Waterford ― The Planning and Zoning Commission decided Tuesday to keep open a public hearing on a 20-home affordable housing development that would be built in Quaker Hill after residents shared concerns over increases in traffic the project would create.
The commission’s decision came after a three-hour meeting in which it heard from the developer, Dan DelGrosso, and his experts about the merits of the project, including satisfying a need for affordable homes.
More than 10 neighbors spoke or submitted letters against the project, saying they had concerns over the impact of the project on wildlife, the housing density and whether there is enough space in the schools for more students.
Project attorney William Sweeney said under the state’s affordable housing law that these are not grounds to reject the proposal. Projects can only be denied if they pose a risk to the public’s health or safety.
The town has applied to the state to be exempt from provisions of the law but it has not yet been granted.
The project
The mixed-income development was applied for in August by DelGrosso, under the name 1721 LLC. It would be built on two parcels comprising 5.7 acres.
Twenty homes ― ranging in size between 1,200 and 2,000 square feet ― would be built on a vacant 5.1-acre parcel at 430 Mohegan Avenue Parkway while a 0.59-acre parcel also owned by DelGrosso at 23B Old Norwich Road would be used to provide a walkway to and from the complex.
The 16 single-family homes would be sold at market rate. Meanwhile, DelGrosso plans to rent the remaining four duplex homes containing eight affordable units.
According to the plan, four of the duplex units will be affordable to families making 60% or less of the 2024 area median income for a family of four, which is $107,000, while the other four will be affordable to families of four making 80% or less of the area median income. The maximum rent paid by a 60% family would be $1,021 a month and for an 80% family, $1,578.
“There’s a big need for this type of housing in the marketplace right now, so we think we’ll have good demand,” Sweeney said.
Traffic chief concern among residents, commission
If the project is approved, DelGrosso said the infrastructure, including drainage, gas lines and an 800-foot private road through the complex, would be built first, and take a couple months to finish. The loop would have an entrance from Robert’s Court.
Vivian Carr, of 5 Robert’s Court said she thinks “we can all agree that affordable housing is a necessity,” but could not “agree with the proposal to put a densely populated area in such a small end of the cul-de-sac.”
“Currently there are six houses on Robert’s Court,” she added. “This proposal is looking to quadruple the amount of residents and vehicular traffic that comes through.”
Traffic Engineer Scott Hesketh, who studied the project for the developer, said the 271 vehicles entering and exiting the project each day does not constitute a safety concern.
Commission chairman Gregory Massad said he would like to see the entrance moved to Old Norwich Road.
“I’m really concerned about the 271 cars going up Robert’s Court,” Massad said. “With 20 kids in the neighborhood with no sidewalks. I mean, that is a safety issue.”
He said a road could instead be built on the west side of the property.
Sweeney said there problems with putting the entrance there, including one neighbor has a driveway easement that would directly intersect with the alternative entrance and there would also be a sight line issue with the location.
Sweeney argued that if the commission denied the application based on the road issue, it is required to come up with an alternative for the developer.
“But if that alternative’s not possible ― if we provide you evidence that there is no way to put a driveway safely out to Old Norwich Road, where we don’t have the legal ability to do so. That will change the dynamic. Old Norwich Road goes off the table altogether,” he said.
Sweeney added that then its simply a question of whether Robert’s Court is safe and that Hesketh, who he called probably the premier traffic engineer in the state, would testify that there is not problem with that access.
The public hearing was left open to Nov. 12 so the commission can consult with Town Attorney Robert Avena about the possibility of moving the entrance.
d.drainville@theday.com
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