The Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission is moving toward approving a pared-down version of an apartment development proposed along Bridgeport Avenue.
After four PZC members indicated at a meeting Tuesday (Feb. 19) that they would vote for a modified version of the proposal, Chairman Ruth Parkins directed the commission’s planning consultant, Anthony Panico, to prepare a resolution approving a Planned Development District (PDD) for a rental apartment complex with 228 units and about 420 parking spaces.
The applicant, Talbot Partners LLC, originally proposed 262 units for the 13.5‑acre property at 740 Bridgeport Ave., which is currently zoned for office space.
The property is located behind Bertucci’s Restaurant and is not visible from Bridgeport Avenue. It is immediately north of the Fairchild Heights mobile home park and is bounded to the east by Route 8.
The discussion on the application Feb. 19 focused on whether the proposed development had too many units and whether it was appropriate for the Bridgeport Avenue area, which has been developed over the last 20 years as a commercial corridor.
The mobile home community, built around 1950, existed before the city had zoning regulations.
PZC member Joan Flannery called the application a “stupid, ridiculous proposal” because she said a residential apartment complex was completely out of character for the area.
She said she agreed with Shelton State Rep. Jason Perillo and Conservation Commission Chairman Tom Harbinson, who last month urged the PZC to deny the application.
Perillo’s opposition centered on the fact that another large apartment complex might reduce demand for apartment rentals in downtown Shelton and hurt the city’s plans for a downtown district revival. Harbinson said the proposal is inconsistent with the city’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Panico, who participated by speakerphone from his home in Florida, repeatedly interrupted Flannery with counterarguments until Parkins instructed him to let her finish her statements.
But Flannery was clearly a minority of one in her strong opposition to the proposal.
PZC member Anthony Pogoda, who participated via phone and Skype from Florida, took no clear position in support or opposition, but Parkins, Virginia Harger, Thomas McGorty and Elaine Matto indicated they would vote for the proposal — once the number of planned units is reduced.
“It’s too many apartments for that space,” said Harger.
Matto said she thought the applicant’s plan had insufficient parking for the number of units.
Talbot Partners had already reduced the number of buildings in the original proposal from eight to seven, lowered the number of units to 252, and increased the number of parking spaces.
Parkins, Harger, McGorty and Matto said they would vote for the development if another building with 24 units were eliminated and the complex’s clubhouse were moved to a different part of the property.
A Talbot Partners representative was at the meeting, but he left without saying if the PZC’s proposed revisions were OK with the applicant.
The PZC has until March 29 to make a decision, and the commission has scheduled a meeting for March 27.
Previous stories:
Shelton Officials Say Apartment Proposal Should Be Denied
Developer: Shelton ‘Wonderfully’ Situated For 262-Unit Apartment Complex
