Downtown Milford Development Project Changes: What You Need To Know

MILFORD, CT — The Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously last month to allow developer, Robert Smith Jr. to make some changes to his planned development at 44-64 River St. in downtown Milford, according to recent meeting minutes.

Blake Smith, Director of Real Estate Development for Metro TOD, LLC, said the request was to amend the previous approval to construct two buildings instead of one, meeting minutes state. He said that the two building design provides emergency access via Darina Place.

Smith, according to meeting minutes, said the reason for the revision was that obtaining approval for easements from the relevant state agencies would take too long to secure, meeting minutes state.

The Milford Mirror reports that 50 apartments and about 12,500-square-feet of retail space would be housed in the two buildings. The parking garage will add approximately 200 parking spaces downtown.

John Wicko, the architect on the project, noted a reduction in the overall massing, height, and size of the two proposed buildings versus the previous plan, meeting minutes state. He said the new plan uses a coastal urban style like Portland, NH, and Newport, RI, with flat roofs and brick facades in harmony with the context of River Street, including the post office, the courthouse, and other nearby sites, meeting minutes state.

Wicko said the municipal garage has the same entrance as previously, and that off-street surface parking is also the same. He said all city departments had approved the changes. Surface parking would be open, with the municipal parking lot underground.

Ron Wassmer, the project engineer, noted the incorporation of EV charging stations. He said the 77 parking spaces on grade are open to the public but that the lower level is meant to provide substantial parking for the downtown area, meeting minutes state.

He confirmed that residents don’t have dedicated parking spaces. He said all approvals had been received and that the reason for the amendment had been the lengthy time frame for getting state easements for access via Railroad Avenue.

He added that the underground parking lot is under city control via a 99-year lease, meeting minutes state.

>>>Read more at the Milford Mirror.

>>>View the official meeting minutes here.