by Susan MacEachron

The proposed Haystack Woods affordable housing development is under review by the Inland Wetlands Agency and Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). The original plan for 19 homes to be built in two phases with a private road for access was approved several years ago. P&Z created a special overlay zone to accommodate the plan for cluster housing on the 38-acre site off of Old Colony Rd.

The town of Norfolk applied for funding from the state under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the road, sewer and water connections. These grants are federal funds distributed and administered by individual states. First Selectman Matt Riiska said he had submitted the funding request over a year ago. In subsequent discussions with the state authorities it was made clear to Riiska that the grant would only be approved if the town agreed to build a town road. The more stringent requirements for town roads required new approvals from Wetlands and P&Z.

The other change from the prior approval is that the Foundation for Norfolk Living is now requesting approval for 10 single family homes originally contemplated in Phase 1. There is no approval being sought for Phase 2 at this time. Kate Johnson, president of the foundation, said at most there might be a couple of duplexes built in a subsequent development. Johnson said the 10-home community will include a mix of three housing designs: one story/two bedroom, one and a half story/three bedroom, two story/three bedroom. The homes will be built on concrete slabs and will be very energy efficient. Each house will have a carport space which will allow for tandem parking.

In response to a question at the July 13 P&Z meeting, Johnson said she does not have a final answer as to how many of the homes will be affordable vs. market rate. She said the foundation would like to see all 10 homes sold as affordable, but the final terms will be dictated by the funding sources, although there is a requirement that no less than 30 percent must be affordable to obtain the CDBG funding. Funding for the construction of the homes will come from the Connecticut Department of Housing and from a construction loan which will be paid down as the homes are sold. Johnson hopes to attract some private individual funding for the project and noted that the cost of installing solar panels on the carports could be a project with local appeal.