Politics & Government
City Begrudgingly OKs Affordable Housing on West Main Street
Three-story, nine-unit complex gets the go-ahead -- albeit a reluctant one -- from planning and zoning.
The Milford Planning and Zoning Board last week approved the application for an affordable housing development at 229 West Main St.
A two-family house on the three-quarter-acre parcel will be demolished to make way for a three-story, nine-unit apartment complex.
The motion passed 6-2 – but not before some grumbling on how 8-30g, the state statute that enables affordable housing, diminishes local zoning laws.
Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“I certainly have a problem with Hartford telling Milford how and when to enforce our zoning regulations,” said board member Benjamin Gettinger (D-4).
Under 8-30g, developers can enter municipalities whose affordable housing stock is less than 10 percent – it’s just over 6 percent in Milford – and not be subject to local zoning regulations.
Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In turn, the developers must offer at least 30 percent of its proposed units as what the statute deems as “affordable.” The rents for these set-aside units are defined by the state’s median income, which is $54,000.
With this application, two units are for households earning 80 percent or less than $54,000 and one unit is for a household earning around 60 percent.
Parking space is one area in which the West Main Street application falls short of compliance with Milford zoning laws.
For the proposed six one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units, the application calls for 20 parking spots, one short of the required number under local zoning regulations, according to Thomas Lynch, the attorney representing the developer, Molly Rentals LLC.
Lynch shared this information with the board at a November public hearing. He prefaced it by saying, “We aren’t obligated to follow these requirements.”
“I don’t know why we would have to bend or break the rules,” Timothy Swaller of Lamplight Lane said during the public speaking portion of the hearing.
Swaller said his property directly abuts 229 West Main St. He said nine units on that three-quarter-acre property would be “extremely tight.” And the increase in traffic from 20 cars could cause a safety concern in the mainly single-family zone, he added.
“I love Milford. I’ve lived here my whole life,” Swaller said. “The builder is the only one that would benefit trying to cram units into that small space.”
Gettinger echoed these concerns prior to voting against the application: “I can’t in good conscience just turn my back on residents. I’m completely against the applicant’s vilification.”
‘It’s the law’
Ward Willis (R-2) cast the other opposing vote. Thomas Nichol (R-1) voted for the application though he voiced anxiety over potential issues regarding snow removal. Edward Mead (R-3) said, contrary to Swaller’s comments, there are other multi-family homes in the neighborhood so it fits.
Before the vote, Chairman Mark Bender (R-3) reiterated to members that potential health or safety issues must be conclusive in the event of a denial or else the applicant will “fast track to appeal” where the court will likely eventually give the go-ahead.
“As we’ve heard numerous times – it’s the law,” Bender said. “We could talk all night with 8-30g. It’s a tough one.”
Jeanne Cervin (D-2) may have summed up the board’s perceived situation best before she voted in favor of the applicant.
“Just because it’s legal in the sense that it is, I feel I will have to be voting for it,” she said.
Discussion and a possible decision on a proposed affordable housing project on Pond Point Avenue continues Thursday with a public hearing scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
