The town’s Jan. 4 approval of a controversial redevelopment plan to transform the Timex Corp. property into a 670,000-square-foot distribution center is now headed to court. Middlebury Small Town Alliance, which spearheaded a yearlong fight against the project, this week filed an appeal with Waterbury Superior Court. The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission made errors and approved the application with complete disregard for its own regulations, the lawsuit claims. The lawsuit seeks a reversal of the decision and an order that the PZC instead deny the project. It also requests a temporary restraining order be issued prohibiting any use of the zoning permit, pending completion of the appeal. Middlebury’s opposition to the project has garnered statewide attention and been marked by impassioned residents expressing anger over the town’s inability or unwillingness to halt what they fear will be an a Amazon-like facility, with hundreds of trucks going in and out day and night. Yard signs opposing the “distribution center” still dot the town’s landscape.

https://www.rep-am.com/localnews/2024/01/25/middlebury-headed-to-court-over-timex-plan/

As many as 2.1 million U.S. construction workers were misclassified or paid off the books in 2021, according to a new report from the Century Foundation, a progressive think tank and research group focused on equity in education, healthcare and work. A Department of Labor rule change, effective March 11, will reverse a Trump-era shift and implement a new test for determining if a worker is an employee or independent contractor. One of the reasons why this is also harmful for other employers that aren’t doing this is a law-abiding employer is going to be less competitive than someone who’s able to cut their costs because they’re paying their workers off the books. They’re not paying for workers’ comp or overtime or unemployment insurance taxes; none of those other things that the law-abiding employers are paying for. So it also just undermines the ability to have a competitive market and a level playing field.

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-worker-misclassification-issues/705135/

Key Capture Energy is at the forefront of bringing renewable energy to Connecticut, ahead of the state’s goal of getting all its electricity from zero-carbon sources by 2040. The Albany, New York-based company doesn’t install solar arrays or build offshore wind farms. Its projects are based on land, usually near electric substations. Key Capture develops and installs utility-scale battery energy storage facilities, which take surplus energy from solar and wind sources during peak production, store it and then dispatch it to the electric grid when it’s needed. Under the current system, electricity never gets wasted because the grid operator, ISO-New England, can turn additional power plants on when demand is high, or off when demand is low. However, as an increasing percentage of the state’s power comes from intermittent solar- and wind-powered sources, ISO-New England will rely on battery storage to maintain an adequate power supply. Key Capture has eight energy battery storage projects planned in Connecticut. Two have already received approvals from the Siting Council: one in Windsor Locks and another in East Hampton. These will be the first battery energy storage facilities in Connecticut. The company plans to begin operating both in 2026. The projects are 5 MW, which is roughly enough energy to power 4,000 homes. The batteries can dispatch energy for two hours, Williamson said. Key Capture is planning an additional 5 MW project in Stafford/Willington.

Key Capture’s 400 MW battery energy storage projects seen as key to CT’s renewable energy future

The $70 million project by Massachusetts-based Condyne Capital Partners will include 300,000-square-foot and 120,000-square-foot industrial warehouses that will become 75-85 Baker Hollow Road. The projects are additions to Condyne’s larger Baker Hollow Logistics Center, which features the existing 165,000-square-foot Safelite Auto Glass building at 105 Baker Hollow Road, and another 185,000-square-foot building under construction at 205 Baker Hollow Road off the Day Hill Road industrial corridor. Polar Design Builders is the general contractor on the project, while Alford Associates is the civil engineer. Company officials are now working on permitting and anticipate a groundbreaking this summer.

$70M addition approved for Baker Hollow Logistics Center in Windsor

Officials with the Danish renewable energy company Ørsted said Wednesday they have signed an agreement to acquire the 50 percent ownership stake that Eversource Energy has in Sunrise Wind, an offshore wind farm designed to provide electricity to New York State. Ørsted officials said the deal is contingent on New York State’s ongoing solicitation of offshore wind capacity and the signing of a contract with state officials. If that does not occur, the Eversource-Ørsted joint venture for Sunrise Wind will remain in place and the two partners will reassess their position. If Sunrise Wind is awarded the wind power supply contract under New York State’s current bid, the project is expected to be finished in 2026. Ørsted operates the first wind farm built in the United States, which started operating off the coast of Block Island at the end of 2016. Eversource is Connecticut’s largest electric distribution company, and also has customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/ct-eversource-sunrise-wind-orstede-18626415.php

In the face of climate change impacts and rising sea levels accompanying nearly every rainstorm, Mayor Harry Rilling declared his intention to make Norwalk the greenest city in Connecticut. “We are working on the city’s first sustainability and resilience plan to help address climate change,” Rilling said. “I’m also happy to announce that we will be creating the city’s first Office of Sustainability to help guide and manage these efforts.” Flooding is a prevalent issue in South Norwalk. The city has invested in plans to mitigate flooding, but more will need to be done to keep South Norwalk dry as the sea level continues to rise, experts say. A department created under Rilling, Norwalk’s Transportation, Mobility, and Parking, has been focused on enhancing pedestrian connectivity within the city. From 2021 to 2022, Norwalk doubled its amount of sidewalks.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/mayor-rilling-harry-transform-norwalk-green-18615245.php

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved construction of a 122-room hotel on Boston Post Road despite concerns by some commissioners and residents about the project’s effect on the neighborhood. Project attorney William Sweeney had originally proposed the four-story, extended-stay Woodspring Suites hotel to the commission last November on behalf of New Jersey-based Seven Hills Hospitality Group. It will be built on four parcels of land ― 16 and 18 Boston Post Road, owned by Silverman Realty Group, and 295 and 313 Willetts Ave., owned by the Londregan Commercial Real Estate Group. Combined, the parcels total 4.5 acres on the New London city line. Engineer Shaun Kelly, who conducted the traffic study for the project, said traffic delays would be hardly noticeable to drivers. He said during peak morning and afternoon hours, the hotel would generate an estimated 41 to 44 additional cars, and that based on existing traffic patterns, most traffic would funnel onto Boston Post Road.

https://www.theday.com/local-news/20240124/waterford-approves-plan-for-122-room-extended-stay-hotel/

Ben Barnes said he had a presentation, put together in response to a request from the Zoning Board, quantifying “major areas in which real estate development and, in particular, development of multifamily housing, impacts city finances.” It’s not surprising that Barnes, Stamford’s director of administration, was asked to explain the link between development and the city’s fiscal condition. The Zoning Board, which rarely rejects projects, has been getting pushback from residents who’ve been reacting to 15 years of intense development. City data shows that Stamford built more than 13,000 apartments in the last 13 years. The problem is that they are nearly all high-rent and drawing people from outside Stamford who can afford to pay, said David Adams, a Stamford resident who listened to Barnes’ presentation.

Barnes Pitches Benefits of New Housing and Development to Stamford Zoning Board

Nearly $700,000 in state funds would allow the Town of Wallingford to build a pedestrian bridge as part of it Linear Trail improvement project. The funding – $690,000 – comes from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the purpose of expanding a portion of the Quinnipiac River Linear Trail. The span pedestrian bridge would be built at the trailhead of Fireworks Island on the Quinnipiac River, adjacent to Main Street. Currently, the trailhead is accessible only via a privately-owned vehicle bridge. The money from DEEP was provided via the Urban Act Grant Program, which allocates funds to eligible municipalities that are considered economically distressed, and uses money for a range of economic development, transportation, recreation, and other social services projects.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/recordjournal/article/wallingford-pedestrian-bridge-linear-trail-18623772.php

Representatives for Hartford-based Lexington Partners and officials with the outlet center went before the town’s Zoning commission on Monday night to do a pre-application presentation of their plans. The $425 million project that is being proposed would include 595 apartments, 100 town homes, a 100-room hotel and 75,000 square feet of retail space and restaurants on the 49.7 acre property on Flat Rock Place, Town Planner Peter Gillespie said Tuesday. Right now, the biggest hurdle for the project, according to Gillespie, is whether the developers will be able to get permission from state officials to build a community septic system to service the massive mixed-use development. Records filed with the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office at the time identified the principal of T Westbrook Center LLC as Hoche Partners Real Estate, which is a U.S. affiliate of a French company. Reilly said he envisions a broad mix of people living in the Westbrook mixed-use complex.

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/westbrook-tanger-outlets-redevelopment-18623827.php