Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1111
AN ACT AMENDING A CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF STATE LAND IN THE
Title: TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
Vote Date: 5/19/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 5/14/2021
File No.: 768
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:
To amend a prior conveyance of a parcel of state land in the town of Fairfield to the town of
Fairfield to change the purpose and permit the sale or lease of the parcel.
Response from Administration/Agency:
Joseph Giulietti, Commissioner, Department of Transportation:
The Department opposes the bill as written and asks that it be amended to require
conveyance at a cost equal to the fair market value of the property, rather than to the
administrative costs.
Senator Tony Hwang, Connecticut General Assembly:
This bill will allow the municipal leaders of Fairfield to create housing opportunities and foster
economic development. Fairfield is eager to recover from the economic devastation resulting
from the pandemic; Sen. Hwang is requesting that the town will be allowed to facilitate future
development initiatives with local government input that is consistent with that goal.
Nature and Sources of Support:
Mark Barnhart, Director of Community & Economic Development, Town of Fairfield:
The Town of Fairfield is seeking a modification to Special Act 01-6, through which they
acquired title to former State property at 488 Tunxis Hill Road, to allow the sale or lease of
the property to spur neighborhood revitalization efforts and to facilitate redevelopment. The
parcel comprises less than a third of an acre, and is improved with a single-story, 9800sf
building which had once been used by the Towns Department of Public Works for storage
but is now a dilapidated eyesore which cannot serve its original purpose. Removing this
restriction would enable redevelopment to produce tax revenues to the Town and sales
revenues to the State and address more pressing community needs, including housing.
Nature and Sources of Opposition:
None expressed.
Reported by: Dallas Emerle Date: 5-19-21
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