Hearing Resumes on Contentious Development in Milford

The public hearing on a contentious affordable housing complex resumes Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at Milford City Hall.

The public comment period before the city’s planning and zoning board began Tuesday, Nov. 19, when hundreds of locals converged to oppose the proposal.

Leading the resistance to the 23-unit development at 86 Pond Point Ave. was Milford State Sen. Gayle Slossberg.

“When you consult all the factors and hear from all the residents, you will find that the application must be denied,” Slossberg told the board. “There’s a serious due process problem here. The applicant has not done its job.”

Many residents were standing in a long line behind the podium when the board, shortly before midnight, voted to continue the hearing to Dec. 3. At that point, representatives for the developer had not yet been given the opportunity to respond to public comments. They’ll have that chance Tuesday.

Objectors to the proposal have suggested that the development would harm the local ecosystem, worsen traffic problems on Pond Point Avenue and bring down area property values.

The proposed site is 2.7 acres of which about 2.4 acres is currently wooded. A home on the property will remain there under the current proposal.

The development is being proposed under state statute 8-30g, which requires that at least 30 percent of the one- and two-bedroom units be priced as affordable in relation to the state median income, which is roughly $53,000.

Four of the units are priced for potential tenants making less than or equal to 80 percent of the state median income and three units are priced for future tenants earning less than or equal to 60 percent of the state median income.

State statute 8-30g allows developers to go into cities and towns with less than 10 percent affordable housing and not be subject to local zoning laws. Only slightly more than 6 percent of the housing stock in Milford is considered affordable.

If the city wants the application to fail, it must prove its concerns outweigh the need for affordable housing in Milford. That argument may lead to litigation, which can be costly for the city.

For more information, see our coverage from the first public hearing.