A developer is looking to build more than 150 homes on the site of the Gutt Farm and is proposing to set aside 20% as affordable housing.
J-RAC Development LLC’s plan would put up a mix of three-bedroom townhouses and duplexes on most of the 38-acre historic Glastonbury farm between Addison Road and Eastern Boulevard.
The fourth generation of the Gutt family is operating the farm this season, and this month was advertising zucchini and cucumbers. But it has been trying for years to sell part of the land, and last year reached a deal with J-RAC to transfer the entire property.
J-RAC had last November informally proposed 128 three-bedroom duplexes in 64 buildings, with 18 set aside as affordable — or 14% of the total, in compliance with town requirements.
After gauging reactions from the town council, the planning and zoning commission and the public, J-RAC put forward a revised plan in May that included 110 duplexes in 55 buildings, along with 31 townhouses — a total of 141 units. It would have set aside 20 units as affordable, still at the 14% level.
Addison Road homeowners organized opposition, complaining that new traffic would be dangerous. Other residents lamented the likely demolition of the historic red barn that can be seen from Addison.
Rather than pursue that plan, the company returned to town officials last week with a third version.
“This plan proposes 157 units: that’s 50 three-bedroom duplexes and 57 three-bedroom townhomes,” attorney Andrea Gomes of the Hinckley Allen firm told town officials.
That’s significantly denser than the previous versions, but zoning rules are less restrictive for projects that include at least 20% affordable housing. Gomes noted Glastonbury’s planned area development regulation would allow as many as 199 units on the Gott site, 42 more than J-RAC proposes.
To reach the 20% level, J-RAC is offering to set aside 32 homes as attainable by individuals or families earning no more than 80% of the area median income. As of April, that would be a maximum salary of $70,950 for one person, $81,050 for a couple and $91,200 for three people, according to the Glastonbury Housing Authority.
To meet neighbors’ concerns about Addison Road traffic, J-RAC is proposing all routine car and truck access be via Eastern Boulevard. The company would also cluster the complex’s amenities on the land bordering Eastern.
An Addison Road accessway would be only for cyclists and pedestrians, and a connector to Mill Street would be restricted to emergency vehicles.
The company proposes donating about 3 acres along Addison Road to the town.
“It will preserve the viewshed and also allow the town to preserve the red barn and the home that are currently along the Addison Road frontage,” Gomes said.
The company has not yet specified whether the homes would be sold or leased, but Trifiro Circle resident Rob Dakers told the council and zoning commissioners that the project would be a win for Glastonbury.
“The proposal looks to both meet our severe need — especially with 20% of the units being set aside as affordable in perpetuity — while also being responsive to the need for a well-thought-out, sustainable development that addresses the priority concerns of all involved,” he said.
Dakers said a new organization called the Glastonbury Friends of Housing is supporting expansion of the town’s housing stock.
“We’ve studied and heard personal stories about the impacts of our severe housing shortage, rapidly rising costs, and lack of housing options on young adults and families, seniors, needed workers and volunteers, and our economy,” he told officials.
The J-RAC proposal will have a series of municipal reviews in the months ahead.