SEYMOUR – Members of the Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday unanimously denied a developer’s request for a zone change that could have paved the way for 88 multi-family housing units in the Moss Avenue/Maple Street area.
About 30 people were in the audience and they cheered when the decision was rendered.
Commission members cited concerns about increased traffic, access to the property by town emergency vehicles and negative impact to the health and safety of residents as reasons for denying the zone change.
“I had concerns about access by emergency vehicles into the property and traffic; the roads are already congested beyond belief,” said commission member Kevin Stanis.
Commissioner Brian Sirowich said he appreciated the large turnout of residents who attended both public hearings in July and August, and said their input was helpful in the commission making its decision.
More than 100 residents turned out in opposition to the zone change at both public hearings.
Click here for a story from the August hearing.
Maple Street resident Phil Wilhelmy said he was pleased with the commission’s vote.
“I think the commission came through and they took into consideration the public showing up and I think it’s important that the people showed up and they made a difference,” said Wilhelmy, a Democratic candidate for the Seymour Board of Selectpersons.
Old Ansonia Road resident Michael Williamson echoed similar sentiments.
“They (the commission) used good reasoning, the same that we used,” Williamson said. “I’m not against development, but this was just not a good place for what they were trying to do.”
The developer Maple Street Associates wanted a zone change from single-family residential to multi-family residential for the following three parcels he owns on Maple Street and Moss Avenue:
A vacant, 1.2‑acre parcel at 65 Moss Ave.
A vacant, 2.4‑acre parcel at 67 Moss Ave.
A 10.2‑acre parcel at 172 Maple St. where there is currently one vacant house
Milford attorney John Knuff, representing Maple Street Associates, said at the July 10 hearing if the zone change was approved, a site plan application to build about 88 townhouses on the property would likely follow.
Knuff said he will talk to his client about whether he wants to appeal the decision in court.
Knuff previously said the proposed zone change was in line with the town’s plan of conservation and development.