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West
Shore Neighborhood Association |
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07/25/2005 New Haven Register |
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West Shore gains a new advocate |
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Chris Rhatiga , Register Staff |
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MILFORD — A new shoreline neighborhood group is vowing to
change zoning regulations and act as an advocate for the
people between the Devon section and Walnut Beach.
The West Shore Neighborhood Association held its first meeting
recently, and Kim Rose, co-president, said the group will be an
"overseer for other neighborhood associations."
"We want to prevent major changes to our area without public
input," she said.
The association covers the Third District.
Rose has led the fight against a project proposed by developer
Louis D’Amato to create a housing complex on Naugatuck Avenue.
More than 200 Devon residents attended a meeting at City Hall
recently to protest the project, which opponents say would add
traffic.
D’Amato has revised his plans for the development, taking the
total amount of units down to 21 from 28 and removing the
affordable housing component from the plan in response to pleas
from city officials.
Rose, who is running for the Planning and Zoning Board in the
Third District, said the West Shore area is the "land of
mixed-use," meaning that commercial and residential zones are
interspersed.
According to the association’s Web site, they aim to "keep
zoning regulations consistent with revitalization efforts."
The group also has set goals to raise awareness on community
issues and to advocate for block grants for local projects.
Walnut Beach and Devon are involved in ongoing revitalization
efforts.
Both neighborhoods have organized groups, and Alderman Joseph
Garbus, R-3, former president of the Walnut Beach Association,
said another group in the area could be redundant.
"I’m not sure we need another association, because we all serve
the same purpose," he said. "Sometimes you get layers of
bureaucracy."
However, Garbus said Rose’s work on opposing the new development
was valuable.
PZB Vice Chairman Mark Lofthouse said the board is discussing
changing some of the zoning regulations in the West Shore area
already.
He said the "disconnect" between Devon and Walnut Beach needs to
be addressed.
"Walnut Beach is going to be a different area as far as commerce
than Devon is going to be," he said.
West Shore could be zoned in the future to reflect the
residential nature of the area, he added.
Economic and Community Development Director Robert Gregory,
whose office oversees the Devon revitalization, said WSNA could
be a positive force in the overall goals of the area.
"We’ve worked a lot with Wildermere Beach (Association) and
Walnut Beach (Association), and to have another community group
would be a good thing," he said.
He said WSNA could be instrumental to "tie together" Walnut
Beach and Devon.
WSNA will hold meetings on the first Thursday of every month
beginning with a meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 4, at the Margaret Egan
Center in room 159. For more information about the group, visit
villageofdevon.com/WSNA/WSNA%20main.htm.
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Copyright © 2005 West Shore Neighborhood Association
and villageofdevon.com. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 07/26/05
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