Suffield to Discuss Ffyler Place Development Wednesday

The future of the 30-acre Ffyler Place property, including a former lumberyard and the town’s highway garage, are on the docket for Wednesday night’s public forum.

Suffield Director of Economic and Community Development Patrick McMahon said that hosting such a meeting is important for town officials to “seek resident feedback regarding conceptual plans and what (residents) would like to see out of the development.”

The 30-acre area includes 3.5 acres of town-owned land, which is home to the Suffield highway garage, with the additional nearly 27 acres having been home to a former lumberyard. 

In 2004, the land was rezoned from Industrial to Town Center Village District. The new zoning designation allows the 30-acres to be developed with a mix of retail, office and housing components.

"This is a key area to help create a vibrant center for the community and help generate new property tax revenue. (An) analysis suggests that residential apartments, medical office, local serving retail and a pharmacy use are appropriate for this property," McMahon said.

In September, voters approved a grant of $500,000 from the state to repave and redesign Ffyler Place Drive into a nicely landscaped and lighted street that would attract business to develop the area.

During Wednesday’s meeting, McMahon will talk a bit more about the property’s background, while Rob Camoin of Camoin Associates, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., will present the results of a recent market analysis and study his firm has completed. The study suggests that the property is best suited for mix-use type of development, such as medical offices, retail and residential apartments.

The study was funded, in part, by a $10,000 grant from the Connecticut Main Street Center's "Preservation of Place" program, according to McMahon.