Welcome to the Development Services Department!

Public Hearing Notice for the Downtown North Plan Expansion

The Development Services Department, under the leadership of the Mayor Pedro E. Segarra and under the direction of Thomas E. Deller, AICP, in collaboration with the residents of Connecticut’s Capital City, oversees the development of the City. The Development Services Department is charged with helping to craft an action plan that is consistent with the Mayor’s vision for future infrastructure improvements and job development opportunities and working to make that vision a reality. The Department is comprised of six divisions: Administration, Economic Development, Licenses & Inspections, Housing & Property Management, Planning, and Marketing Events & Cultural Affairs. Each of the divisions work together to ensure the improvement of quality of life in our neighborhoods and community by focusing on high quality public spaces, ensuring building and occupant safety, increasing homeownership, supporting the business environment, maximizing job retention, providing residents and visitors with enjoyable opportunities through public arts and events.

Vision:

The Development Services Department vision is: To create a vibrant, livable, and sustainable City

Mission:

The Development Services Department mission is: To improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and community by focusing on high quality public spaces, ensuring building and occupant safety, increasing homeownership, supporting the business environment, maximizing job retention, providing residents and visitors with enjoyable opportunities through public arts and events.

Values:

The Development Services Department values are: Excellence, Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Efficiency, Commitment, and Respect.

Strategic Plan Initiatives for FY 2012-2013

• Implement “One City One Plan” through the integration of planning grants, livable sustainable neighborhoods initiatives and the i-Quilt

• Implement & develop the comprehensive housing strategy to maximize homeownership & affordable housing opportunities

• Implement online permitting system

• Foster Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship

• Provide residents and visitors with enjoyable opportunities, improve quality of life and promote City of  Hartford as a destination city through arts and culture.

The Development Services Department is working with many different projects which are in diverse stages of completion and ongoing at this time. We regularly update a Current Projects List, which provides information about development within the City limits. For specific questions or more details, please contact the project managers listed in the Project Updates Report. Click below to download a copy of the Current Projects Updates.

Current Project Updates  

Working together, we will improve our neighborhoods, grow jobs and expand Hartford’s economy. Here are several of immediate goals that we hope to address:

• Making our permitting process more predictable and reducing the time it takes to get a permit.

• Working with the Department of Public Works to accelerate the neighborhood streetscape projects funded through our capital improvement program and aggressively implementing the Intermodal Triangle funded by the recently awarded TIGER IV grant.

• Collaboratingwith the Livable and Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative team to focus resources in a manner that is consistent with individual neighborhood development plans and make our many diverse communities great places to live and raise a family.

We look forward to working with you to make Hartford the Capital City that not only every resident in Hartford and in the region is proud of, but the entire state sees as progressive leader in economic development and increased opportunity.

Sincerely,

Administration Division:

Administration Division provides leadership and policy direction, as well as financial and operational support to the department. Our staff works in conjunction with other divisions and City departments, overseeing resources that not only provide direct funding for department activity but also leverage the acquisition of additional funding to maximize service delivery and infrastructure improvement through the Development Services Department. Consistent with the City’s commitment to provide a high level of service with an awareness of the impact on taxpayers, the Administration Division ensures that the department adopts best professional practices and new technologies to add value to its initiatives. The Division provides professional development opportunities to support staff retention and professional growth, and promotes diversity in the department‘s workforce through its hiring, staff evaluation and training activities. The Administration Division works to integrate the goals and work plans for the entire department in order to optimize operational efficiency and enhance the productivity of both internal and public meetings. At the same time the Division has prioritized the broadening of department-wide outreach to better engage the community and provide accessible, timely information about Department of Development Services Programs and Projects Updates.

For more information please contact:

Economic Development Division:

Economic Development Division works to create an environment in Hartford that is conducive to growing and attracting businesses. Our staff has the skills, tools and relationships to provide extensive support to current and prospective businesses of all sizes and to make it smart to do business in Hartford. We provide technical assistance to neighborhood businesses and entrepreneurs interested in starting new businesses. We work with commercial services firms, industrial companies, real estate professionals, and retailers on projects that retain and create jobs while also spurring investment in the City. We help businesses with identifying sources of private and public funding, gaining access to available tax credits and incentives, and navigating the permitting and approval process. We also offer site selection assistance to ensure that Hartford is considered for expansion, recruitment and retention opportunities. The Hartford Redevelopment Agency (HRA) establishes and manages Redevelopment Plans. To meet the goals for each plan, the HRA may purchase targeted properties through negotiated acquisitions or through the use of eminent domain. Following acquisition, properties are sold and redeveloped in accordance with the plan. HRA currently manages over eighteen Redevelopment Plans throughout the City.

For more information please contact:

Licenses & Inspections Division:

Licenses and Inspection Division works to: Ensure the health and safety of the public, and the soundness and habitability of the City's Residential, Industrial and Commercial Structures. The division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Connecticut State Building Code. We inspect new construction and existing building renovations, installation, quality of materials, location, operation and maintenance or the use of equipment and systems. In addition, we are responsible to Housing & Zoning Code Enforcements and the landlord registration. Also as the licensing agency for the City of Hartford we accept applications and issue licenses for a number reasons including Dance Halls, Pawnbrokers, Secondhand Dealers, Laundromats, Designated Vendor, Merchandise Vending, One-day Helper/ peddler, Billiard, Bowling Alley. By coordinating the efforts of various State and local government officials, we ensure the public's safety; requiring code compliance of all license applicants.

For more information please contact:

Housing & Property Management Division:

The Housing and Property Management Division seeks to actively promote and facilitate new housing construction and substantial rehabilitation activities in the City of Hartford through the administration of City, State and Federal Programs. We work to help Hartford's citizens achieve the goal of homeownership. Down payment assistance loans are available that serve low and moderate-income households seeking to purchase a home in the City. We provide rental assistance through Imagineers, LLC, which is a housing services organization, located on Farmington Avenue in Hartford and manages the City's Section 8 program. The Hartford Fair Rent Commission which is empowered by state and local law to address unreasonable rent increases operates through our division. If the tenant believes that his/her rent increase is excessive, they can file a written complaint with the Fair Rent Commission. We are committed to sustaining and improving Hartford's livability through the development of new housing and the rehabilitation of existing housing throughout Hartford.

For more information please contact:

Planning Division:

The Hartford Planning Division builds neighborhood-city connections through:

• Actively listening to and engaging with Hartford's citizens, leaders, developers and stakeholders

• Working with neighborhood revitalization committees to plan the future and ensure the success of Hartford's communities

• Working to incorporate the Mayor's seven goals for the city improvement into the Plan of conservation and Development for the City

• Using planning tools and best practices to make Hartford a better place to live and do business

For more information please contact:

Marketing Events & Cultural Affairs Division

The Marketing, Events & Cultural Affairs Division (MECA) works to enhance the quality of life in Hartford and to support the cultural development of the City by assisting, promoting and encouraging artists, arts and cultural organizations and events in Hartford. Through its mission, MECA will create meaningful experiences that motivate residence and tourism in Hartford, Connecticut.

For more information please contact: