Middlebury EDC reviews commercial-property index; members discuss Chemtura site's redevelopment and sports-complex idea

Commissioner John Gagas presented preliminary work on a Middlebury commercial-property index at the Sept. 28 Economic Development Commission meeting, saying the current inventory is "based primarily on properties actively marketed for sale" and that a more useful inventory should include all commercially and industrially zoned parcels, including those not currently listed.

First Selectwoman Jennifer Mahr agreed to obtain additional property information from the Assessor to support an expanded inventory. Members discussed redevelopment options for vacant or underutilized parcels and referenced regional programs, including so-called "grayfield" funding intended for sites that need investment or reconfiguration but not necessarily environmental remediation.

The discussion singled out the large former Chemtura property that extends through portions of Middlebury, Southbury and Oxford. Commissioners noted that cross-municipal zoning coordination would be significant for any large-scale reuse. Ms. Mahr suggested the area "might also accommodate a regional sports complex incorporating indoor and outdoor facilities and related commercial uses," and members discussed public-private approaches, but no project, financing plan or development proposal was approved or endorsed.

The commission agreed to review proposed zoning revisions from an economic-development perspective and to follow up once additional property-level data from the Assessor and records provided by Commissioner McAuliffe were available.