News 042105

04/21/2005

PZB chief denies Devon is ‘dumped on’

Phil Helsel , Register Staff

MILFORD — Stung by criticism on several fronts in recent weeks, Planning and Zoning Board Chairman John "Jack" Jansen fired back at opponents in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Specifically, he addressed comments made by angry Devon residents concerning a proposed affordable-housing complex planned for Naugatuck Avenue. Before a PZB meeting Tuesday night, more than two dozen residents showed up in protest at City Hall; although the issue was postponed, they accused the zoning board of quietly designating the area for affordable housing a year ago.

"The (zoning) board, in its regulations, has not been dumping on Devon, and by no means has Devon been ‘red-lined’ for affordable housing (as) was charged by one citizen," Jansen said, in his prepared statement.

Jansen, in the statement, said that Devon, as well as three other areas of the city, were designated for affordable housing in full and open view of the public.

He also said that if there were no local areas that allowed multi-family, affordable-housing developments, "developers can pretty much put it where they want and make their own rules."

The Naugatuck Avenue project is being pursued by James D’Amato, son of D’Amato Brothers Builders owner Louis D’Amato, and would mean construction of 28 one- and two-bedroom apartments in six buildings on Naugatuck Avenue near Milford Point.

Nine of the units would be designated as "affordable housing," meaning that they would have to be priced lower than market value.

If approved, the Naugatuck Avenue project would raise the number of affordable-housing units in Devon to 34, Jansen said, compared to 248 units that exist near Woodmont Road and another 284 units that have been proposed, but are currently in litigation, for Wolf Harbor Road.

Jansen released his statement late Wednesday afternoon. Neither Kim Rose, an outspoken opponent of the Naugatuck Avenue housing project, nor PZB Vice Chairman Mark Lofthouse could be immediately reached.

Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., although he had not seen the letter, agreed with the spirit of the argument. He said that there are several areas in the city designated for the type of multi-family housing developments that could also qualify for affordable housing.

"Affordable housing is a state statute," Richetelli said. "It’s a statute that we have not been particularly fond of here in Milford, but it has nothing to do with zoning."