Cromwell Town Council Approves Red Lion Site Tax Abatement Transfer, Adds Parks Position

Town Council · Meeting of May 13, 2026

CT CROMWELL — Cromwell Town Council clears the way for demolition of the former Red Lion Hotel. The council voted unanimously at its May 13 special meeting to transfer a tax abatement agreement for 100 Berlin Road from Lexington Partner Group to Alpine Residential LLC, the state's largest apartment owner, which is proposing 267 units, 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and an amenity building on the long-vacant gateway site. Attorney Megan Hope told the council Alpine plans to close on the property in July, pull a demolition permit by September 1, and target certificates of occupancy in September 2028; the assessed value of land and improvements during the abatement period is set at $26,170,000, stepping from 10 percent taxation in year three to full taxation after year ten, yielding the town $603,427.86 annually by year nine.

The council also unanimously approved Town Manager Tony's appointment of Ginger Frasca — roughly 35 years of public-sector HR experience — as the town's new Human Resources Director, and approved converting two seasonal parks positions into a single full-time grounds maintainer role, with Director of Public Works Lou Spina citing Affordable Care Act hour restrictions as forcing a reduction in seasonal staff precisely when fall maintenance peaks. The Board of Finance set the mill rate at 29.28 mills, a 1.95-mill increase of nearly 7 percent, driven by $800,000 in new middle school debt, a $750,000 grand list loss from the Covenant Living settlement, and rising health insurance costs.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,094 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of May 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

CROMWELL — May 13, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to transfer a tax abatement agreement for 100 Berlin Road from Lexington Partner Group to Alpine Residential LLC, clearing the way for a $26-million-assessed mixed-use development on the site of the former Red Lion Hotel.

The council also approved a new full-time parks and grounds position while tabling a stormwater drainage decision at Cromwell's sports fields pending a joint meeting with the Board of Finance.

The Full Story

Attorney Megan Hope of Alter, Pearson, and Hope in Glastonbury presented on behalf of Alpine Residential LLC, the contract purchaser for 100 Berlin Road and the adjacent 15 R Christian Hill Road. She told the council that the original tax abatement agreement, approved by the town council on October 17, 2023, allowed for transfer with council consent under paragraph 8 of that agreement. Town Attorney Carrie Olson reviewed the amended transfer agreement and gave clearance for it to proceed to a vote, Hope said.

Alpine is proposing a mixed-use project consisting of 267 apartments in two buildings, roughly 10,000 square feet of commercial space along Berlin Road, a nearly 10,000-square-foot amenity building, and walking trails on the Christian Hill parcel. The unit mix includes 29 studios, 124 one-bedrooms, 98 two-bedrooms, and 16 three-bedrooms. Under the terms carried over from the prior agreement, 10 percent of all units must be affordable at 80 percent of area median income. The assessed value of land and improvements during the abatement period is set at $26,170,000. That assessed value steps up from 10 percent taxation in year three to full taxation after year ten. By year nine, the town would receive $603,427.86 annually under the schedule.

Hope said Alpine plans to close on the property in July, begin demolition of the hotel and parking garages shortly after, and target certificates of occupancy in September 2028. The first permit to be pulled will be a demolition permit, and Hope said Alpine expects to meet or beat the agreement's September 1 deadline for that initial permit.

"Please tear it down as soon as you possibly can." [No timestamp index supplied] — Council member Brian Bonneau

The council also voted unanimously to eliminate two seasonal positions in the Public Works parks and grounds division and hire a full-time parks and grounds maintainer who will float to other town buildings during the off-season. Director of Public Works Lou Spina told the council that Affordable Care Act restrictions effectively force the town to cut seasonal workers' hours in August — precisely when fall grounds maintenance ramps up. He said a full-time hire would also reduce annual recruiting and training costs. Town Manager Tony said there is sufficient funding in the current fiscal year and the next to support the position, and that the relevant union is in agreement.

"You don't know what you're going to get every year. Sometimes you get really good employees and sometimes not so good." [No timestamp index supplied] — Director of Public Works Lou Spina

On the stormwater drainage question, Spina presented data from a groundwater monitoring study conducted with consultant Weston and Sampson since January 22. Nine dry wells were identified across the sports complex campus, two new monitoring wells were installed, and the highest groundwater elevation recorded — in the third week of March — still left more than a foot of vertical clearance below the proposed stormwater management system's design grade. Three engineering options are under consideration, with Spina recommending option three. Estimated project costs referenced in discussion ranged from $1.5 million to $3.1 million.

"3.1 is a lot of bake sales." [No timestamp index supplied] — Council member Jamin DeProto

The council tabled that item to a joint special meeting with the Board of Finance, which the mayor said he would try to schedule before the end of May.

The council also voted unanimously to approve Town Manager Tony's appointment of Ginger Frasca as the town's new Human Resources Director. Frasca, who has approximately 35 years of HR experience including work with the Office of the State Comptroller and as HR director at Generations, a federally qualified health center, was selected through a structured panel interview process.

Finance Director Sharon reported the Board of Finance set the mill rate at 29.28 mills, a 1.95-mill increase representing roughly 7 percent. She cited $800,000 in new middle school debt service, a $750,000 grand list reduction from the Covenant Living settlement, and rising health insurance costs as primary drivers. She also reported the town has received $11,267,680 in state reimbursement for the middle school project and expects an additional $6 million within two weeks, though a final audit withhold percentage remains outstanding.

Why It Matters

The 100 Berlin Road transfer puts a stalled, highly visible redevelopment project back in motion with a developer that claims it can break ground this summer. The Red Lion Hotel has sat vacant for years at one of Cromwell's primary gateways. Once fully on the tax rolls after the abatement's ten-year schedule, the property's assessed value of more than $26 million would represent a meaningful addition to the grand list at a time when the town just absorbed a nearly 7-percent mill rate increase.

The stormwater drainage question at the town's sports fields carries a potential cost of between $1.5 million and $3.1 million. The joint Board of Finance meeting, which the mayor said he hopes to hold before May 31, will determine whether the town pursues a shovel-ready engineering design — and whether it has a credible funding plan if grant money does not materialize.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Transfer of the 100 Berlin Road tax abatement agreement from Lexington Partner Group to Alpine Residential LLC, with amendments as reviewed by town attorney Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of Town Manager's appointment of Ginger Frasca as Human Resources Director Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Elimination of two seasonal parks and grounds positions in favor of one full-time parks and grounds maintainer Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Discussion and possible action on stormwater drainage options for town sports fields — Tabled to joint special meeting with Board of Finance (before May 31, 2026)

- Vote: Capital fund project reallocation policy (Board of Education comments pending) Tally: Approved unanimously (tabled)

- Vote: Approval of minutes from April 8 and April 27 meetings Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Reappointments — Ann Jordan to Senior Services, Judy Benevento to Youth Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adjournment Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, May 13, 2026