The preliminary plans for the development, showing the Kent Green Boulevard extension as a central, tree-lined corridor for the neighborhood. The plans show three 12-unit walkup buildings and 10 four-unit stacked flats for a total of 76 units.
KENT — A pre-application presentation for a new high-density housing development in downtown Kent was well-received by the Planning and Zoning Commission at its July 10 meeting, which considered it to be potentially a major step forward in diversifying the town’s housing options.
The plans as they currently stand call for 76 total units spread over three 12-unit walkup buildings and 10 four-unit stacked flats.
The property is owned by Kent Development Housing Associates. James Millstein, head of the group, offered an overview of the proposal to P&Z, explaining that the development is intended to address a multitude of shortages in the town’s housing stock. “The town is desperately in need of more housing. Affordable housing, workforce housing and housing for people who want to downsize and stay in town,” he said.
The Commission responded positively to the proposal. Chair Wes Wyrick said that this type of density development was what P&Z had in mind when establishing the downtown housing incentive overlay zone. “With this I feel we have something we can work with.”
Commissioner Shelby Green said, “it’s something sorely needed in Kent,” and described the project as “well-conceived.”
P&Z member Sarah Chase commended the proposal’s “alliance with the aesthetic of the town.”
The pre-application meeting was intended to garner preliminary feedback from P&Z and gauge its willingness to amend the housing incentive overlay zone.
The current zoning allows for single and dual-family buildings to be built within its boundaries. Millstein said that in order to maintain the green and rural village aesthetic of the neighborhood, the project would have to mitigate its construction footprint by including up to 12 units per building.
Of the 76 proposed units, 20% are planned to be designated affordable housing available exclusively for those earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income. Another 20% of the units will be held as rentals, while the rest will be homeownership opportunities.
Millstein estimated the development could house approximately 120-150 residents.
Commissioner Darryl Cherniske said that he felt 76 units strikes a fair balance between accommodating for density housing and maintaining open space.
Jeremy Lake of Union Studio Architects and Design, the Providence-based firm handling the configuration of the proposed development, presented the specs to P&Z. He described a “walkable mixed-income neighborhood that integrates naturally into the broader village fabric of Kent.” He noted the elongation of Kent Green Boulevard so it connects to Maple Street Extension will further a sense of a unified downtown.
Lake said he’s particularly excited about designing “the spaces between the buildings – that’s where the community design aspect comes into play.”
First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer, who was also present at the meeting, lauded the preliminary designs and said the project has the capacity to “achieve something really spectacular for our town and for the region.”
Lindenmayer stated his desire to see the unoccupied building currently on the property converted to a recreational center for both residents of the new neighborhood and the broader town. This has been a point of mild contention with Millstein and the development team who say the facility would take away some of the greens space they’ve fought to preserve.
Still, Lindenmayer pushed that a recreation center, with a gym, year-round pool and other amenities, fulfills a parallel task to housing development in fortifying the town’s public offerings to support its current and future residents. “They need somewhere to live but they also need somewhere to recreate” and stay healthy, he argued.
Lindenmayer was highly supportive of the plan as a whole though, describing it as a prudent use of a unique development opportunity in Kent that “most of the towns in this area will not be able to replicate,” lacking 12 acres of developable and open land adjacent to downtown.
Having received the Commission’s input, the team behind the development will develop a petition for a further alteration to the housing incentive zone, and eventually return before P&Z with a complete application.
CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.
CVFD’s Ian Ridgway sat on the truck committee and said Greenwood was not just chosen for the price, but also for the design of each vehicle. He said their models had a shorter wheelbase and more ground clearance, as well as extra storage space on board, compared to the next best bid.
After $100,000 in discounts offered by Greenwood, the combined purchase price for both vehicles was shown to be $1,200,408. The delivery time was estimated at 15 months.
CVFD raised $600,000 during its recent fundraising campaign, of which $500,000 will be given to the town to buy the trucks. That figure will be paired with $720,000 in town truck fund reserves. The additional donated funds will be used to outfit the trucks with equipment and tools.
“I want to praise the town of Cornwall,” said CVFD President Dick Sears. “We’re able to buy these beautiful new pieces of equipment courtesy of the tremendous citizenry of this town.”
FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.
She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.
Robin loved the beach, sunshine, and gardening, and was known for her strength, humor, and unwavering support of those she loved.
She is survived by her daughter, Sierra R. Zinke, and brothers, Darren Roy and Todd Roy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sharon Thomkins Roy and Robert Roy, and her brother Nevin Roy.
No services will be held at this time.
SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.
At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.
“Mike” loved the sun, sand and water and spent many summers at Westport Point, Massachusetts with the kids and their best friends, the Bauers.She was the consummate hostess, and a wonderful cook.She also appeared in several plays with The Sherman Players and also a show or two on special occasions at The Kent Community House.She took enjoyment from working outdoors doing chores around her home in North Kent.She lived in that house until she sold it and bought a condominium on North Main Street in Kent in May of 2003.She lived in the condo until 2018 after which her light began to fade and her last 8 years were spent comfortably at Noble Horizons.
“Mike” leaves behind her children, Richard (Susan) of Lakeville, her daughter Nancy Rutledge (Jim) of Salisbury; two grandchildren, Chandra Gerrard (Sean) of Litchfield, Matthew (Larissa) of Lakeville; three great grandchildren, Addison, Emilia and Everett, all of Lakeville.
She was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Caroline in 2020.
All services are private.The Ryan Funeral Home, 255 Main St., Lakeville, is in charge of arrangements.
To offer an online condolence, please visit ryanfhct.com
SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.
Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in June. Memorial contributions may be made to Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury and Scoville Memorial Library.
The Kenny Funeral Home has care of arrangements.
