Business Park North continues to advance despite the February denial of a zoning amendment by the City Council and the concerns of neighborhood residents.
According to the Community Investment Fund 2030 Board’s March 14 agenda, the city will receive $11.391 million from the state’s Community Investment Fund (CIF) 2030, which will be used primarily to develop the arterial route through the new business park, a bike lane, bus stops, and utilities.
The funding for the arterial road includes 2,700 linear feet of the total 7,700 linear feet that are proposed. Kevin Brown, president of the Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC), stated that the financed road will provide access to the lots east of Canterbury Turnpike and a couple to the west.
The investment provides a significant boost to the project’s feasibility, according to Brown.
“Everyone has been seeing the progress of this initiative and thinking, ‘How can you achieve any of this without funding?'” he stated.
Matt Pugliese, head of the Community Investment Fund for the Department of Economic and Community Development, stated that the CIF Board examined the project’s shovel-readiness and great potential for future investment and jobs.
While the city has already spent $4.7 million in the project, the grant enables Norwich to identify more partners for the project, with the ultimate objectives of creating employment and increasing utility sales and tax income, according to Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom.
Business Park North will benefit taxpayers in Norwich.
“When this is constructed over the next seven, eight, or nine years, it will greatly benefit Norwich’s taxpayers,” he added.
While the City Council did not adopt the proposed Business Master Plan District zoning plan, the site for Business Park North was already commercially zoned, so the city may still seek out prospective developers to access parcels, according to Brown.
Cathy Osten, a state senator, stated that Business Park North is expected to provide thousands of jobs to the city and help the component side of the offshore wind business as well as Electric Boat contractors.
“Two very major companies want room for their subcontractors to relocate,” she added.
What impact does this have on the region?
New zoning for the second business park in Norwich fails
Even though there was considerable opposition from the Occum neighborhood, local authorities claim they are close to reaching an agreement with the inhabitants.
Brown stated that since NCDC began communicating with Norwich locals about the project in November, it is willing to receive comments and reach a mutually acceptable resolution.
“We weren’t too far apart after our previous meeting,” he added.
Several locals have expressed support for the redevelopment of the ancient farms, with qualifiers such as “I don’t want to see eight-story structures or anything along those lines.”
Change might be frightening, but the community must maintain communication with the city on the Business Park North project, according to Nystrom.
“I want to continue working with them,” he stated.
The community will have input on how each parcel of Business Park North is utilized, as the Commission on the City Plan will ensure that each developer adheres to zoning regulations, according to Brown.
Business Park North’s further actions
For the future of Business Park North, NCDC is simultaneously working on three measures. One is obtaining clearance from the Office of the State Traffic Administration for the arterial route. Brown stated that the city must also notify federal partners of the state funds so that federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equality Discretionary Awards may be sought for and utilized for I-395 exit ramps.
The final step involves marketing the offer to firms. Brown stated that he has attracted the attention of the developing offshore wind sector, as well as other local and international business partners, since the city requires land that is suitable for commercial development.