With Permission
Branford’s regulatory boards have scheduled public hearings next week on proposals to build either a waterfront single family home or affordable housing units on Pawson Road, across the river from Branford Point and overlooking Branford Harbor.
In other business, the Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission recently approved plans to expand an orthopedic center on North Main Street, and discussed bylaws for the commission.The met in the community room at Fire Headquarters.
One Way or the Other
With Permission
Arsalan Altaf is hoping to construct either a single-family home or two buildings with six residential units on a .23 acre vacant lot at 239 Pawson Road, located on a peninsula with breathtaking views.
The property is adjacent to 20 acres of open space land owned by the State of Connecticut, and an easement to the state property runs through Altaf’s property. The site is about 200 feet from the Branford River.
Altaf, whose residence is listed as Middletown on corporation papers, has a request before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on July 19 for variances to build a single-family home.
He has also requested a special exception to construct two buildings with six residential units under the state’s affordable housing statute CGS 8-30g.
According to the statute, 30 percent of housing must be designated as affordable—in this case it would be two of the six units. A public hearing on the P&Z request is scheduled July 21.
With Permission
The state’s affordable housing statute enacted in 1990 allows developers to override local zoning regulations if the town is deemed to have insufficient affordable housing units.
According to plans filed with P&Z, Altaf is proposing construction of a 4-unit building on one side of the Pawson Road property and a 2-unit building on the other side. Both buildings would be three stories and would have a height of 34.5 feet.
The site is not under the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission since it has coastal wetlands and would come under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
According to the P&Z plans, “The project consists of six new residential units in two buildings, access driveway and storm water management facilities.”
The plans state there are tidal wetlands adjacent to the site and the property is in a Coastal Flood Hazard Area. The plans claim the project will not disturb tidal wetlands and do not adversely impact coastal hazard areas.
Altaf purchased the site from Patricia W. Northrop in September 2015 for $35,000 through his Pawson Point LLC. The property is assessed at $49,000 and appraised at $71,100.
Altaf is represented by attorney Kevin J. Curseaden of Carroll, Curseaden & Moore LLC of Milford. Curseaden also represents Charles Weber and Al Secondino in their plans to build six commercial businesses near what was a proposed Costco on a Planned Development District at Exit 56.
Orthopedic Expansion
With Permission
The commission last week unanimously approved a plan to expand one of the Connecticut Orthopedic Specialists buildings at 84 N. Main St. to add seven rooms that can be used for surgical recovery stays up to 72 hours.
The site currently includes two buildings—one which houses the Ortho NOW walk-in center, medical offices and physical therapy. A two-story addition would be added to the second building which currently features a surgical center on the first floor.
David Seymour, president of Kingsbrook Development Corp. in Meriden, said the rooms can be used for surgical patients after they are discharged who opt for a couple days to recuperate rather than returning home the same day. Seymour said no nursing services will be provided, but patients may hire a service to assist with meals and personal care.
Seymour said the recuperation rooms are for people ranging in age from 8 to 65, but that anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent.
Bob Criscuolo of Criscuolo Engineering in Branford outlined the plans for expansion and a new landscaping plan. Initially the plans included a handicapped ramp, but that was eliminated after it was determined the elevators would be sufficient.
A public hearing on the proposal began June 16, and resumed July 7 for additional discussion before a vote was taken.
P&Z Bylaws
Diana Stricker Photo
Town Planner Harry Smith handed out drafts of proposed bylaws for the commission to discuss. He said these would be the first bylaws for the P&Z, and they were modeled after other towns.
The commission made a few changes, so a vote was postponed until another draft could be compiled.
The bylaws call for annual elections of the chairman and secretary, and spell out their duties, and who would preside in their absence. Elections in the past have not always been held annually.
It also establishes an effective date for zone changes or amendments to regulations, if one is not specified by the commission. The effective date would be the day after publication in a newspaper, or the day after the decision has been filed in the town clerk’s office, whichever is later.
The draft also specifies that the bylaws will have “no bearing upon the conduct of any public hearing or executive session dealing with a zoning determination by the Commission…”
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