New Application On Horizon For Site Of Proposed Shelton Development

FILEThe developers of a proposed 140-unit residential development off Long Hill Cross Road in Shelton the Planning and Zoning Commission intended to deny will submit a new application for the site.

A letter sent by the developers’ lawyer to the PZC this week asked the commission permission to withdrew the original application.

The commission quickly granted the request at their meeting Tuesday (Aug. 14).

The letter, from attorney Stephen Bellis, who represents developer Anthony Grasso and builders Joseph and Louis Salemme, did not indicate when a new application would be filed or whether it would request a zoning change.

The development, called Hawks Ridge, was already on the commission’s meeting agenda, but headed for defeat. The PZC reached a consensus at its last meeting on July 9 that the proposed development was too big and was inconsistent with the city’s Plan for Conservation and Development.

The developers have a contract with members of the Wells family to purchase a 40-acre tract of land between Route 8, Long Hill Cross Road and Beard Sawmill Road, subject to zoning approval of their development plan.

The plan proposed in an application filed in February was for the creation of a Planned Development District for 60 single-family houses and 80 multi-family condominium units, plus an assisted living facility along Beard Sawmill Road that would require a subsequent application.

However, the property has been zoned since the 1960s for light industrial and commercial office development as part of the city’s Bridgeport Avenue business corridor.

The developers said that the economy currently does not favor business development, but there is customer demand for residential development in Shelton.

But homeowners along Long Hill Cross Road and Long Hill Avenue fought it on the grounds it would increase traffic and hurt their property values, and that abandoning the long-standing development goals of the Plan for Conservation and Development was short-sighted and not in the city’s best interests.

That won over the PZC, which was poised to vote the application down.

Sears Appliance

Also on Tuesday’s PZC agenda: an application by developer Al DaSilva, doing business as Connecticut Commercial Investors, to build a new commercial building in the parking lot in front of the Sears Appliance and Hardware store, 705 – 711 Bridgeport Ave., which appears headed for approval.

The development also includes the adjacent Kinko’s and Sikorsky Credit Union buildings.

A public hearing on the application was held at the PZC​’s July 9 meeting. 

Photo: Fred MusanteNo one spoke in opposition.

However, some of the commissioners expressed dissatisfaction that Sears Appliance and Hardware were using a portion of the parking lot to display garden sheds, lawnmowers and other wares without zoning permission.

Commissioner Anthony Pogoda said the unapproved use started some time ago and has grown larger over the years.

“It got to the point that that sidewalk was filled for the whole length of the building,” Pogoda said.

Chairman Ruth Parkins asked for consensus to vote for approval at the PZC​’s Sept. 11 meeting, but also directed Schultz to contact the store management about the apparent zoning violation.

Zoning Regulations

The PZC Tuesday also held a public hearing on proposed changes to Section 42 of the Shelton zoning regulations, which regulates off-street parking and loading areas.

Planning & Zoning Administrator Richard Schultz told the commission that this was the last major revision of the zoning regulations based on recommendations included in the 2006 Plan for Conservation and Development.

According to his presentation, many of the revisions involve new standards for the downtown Shelton redevelopment area, known as the Central Business District, that Schultz said attempt to provide incentives to attract developers.

For example, the revisions include standards for the construction of municipal parking facilities and provisions for shared parking for mixed-use developments, combining business and residential uses, in the downtown Shelton business district.

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