WATERBURY — The city is hoping for a clean archaeological report next month on a 167.2-acre property it’s trying to develop on its border with Naugatuck.
An archaeological study, overseen by consultant Milone & MacBroom, is one of the last hurdles before the city can claim a $2.8 million state grant to develop a roadway and push utilities into the site.
The city has long sought to develop the large property it owns on either side of the Naugatuck border. It recently reached an agreement with Naugatuck that would allow access from the borough to realize the hope of new tax revenue. The plan is to create a shovel-ready site and sell the property to a developer who would build.
The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development won’t release the money until it’s certain there will be no damage to sensitive environmental or archaeological resources. The city’s development arm, the Waterbury Development Corp., hired Milone & MacBroom to a $27,400 contract for that review in June.
A subcontractor who performed the initial archaeological review — researching known history of the site — called for field tests involving digging. In September, the Waterbury Development Corp. board of directors approved $22,000 for the additional work, said attorney Gary O’Connor, who represents the city’s development agency.
A final report is due back Dec. 28. Early indications from the consultant look good, said interim WDC CEO James Nardozzi.
“At this time, I’m not anticipating any problems,” Nardozzi said.
Once the site review comes back clean, the city needs to select a developer and design, according to DECD spokesman Jim Watson. The state agency will have to sign off on the land sale before the state money is released, Watson said.
