Neighbors Share Concerns Over 20-Unit Residential Proposal in Milford

MILFORD, CT — Neighbors of 25 Shell Ave. rose in opposition to a proposed 20-unit residential building proposed under CGS 8-30g primarily for traffic reasons.

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Milford’s Planning and Zoning Board heard the presentation for the 20-unit residential unit.

Attorney Hinckley Allen, representing 25 Shell Ave., told the board his applicant wanted to renovate a former 9-unit residential building and increase it to 20 units.

According to the administrative summary, the building will have 16 spaces of ground-level (first-floor) parking, with three floors of apartments above ground level and roof decks. The second and third floors contain a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units in the following manner:

• The second floor has eight units. Of these, four are one-bedroom and four are two-bedroom units. Of these units, two one-bedroom and one two-bedroom units are designated as affordable. A total of three units on Floor 2 are affordable.) All units have balconies.
• The third floor has eight units. Of these, four are one-bedroom and four are two-bedroom units. Of these units, three are affordable. All units have balconies.
• The Fourth Floor has four units. All fourth-floor units are two-bedroom units with balconies and rooftop decks. None of the units are designated as affordable.

Allen told the board Rents will be at 60 percent and 80 percent of the median income, also noting the median Connecticut income is $112,000.

To meet the parking demand for the increased units, Jeff Gordon said the proposed garage has a capacity of 16 vehicles plus parking for 20 vehicles on the surface with two ADA-compliant spaces, which he said exceeded the base parking ratio requirement.

Etan Hirsch (D-1) said he was concerned about traffic, stating with about 30 new tenants, the traffic study did not convince him that impacts would be minimal.

Steve Ulman said the site would be served by a single driveway to Shell Avenue in about the same location as the current Westerly Drive.

Ulman said he compared the trip calculations of the 9-unit structure to the proposed 20-unit structure and said the new development would add 71 trips daily, with an A.M. peak featuring four new trips (one entering and three exciting) and a p.m. peak also featuring four new trips (three exciting and one entering) and on Saturdays, four new trips (two entering and two exciting).

Irving Stern, who lives on Shell Avenue, said traffic is a safety issue and reported that Surf Avenue is narrow with limited sidewalks and that cyclists and runners use it. He said cars would come from both sides and called it a pinch point.

Also speaking during public comment was Wendy Gleeson, who lives on Shell Avenue. She asked the board to drive down the narrow street to experience the number of blind areas. She said she would like an improved structure with fewer units.

Debbie Fuchs said she and her husband live adjacent to the site and said drivers use the parking lot at 25 Shell to turn around and look for parking. She said she wants to see the units scaled back.

Chairman Jim Quish (D-3) said he was generally in favor of the proposal, noting the attractive building, but said it would be appropriate to have an outside consultant come in to look at traffic and also safety and potential parking, potential additional street parking and how that would affect safety.

The Planning and Zoning Board decided to table the vote from 25 Shell Ave. to Nov. 8 and mandated the applicant do the traffic study.