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January 27, 2023

Environmental concerns stall Tweed parking expansion 

PHOTO | MICHELLE TUCCITTO SULLO Tweed Airport in New Haven.
By Liese Klein

Residents with concerns about runoff and the water-quality impact of increased parking at Tweed New Haven Airport prompted the New Haven City Plan Commission on Wednesday to delay a vote on a plan to add 34 spots to an existing paved lot.

After nearly four hours of discussion, the commission voted to hold open a public hearing and delay a vote on the proposal pending further environmental fact-finding on the airport’s plan. 

The commission approved a plan in October to add 203 parking spaces at Tweed, but the airport came back to ask for 34 additional spots in an existing paved lot, requiring the moving of a fence. Work began on the expansion before the airport got formal approval, prompting a city zoning official to issue a cease-and-desist order.

A second cease-and-desist order was issued in December when city officials noted “unpermitted parking” at the airport, including on grassy areas. 

Tweed operator Avports has asked for additional parking as the airport handles increased traffic due to the growth of Avelo Airlines, which maintains its East Coast hub in New Haven.

Andrew King, a communication and engagement consultant for Avports, told the commission that the company was working to address concerns from residents. 

“We operate an airport, and there will be times where there are growing pains as the airport services more members of the community,” King said. 

City Plan Commission Chair Leslie Radcliffe said that additional environmental study of the airport’s parking plan would help address concerns. 

“I think that's where we are, and the request to have more reporting would answer a lot of questions that we commissioners have concerning the effect on the environment,” Radcliffe said. 

Earlier in the meeting, a resident petitioned to act as an “intervenor” on the parking proposal under the state’s environmental laws, giving opponents of the plan more power to question Tweed officials. The intervenor petition failed to win the votes needed to proceed.

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
 

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