Change To Affordable Housing Project Approved In Milford

MILFORD, CT — The Planning and Zoning Board voted 5 to 3 to approve a modification of a prior approval of an affordable housing development at 328 Meadowside Road.

The request was to convert four of 12 one-bedroom units into two bedroom units approved under the state's affordable housing statute.

Attorney Thomas Lynch said the owners Buddy and Chris Fields came before board about this project in 2018, a 12-unit, multi-family affordable housing development. He said the current application is a "straightforward request" regarding the middle units in 4 buildings, due to marketing feedback about family configurations.

He said renters have a need for 2-bedroom apartments because many of them are single parents with young children. He described the overall configuration of all the units and reminded the board that the project is not bound by parking constraints. He said 27 spaces are provided, slightly
increasing the parking count, but noted that each unit has a garage plus a space in front of the unit and visitor parking.

He said tenants tend to have no more than one or 2 cars. He said all existing 8-30g projects rent out quickly due to high demand. He noted for the record that this project has not been built yet.

Board member Robert Satti asked about amending the approval versus submitting a new application. Lynch said that any multifamily project approval via Special Permit and Site Plan Review, can be amended by an application to board and that the City Attorney’s Office
(CAO) has opined on this topic previously.

Chairman James Quish said he disagrees with the proposal because he believes the moratorium makes this a new application and that these developments disrupted the neighborhood, according to meeting minutes filed by the city of Milford.

Lynch stressed that his client is asking to amend the permit in an above-board way, and that it is an approved project.

PZB member Jim Kader reflected that the new calculation affects the city’s total affordability ratio with more bedrooms creating more points. He commended the honesty of asking for the change.