Milford P&Z Approves Connecticut Post Mall Regulation Change

MILFORD, CT – The third time was the charm for Connecticut Post Mall owners Centennial as the planning and zoning board approved the proposed regulation change.

Connecticut Post Mall, located at 1201 Boston Post Road, presented its proposed regulation change on Tuesday, Oct. 3, during Milford’s planning and zoning board meeting.

“This is only a regulation amendment. It’s not a special permit application,” Attorney John Knuff said. “This regulation simply paves the way for us to submit a full special permit and site plan application subsequent to this application.”

Board members Nancy Austin (D-4), Joseph Castignoli (D-1), Etan Hirsch (D-1), James Kader (D-2), Brian Kaligian (D-4), John Mortimer (D-2) and chairman Jim Quish (D-3) voted in favor of the regulation change. Board member Robert Satti (D-3) abstained from the vote.

This is the third time Centennial, which owns the Connecticut Post Mall at 1201 Boston Post Road, was before the planning and zoning board to make a pitch to allow housing at the mall location.

In 2020, Centennial came before the planning and zoning board to pitch for housing at the mall location.

The planning and zoning board rejected those plans in October 2020

This time, Attorney John Knuff, representing Centennial, said the application proposes modest but vital changes.

“It would create the opportunity for Centennial to create the investment of tens of millions of dollars that would revitalize the mall and make it relevant again by offering the type of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences that today’s consumers seek,” Knuff said.

The complete regulation change proposal can be found here.

“I think that there has been a lot of work to accommodate a lot of the issues that were brought up in our previous go-arounds, and I think this is a better plan than the last one,” Chairman Jim Quish said.

Milford Mayor Richard Smith shared his support of the proposed regulation and asked for the support of the planning and zoning board to approve the regulation change.

“I didn’t come to it lightly,” Smith said.

Smith said he pursued some of the questions that came out of prior meetings.

“There was some concern that this might hurt Downtown Milford,” he said. “I think a lot of that thinking has been left behind us now that we realize downtown has its own vibe, and people are still going to come to Downtown Milford. By introducing a new scene, it’s not one or the other. It’s just another option.”

Knuff said the changes proposed are to modify the regulations governing the design and multifamily buildings to permit a more contemporary design in a format that is sensitive to the context of the area.

“We propose to permit multi-family buildings in three phases of 250 units per phase, the first of which requires an engaging mixed-use pedestrian environment with first-floor retail and restaurant, outdoor dining with direct proximity to the plaza and the mall,” Knuff said.

Rachel Merva, a Milford resident, spoke in favor of the application, stating Milford needs housing and the plan would improve housing.

“With this plan, we would hopefully improve our crime statistics at the mall without the empty vacancy,” she said. “It’s on the bus line, and it’s already developed land, and we need to revitalize that neighborhood and the revenue.”

Milford Resident Joseph Alling also supported the mall, stating it would help create affordable home opportunities for residents who need it.

The three phases would take around 10 years, with Phase 1 taking about two to three years.

Michael Platt, senior vice present, mixed-use development at Centennial, said Phase 1 of the project would start with the location of the former Sears.

“This is a critical phase because it sets the tempo of what is to come,” he said. “This phase at the core is a green space and a public plaza anchored by the shopping center on the left side of the property with brand new front door.”

Phase 2 would occur between years three and five of the project, and Phase 3 would occur between years five and 10.

“Ultimately, you see a very walkable, integrated, vibrant shopping center,” Platt said.

Knuff told the P&Z board that 10 percent of the units will be deed-restricted as affordable.

“We propose to create a plaza that will host various events. We propose to add other commercial uses such as medical offices, personal services, schools of every type, and outdoor entertainment,” he said.

Modifications were also made to the parking requirements in the proposed regulation change.

Knuff said they made how the overall mall is parked by making them “realistic.”

“We changed the bases for that of not the gross building area but the gross leasable area,” he said. “In every other case, you base your parking on how much space a store takes up.”

Knuff said the proposed changes are entirely consistent with the city's existing Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), the 2023 Draft POCD, the 2022 affordable plan and the comprehensive plan.

“Each of these plans and reports commissioned by the city, with the intent of promoting the city's best interest, either supports or specifically recommends what we are proposing this evening,” he said.