Officials eye feasibility of undisclosed development

Norwich OKs $250K from utility agency

Norwich — The utilities commission Tuesday night authorized spending up to $250,000 to study an undisclosed “very interesting potential development opportunity,” as new Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose described it Wednesday.

The vote came after the commission discussed the proposal in executive session Tuesday night. LaRose and city officials with knowledge of the potential development said they could not discuss details or identify the location of any proposed plan.

The resolution calls for NPU to reach a funding agreement with the Norwich Community Development Corp., the city’s economic development agency, for use of the approved $250,000. The resolution contains no details of how the funding would be used, but LaRose said Wednesday the funding would be used for engineering and financial analysis in connection with the potential development.

NCDC would oversee hiring consultants to do the appropriate studies, LaRose said. NCDC President Robert Mills also declined to comment Wednesday.

If it comes to fruition, the project could include extending city utility infrastructure along roadways and onto property, LaRose said. The resolution approved Tuesday night referred to NPU’s desire to “promote economic development in the City of Norwich in order to generate expanded utility consumption and increased revenue.”

LaRose and Mayor Peter Nystrom, who declined to comment on the funding or potential development, said more information could be revealed this fall on the study and the potential development.

Utilities commission Chairman Robert Staley, a member of the board’s newly formed Economic Development Committee, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Fellow Economic Development Committee member Steve Becker also said he could not discuss the project at this time.