Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1110
AN ACT AMENDING THE CONVEYANCE OF PARCELS OF STATE LAND TO
Title: THE NEW HAVEN PORT AUTHORITY.
Vote Date: 5/19/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 5/14/2021
File No.: 740
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
Sponsors of the Bill:
The Government Administration and Elections Committee
Reasons for Bill:
This bill will amend a prior conveyance to reduce the purchase price for parcels of state land
by the cost of environmental testing and remediation of the parcel for contamination on the
parcels.
Response from Administration/Agency:
Joseph Giulietti, Commissioner, Department of Transportation:
The Department is opposed to this bill. Section 6 of Public Act 18-154 requires that this
property be sold to the New Haven Port Authority (NHPA) for fair market value based upon
the average of two appraisals. As written, the bill requires the cost of environmental testing
and remediation be deducted from the sale price. The Department does not believe that the
property outlined in the bill is an Establishment pursuant to the Connecticut Transfer Act.
There is no Required Remediation Orders issued from the Department of Energy and
Environmental Protection (DEEP) and there are no significant environmental hazards present
at the site. A conveyance for less than fair market value not approved by Federal Highway
Administration would require the state to reimburse FHWA the federal share of the value of
the property. If passed, additional funding will be needed to reimburse FHWA.
Melissa McCaw, Secretary, Office of Policy and Management:
OPM is opposed to this bill. Any conveyance should be for fair market value, which assumes
no environmental concerns. No orders for remediation have been filed by DEEP and the
parcels are not believed to be deemed establishments under the Transfer Act. The Federal
Highway Administration requires DOT to obtain fair market value. Approval of this bill would
contradict the FHWA requirement and would establish a precedent that all state-owned
properties sold by the state would require the state to pay for all remediation and due
diligence costs, including testing, which is standard for the buyer to pay for.
Nature and Sources of Support:
Maggie Targove, Executive Director, New Haven Port Authority:
They support this bill so long as it is amended to accommodate the construction of a
warehouse and commercial building on the adjacent property located at 85 Kendall Street.
Plans for the development of the Kendall Street property have already been reviewed and
approved by the New Haven City Plan Commission. The addition of 135 Fulton Terrace and
54 Edgemere Street will allow for an expanded building foot print and increase off-street
parking. The construction of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge required the acquisition of
several properties displacing businesses from the port district and reducing New Havens
grand list, and this development will help to mitigate some of those losses.
Nature and Sources of Opposition:
None expressed.
Reported by: Dallas Emerle Date: 5-19-21
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