Apartment Complex Approved In Madison After Concerns Addressed

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MADISON, CT – A 34-unit apartment complex at 131 Cottage Road was unanimously approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission at its Dec. 21st meeting. The complex will have 20 one-bedroom units and 14 two-bedroom units.

Attorney Christopher McKeon represented applicant Robert Dowler, architect John Cunningham and engineer Michael Harkin in front of the PZC.

McKeon said the two-bedroom units would rent from $1,360 per month and the one bedroom units would be $1,311 a month.

McKeon told the commission, during the public hearing phase of the meeting before the vote, that the project should be approved because the proposed use is allowed in the district, it would not negatively impact neighbors, it would add revenue to the town, would bring much needed resident traffic to the nearby commercial area.

There were letters of opposition to the project from the Windermere community, but McKeon said the objection raised had been addressed - primarily that a separate building was planned to house the garbage and that garbage trucks will not be backing up into the facility to pick up garbage.

Architect Matthews there will be six buildings on the site, 68 parking spaces.

Engineer Harkin said there wasn’t much different with the plan from when it was first proposed in 2014.

During the question and answer phase of the hearing concerns were raised about parties on patios; Matthews explained that landscaping will buffer the patios.

Concerns were also raised about lease arrangements and the applicants said there would be steps taken to ensure there is no transient living situations taking place.

During deliberations before the vote, commissioners said the application met regulations, addressed concerns raised by residents and that the overall design of the project was well thought out and engineered.

The overall vote was 9-0 in favor of the project.