ANSONIA – Members of the Ansonia Planning and Zoning commission voted Aug. 25 to deny a proposed zone-text amendment that could have allowed 30 apartments to be built near Griffin Hospital, citing concerns over parking and density.
The zone-text amendment was first proposed in May by developers Midland Development & Contracting, and Cedar Village LLC. The amendment, if passed, could have allowed the developers to submit a proposal to build a 30-apartment complex on Division Street between Clifton Avenue and Pershing Drive.
Planning and zoning Commissioner Ken Moffat said in the meeting the proposal could have created a parking nightmare, echoing concerns raised by two neighbors in a previous public hearing.
“I’m very concerned about adding more density to that area. The traffic and reduced parking is a very big concern because there’s no on-street parking for guests,” Moffat said.
The developers had proposed a lowered parking requirement as part of the zone-text amendment, saying in past meetings that it would rent apartments to Griffin Hospital employees who could walk to work.
However, commissioner Tony Levinsky – who is also a member of the Board of Aldermen – said that wasn’t a good reason to lower the parking requirements. He said most of the tenants would probably have cars anyway.
“I don’t think it’s practical to expect the people that reside there are going to be walking,” Levinsky said. “I think everybody’s going to have a car anyway, and it needs the parking.”
Company representatives did not speak at the Aug. 25 meeting.
The roughly .6‑acre complex would include the addresses 91 – 93 Division St. and 7 – 9 Cook St. Those addresses are all zoned commercial, according to city land records.
City planner David Elder said in the meeting that adopting a zone-text amendment wouldn’t automatically lead to the complex being built. He said at least two more public hearings would be required: First, for the developer to request a zone change for the parcels, and a second before the commission could approve a site plan application.
Commissioner Maureen McCormack said the zone-text amendment seemed like an attempt to do “spot zoning” in town. She pointed out that the amendment as proposed would likely only allow zone changes at commercial-zoned properties near Griffin Hospital.
“That smacks of spot zoning, like a creative way around not doing spot zoning,” McCormack said.
Levinsky made the motion to deny the zone-text amendment, with McCormack seconding it.
Last year, Midland Development and Cedar Village LLC opened a 90-apartment complex on Minerva Street in Derby. That complex also included nine housing units deemed affordable under state law.
The Derby apartment complex is a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments with rents ranging from $1,350 to $1,755.
Renderings for a possible Ansonia complex shared similarities with the complex in Derby, including the presence of under-deck parking spaces.
The planning and zoning commission is next scheduled to meet on Sept. 29.