20-Unit Housing Building Approved In Milford After Split Vote

MILFORD, CT — Milford is adding a 20-unit residential building to its list of housing after the planning and zoning board approved the application in a split vote.

The final vote was board members Joseph Castignoli (D-1), James Kader (D-2), Brian Kaligian (D-4) and Robert Satti voting in favor, and board members Etan Hirsch (D-1), Marc Zahariades (D-5) and Chairman Jim Quish voting against the proposed 20-unit residential building.

The 20-unit dwelling townhouse style residential units were approved for 242 Buckingham Ave.

“This property is a little under an acre in size and has been owned by the Hays family for many years,” said Attorney Thomas Lynch, representing Molly Rentals, LLC.

Lynch said there is currently a house with a garage behind it, and at the backend of the property is a warehouse where Tom Hays had his construction equipment, which will all be torn down.

“It’s a relatively long and narrow property,” Ronald Wassmer of Connecticut Civil Group said.

According to the site plan, Buildings 1 through 5 will each hold three residential units, Building 6 will have two residential units, and Building 7 will have three residential.

“The building height is about 32 feet tall, which meets the regulations,” Wassmer said.

Each of the 20 units is townhouse style with ground-level garage, second-level dining and kitchen area and third-level bedroom with loft/study area.

“The required parking is 40 spaces. We have provided 42 spaces, and we have four electric vehicle charging stations,” Wassmer said. “There is one parking space in the garage and 22 surface parking spaces for a total of 42.”

Kermit Hua of KWH Enterprise, LLC., and the project's traffic engineer, said the 20 units would generate eight trips for the morning peak hour and 10 trips for the afternoon peak hour.

“The reason is not everyone’s trip coincides with the peaks of the streets, in this case, the peak of New Haven Avenue, because that’s the main thorofare of this area,” Hua said.

Donna Dutko, who lives beside the proposed units, supported the application.

“It is a beautiful project. Molly Rentals do fantastic work, and their buildings look lovely,” Dutko said.

Dutko said working from home has become a new trend, and many people don’t leave their homes for work.

“I think you should approve this,” Dutko said.

Hua said there is a unique traffic circulation for the proposed 20-unit residential building because Buckingham Avenue is a one-way street.

“Everyone will have to go to the intersection of Gulf Street and Buckingham and enter the site,” Hua said. “Everyone will have to exit at the intersection of Buckingham Avenue and New Haven Avenue.”

Hua said the development would increase the weekday morning peak hour delay by 0.1 seconds and increase the weekday afternoon peak hour delay by 0.6 seconds.

“Overall, the net impact of these 20 units is not significant,” he said.