The Board of Aldermen voted Monday night to allow City Planner David Sulkis to apply for a grant that would explore development near the Milford train station.
"It seems as though we've established our zone, and we've done so very carefully," said Alderman Nick Veccharelli, who was the only Alderman who expressed a hesitancy to allow the City to pursue the grant.
"It seems like the real nice communities that have the most to offer, that's where those developers are going," Veccharelli added.
Sulkis noted that the grant, which could be as high $20,000, would be used to analyze whether or not the area 3/4 of a mile North, South and East of the Milford train station could "support more dense housing."
A provision by the State of Connecticut required that the Board of Planning and Zoning and the Board of Aldermen,each approve any pursuit of the grant.
Alderman Anthony Giannattasio, the Republican Minority Leader, called the decision to approve the grant application "a no-brainer," saying that the grant could be used to determine "where we could put this sort of housing."
Giannattasio added "It's just a study."
Alderman Ray Vitali said that he "liked the idea of exploration" and added that after the study was complete "we'll make some tough decisions."
Veccharelli expressed some concern over the more flexible zoning requirements that come along with many affordable housing developments, saying that it is often "not really affordable."
"This is free money for us," City Planner Sulkis said from the podium at the City Hall auditorium. "If it's something we want to do, great. If it's something we don't want to do, great."
Veccharelli responded by saying, "Sometimes I get the feeling that money is never given away from nothing."
