Cornwall receives state funds to assess lot for potential housing

CORNWALL — As part of a $20 million state initiative to support remediation and redevelopment of blighted properties, Cornwall was awarded $200,000 for assessment of the 12-acre parcel at 282 Kent Rd..

Cornwall’s Board of Selectmen discussed the announcement at its Dec. 17 meeting. First Selectman Gordon Ridgway explained the funds will be delivered to the Northwest Hills Council of Governments to assess of the property.

Gov. Ned Lamont (D) approved the funds in December. Money will be released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program.

The testing will check for contamination issues and determine feasibility for redevelopment for affordable housing.

The vacant property at 282 Kent Rd. was sold by the Town of Cornwall in a tax lien auction in October 2023. It was bought by David Berto on behalf of the Cornwall Housing Corporation.

Ginni Block, president of the Cornwall Housing Corporation, said that the CHC has an option to purchase the property from Berto, who is a grant writer for affordable housing opportunities in the region. If the environmental assessment verifies feasibility, CHC intends to work with Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunities to develop the lot.

On Feb. 22, CHC plans to hold a site walk at 282 Kent Rd., which will be followed by a group discussion at Cornwall Library.

Composting

Cornwall has applied with the state for permits to begin a composting program at the Transfer Station.

The application package was submitted Dec. 18 along with 25 letters of support, including one from State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64).

Per state regulations, leaf composting is a necessary precursor to food scrap composting. Once the leaf program is established at the Cornwall Transfer Station, food scraps can begin to be mixed in. This requirement has delayed the start of Cornwall’s composting program, which was conceptualized more than a year ago.

Once the program is up and running, Ridgway said the town hopes to divert 100 tons of food scraps out of the waste stream annually.