Planning commission recommends favorable lease for 32 City Hall Ave to relieve office overflow

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 15 voted to deliver a favorable recommendation to the City Council for the proposed lease of 32 City Hall Avenue for additional city office space.

City planner Jeremy Lightford read the referral from the Oct. 6 City Council meeting, noting the property is in the DD Downtown District, comprises 0.21 acres (about 9,148 square feet), and contains a 1972 brick office building that is currently vacant. The referral asked the planning commission to report under Connecticut General Statutes §8‑24; staff concluded the proposed office use is an as‑of‑right use under zoning regulation section 3.1, subsection 18 (city buildings and uses).

Lightford recommended a favorable report to the council, saying the proposed lease would continue office use in the downtown district and align with the Plan of Conservation and Development’s community facilities goals. The commission voted to make a favorable recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote.

The transcript does not specify lease length or lease terms; Lightford said those details were not provided in the referral packet. The commission’s action is limited to the statutory 8‑24 review and does not approve lease terms, which remain subject to City Council action.