Shortly before a highly anticipated public meeting Monday evening about its ideas for a sprawling residential development, Crown Equities abruptly dropped out — a decision that stops the project from advancing until September at soonest. The Minneapolis-based developer in mid-June showed preliminary plans for nearly 300 apartments and townhouses during an informal talk with the Farmington Planning and Zoning Commission. Last week, it put forward a revision with just 228 units, all rental or ownership townhouses and single-family homes. Commissioners on June 23 raised questions, particularly about the impact on school enrollments. Moderate-income Connecticut suburbs have grown increasingly wary of large residential projects likely to draw families, since the state provides relatively little education aid compared to what it gives poor suburbs and large cities. Farmington reported spending a little under $20,200 per pupil in 2022-23, and its enrollment currently hovers around 4,100. Last week, Crown Equities submitted a report from one of its consultants, Goman + York, concluding that the impact of the 228-unit plan would be about 50 new students.
Developer downsizes huge CT housing complex on river, drops out of talks