The views stated here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received February 28, 2024.
I attended 3 of the 4 public meetings on the Rossi property, most recently on Saturday. From the beginning, I have questioned why storage units are included in the proposal. My understanding is that we are redeveloping Higganum Town Center to “transform” it to encourage people to live there and new businesses to come in. I don’t think building indoor and outdoor storage will accomplish this goal.
In the newest proposal, the developer plans to build 60 units of indoor and 20 outdoor storage space and 100 parking spaces. The outdoor units will be fenced, where customers can park RVs, trucks, boats, motorcycles, jet skis and the like. Unfortunately, the presentation on Saturday said that the storage facilities are “a key component” of the redevelopment plan and are needed to make the plan financially feasible.
Current zoning laws prohibit storage units in Higganum Village. For this proposal to proceed, P&Z would need to grant a variance that would allow building storage units. Importantly, such a variance would mean that the Town would allow building them in the whole village, not just the
Rossi property. Since the town is eager to receive the State’s $1.5 million grant money, this will put tremendous pressure on P&Z to grant the variance.
This raises additional concerns. First, if P&Z were to vote no to storage units, how would the developer respond? Developers can be very litigious (just do a Google search using the developer’s names and real estate, Connecticut). Secondly, if P&Z were to vote yes, will the developer build the storage units before it builds the housing it proposes? This would likely satisfy the Town’s requirement that it make a $3 million investment to gain title to the property.
Importantly, once the developer invests the $3 million, the deed transfers to the developer, Haddam no longer owns or has full control over the property, and the developer would not be required to build any housing.
Haddam citizens were told when we bought the Rossi property that we should buy it so we could “control our destiny.” Haddam taxpayers paid $2.5 million for it. We need to see a project that will revitalize Higganum Center. This proposal, with a preponderance of storage units,
outdoor storage, paved asphalt, and the Town Garage staying in place, will make it ugly and uninviting for generations to come.
Haddam has much to be proud about: its natural beauty and recreational opportunities, its unmatched historic architecture, and the highest per capita income in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Haddam can do better than this proposal. The Connecticut real estate market has improved markedly in recent years. The town can ask for an extension or re-apply for a grant. Let’s find a developer with a better vision for Higganum Village. I will be voting NO on 5 March.
Sandra McCurdy
Higganum
