructed is the word I should be using on the town hall campus next door to the library. There's a pad of land there and that's where it's going to be located. And um, you know, again, we're raising the funding for it, raising the volunteer work for it, organizing it, getting the design done and all that right now. So, if folks are interested, please email me separately. I'd be happy to talk to you more about how to get involved with that project. Um,
041on the housing side, I don't get involved overly involved in single family home development that because I look at not that it's not important, but I'm really looking at different models and housing diversity as part of my community development efforts. So there was a few projects that um have been approved in town. One on res R res R res R res R res R res R res R res R res R res R reservoir avenue um and another um well I I already mentioned Trumbull Center and Gateway Commons which are both mixeduse projects. Um there was a project just denied um in uh on Reservoir Avenue as well that was an affordable housing uh project. It was denied less in my opinion. I shouldn't, you know, I'm just this is my opinion about why it
042was dei denied. This is not, you know, everybody's opinion, but it it it really was denied not because it was affordable. I think the commission liked that from what I could tell and they like the idea of adding to the housing stock, affordable housing. It was more the design and the kind of construction design um not construct the design of it and um some features of it. It's modular housing and it's something very different and I think the commission had some concerns about that. They also had some concerns about some remaining environmental things that need to be proved out um or completed in terms of uh you know what was expected from the commission about the environmental testing and all of that. And there might have been some other reasons, but I really think that
043largely it was um about the kind of housing, the kind of building this is, the kind of construction that it is. Jim, am I misspeaking at all? >> Uh no, no, it's actually still there's an they've re refiled, so there's still an application pending. >> Okay. So there's an application pending. I'm sorry. That's okay. It will be heard. So they they you know have an opportunity to come back I guess to the commission and see how that goes. So I you know I can't predict that and I'm not following it as closely as I was. So I apologize that I didn't really I don't I didn't know exactly where that stood. But so you know there's there's also some senior housing that's going to be built at um uh excuse me 12 Cambridge Drive. So,
044that is working its way through the um um construction permitting process and should be getting underway soon. And that's in that same neighborhood. So, that'll be a a 124 units of 55 and older housing. Does anybody have any question on those projects or a project that I haven't mentioned? So, right now, that's sort of my community development conversation. There's a ton of other stuff going on. Um, business stuff, you know, projects coming through the pipeline, but when I come back again, maybe I can update you further. >> Uh, Reena, this is Rodney. Good evening. >> How you doing, Rodney? >> I'm okay. Still my direct trick home driving, so I'm kind of playing it risky, but I'll be all right. Um, >> be careful. >> So, I have this um, you covered a lot. Um,
045I will admit that [clears throat] a lot of it is over my head. So, forgive me if I'm asking something that you're already covered. uh beyond enough to say that I'm I'm a student in this lane, but I had a uh nonprofit uh group reach out to me and it different the same group, two different people that didn't know that they were reaching out to me in the same group. I'm sorry if I'm being redundant there, but they want to know about this affordable housing. And again, this is not my wheelhouse, but I'm really interested. that they want to know about the history of Trumble when it comes to affordable housing. And I met with them and I gave them my perspective of it of what I know. I've been here five years. So, we're
046meeting uh next week in person at the what's that um diner up there by town hall? Um by the grocery store. >> Yeah. So, I'm going to Oldtown next week and meeting with them and this long time resident that's been with us since the '9s, been living in Trumble since the '9s. And she's going to talk to this group about what she's seen since the 90s. So, give a more of a rich history. And from what I've seen in five years, I I just don't see the reality of it. Uh, and that's why I'm trying to understand this community development you're speaking of of what affordable housing and I don't even know what affordable housing really is honestly with these with these prices and these costs that I'm hearing and what the reality is and
047what really is in development that's realistic and locations and what's truly possible. >> Yeah. So those are all important things. the the history here has been the the history before more recent like let's say you know from 1990 to whatever you you know when the um 830G legislation sort of came in for years it was a history of in my opinion from what I've read and seen of of resisting affordable housing but I think over the last you know eight to 10 years, there's been more openness from a policy perspective. Um, and from a not just policy, but from from a from a strategy um perspective as to how to increase affordability, add units, that kind of thing. So, you know, Trumbull is making progress. uh you know is it lightning speed progress? Probably not.
048But there's been a number of regulations that have been changed in town that require now you know whether it's 10% 15% or you know other percentages um of affordable units within a development. So, we I think the one on Reservoir Avenue that just got passed, it's 48 units. I believe it was 15% of units, correct me, Jim, if I'm wrong, but 15% of units were are going to be designated affordable housing units. Is that right, Jim? >> Yes, that's my my recollection. Yes. >> Yeah. So, and that's under um you know, so those those units will be designated units within the development. Um that was a long long haul with that project, but I think and for a number of reasons, but you know, I think that initially they were proposing something pretty dense um
049on a property. It's it's sort of an odd property. Um so in terms of shape and topography and stuff. So that project did pass. That project um will most likely be built um you know and has all the all the approvals. The project that got denied um is Jim reminded me back in front of the commission soon. They brought it back. It got denied. They brought it back. The commission will take it up. whether they've resolved all the commission's issues or you know the commission feels they haven't and they deny it again. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't think anybody knows. I think that people are more concerned about the modular construction to me that's my feeling um than in the way it the the type of you know I think that
050they're more concerned about some of those issues and the environmental issues than the actual affordability. I think we were looking at one of the things we were, you know, certainly wanting to see is that the units get added. So, I don't think that, you know, I think that we're going to have to see what happens with that. Um, the Trumbull Center development, the several others, um, the Gateway Com is one I was mentioning, those all have an affordable component, every one of them. Now, is the affordable component huge? No. But it's definitely u multiple projects with affordability in them. Part of the issue is the cost of construction to to add too many affordable units. This is what the developer side it looks at. It it affects their ability to get it you know to
051make the you know the profits and the profitability of the development and especially you know over the last few years where costs and interest rates were up. um you know it was really hard to add affordable units because it's expensive to build them. So you know we are adding them in each development pretty much going forward and recently the mall when we did the resoning for the mall there's a requirement of affordability there for the units. I can't remember if that's 10 or 15% in the zoning rag that we passed. I think it might be 15. I I could be wrong about that, but they're going to be adding units there, too. That hasn't even been built, but we wanted to zone it u before even there was a potential development so that people would
052know we want to have senior housing there and we want a percentage of it to be affordable. So, there are strides being made. We also have probably one of the most progressive accessory apartment um uh laws I mean excuse me stat not statutes laws arena what's your word um you know policies in in the state and we have for a while and we've you know added a lot of units that way and a lot of people are looking at adding those accessory apartments as a second income for their you know their family. So that's a growing um thing that is happening in our community and other communities. So those aren't our only strategies, but those are some of the some of the strategies, some of the progress. Does it does it and could it be
053more? Certainly. Um and I think there's some other things in in the works um you know to that we're looking at as well. So, I don't know if anybody Rodney, if you want to ask me some questions about that. That's basically what's going on. I mean, there was not much in terms of zoning. And up until, you know, 10 years ago, there was really, it was almost like they wanted to throw hot oil and tar on you. >> My bad. um you know so you know it's really opened up a lot but yet we still have concerns about pe you know project density um in you know I have concerns from a as a as a person that owns my own home and and you you know you may have them too you know I
054don't want to see a high-rise built next to a single family home we've seen that in other communities that's not good either you know so we need to be able to balance what's being developed uh in a way that fits into the community. Yeah, maybe it has a little bit, you know, some more density, but not dwarfing other things. That's not that's not good policy, >> my opinion. So, you saw I don't know if folks you might remember on uh Park Avenue and Bridgeport, they built a big dorm there. there. I think it was eight stories and they next to a the residential home, a single family residential home and basically, you know, kind of ruined that that homeowner's property by virtue of that scenario and eventually I think I I can't remember if they
055moved out eventually, but I don't know if anybody remembers that, but that's nothing you want to see. Those kinds of things are really aggressive and not not good. And what it does, in my opinion, it then gives affordable housing a bad name. So then everybody fights everything because they think that's what's coming. So rather than people not even, you know, they've done some good things in Stanford where they've built units, you couldn't tell. They're beautiful units and they're townhouse style or whatever and they're not overly dense. they're they're they're you know great units and they fit into the neighborhood and it's they've done lots of them. Um but you know it doesn't have to be you know it could have some more density but when you start doing that you just put pit the community
056against uh you know the policy uh whether it's state policy or 501 what is it uh what is it I'm trying to remember the name of the statute it's slipping my mind >> 830g thank you um you know and so I don't see that as productive so that's That's my reasoning for it and I've said this for years that that's not productive and I'm in community development and economic development but community development as well and I have been for years. So I think it's got to be addressed. All of these things have to be addressed in my opinion. Does anyone have any questions for me about that? Jim, do you have anything that you wanted to >> No, I think you're covering all covering covering all the bases. >> Yes, you've you've been so generous
057with your time, Rita. Um we are grateful to have had you. Um any questions from from the committee before um we continue on to our old business? >> No, I'll just say really quick that um you you gave us a lot of information to unpack. So, what I could do is um I'mma pass them this since this is a public recording that um they'll be able to watch and listen to what you're saying. So, by the time I be with the resident, >> they can kind of have an idea of what the realities are and then if their questions come from that, then I I'll I'll just email you myself and and talk to you. >> Okay, that sounds good. All right. Well, thank you so much, Reena. Um, we look forward to having you
058back at at some point in the future. Um, and thank you so much for all the time and information you've given us this evening. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. Have a good >> evening. Nice evening. >> Take care. >> Great work. >> All right. Um, so with that, we'll move on to um our old business. And so the first item is our uh survey that we have um approved quite a while ago now um and um was um approved uh or you know shared with the uh first women's office etc. Um and um John and I spoke about the survey um leading up to this meeting and um as you all probably are aware the town has uh a different survey out at this time with relationship to the um potential senior and community
059center. Um and as um you also may know there's been a lot of conversation um about that and um you know perspectives and things like that. Um, and so, um, John and I wanted to share with the committee that, um, kind of given that and and and, um, just sort of like the time of year and such, um, that we may consider holding on our survey until that one has sort of cleared the air um, so that there's not confusion and, um, folks are not uh, sort of mixing and misunderstanding what's what. Uh my understanding is that there are some sort of demographic uh type questions that are part of the survey the town has already administered that perhaps we could um consider in in our work. And so um wanted to float to the
060group um your know your thoughts on whether we uh move ahead with getting it out or we wait a little bit to let the town's um survey kind of clear the air first. When did the town survey go out? >> Um I believe it was in the last maybe week or two. Um that uh I believe it was like a phone call based survey if I'm not mistaken. Um uh in relationship to ongoing thoughts about uh the senior and community center. Jennifer, did you have more information about that? Yeah, they um had a a the Sienna people were administering the survey and it was on about maybe 500 houses, 500 phone numbers they got and they said that would give us an accurate description of feelings on the senior center. So you might not get
061one. I didn't get one, but some of my colleagues did. >> Thank you for that. Um >> so the distribution is different right? >> So the one's phone and ours is not going to be that in that format. Correct. >> Um yes that's correct. Um the intention is that we would build build the survey within survey monkey and uh I think it's still to be determined exactly how we would distribute or disseminate it. Um but it certainly would not be a phone call. That that is correct. Well, if that's the strategy that they're using and that's we're doing a different I don't see the why why why we should wait. >> Okay. Thanks. Other thoughts? >> Yeah, I kind of agree. If the delivery method is different, then I'm not sure there's a environment for
062them to get confused necessarily. If they were if we're using the same methodology, I would certainly stand down and wait a little bit. >> Mhm. >> And it sounds like this other survey is a fairly small sample. >> So, probably not no real conflict. >> Okay. So, um, based on what I'm hearing, uh, we do not see a reason to not move ahead with kind of building and still getting out our community, uh, our community serve that we built. Um, so I will, um, uh, well, I'm sure John will watch the meeting, but we'll also pass that to back back to him. So, um, because I believe he was going to build the survey with, um, the tools through his, uh, his company. So, I will um bring that back to him and hopefully we
063can uh get it moving in and and get it out um sooner than later. So, thanks for that. Um next item of old business is book club. Um actually was uh in touch with Kathleen today. Um we are or have been I'm trying to make sure that we can get uh you know the flyer to uh post and um start to communicate. um that book club is actually um not too far away because it's in June and so I am hopeful that uh there is a a poster that is up at the library about book club. Um but hopefully we can get the little u sort of smaller uh social media version that Kathleen usually shares with us so we can get that out to people. But my understanding is the books I believe are
064available and um so we will kind of get that going and message um that as soon as possible. Um, so it's just maybe about a month or so before, um, that book club comes around again. Uh, and then lastly, um, no new updates to our invitations to future meetings. Um, but currently on the schedule, we have, uh, Joan Littlefield from the health department for our June meeting. Um, Colin Basset from EMS for September, and then Stephen Line from the library for October. Um and so um there you know still a couple of department heads we have not um gotten response for but we'll continue to try to see if we can get them to join our readings. So that is all for old business. Any questions or comments there? Okay with that we'll move to
065new business. There is uh none on the agenda but anyone have anything that they'd like to bring um to the group at this time? Okay, hearing none, that brings us to our last item, which uh requires a motion. >> I move to ajourn. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> All Oh, Rodney, did you want to Was that all in favor or did you Oh, okay. [laughter] if you want to say something. All right, thank you all so much.