Due to Covid, Branford's Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) will hold its Thurs. Jan. 20, 7 p.m. meeting virtually, via Zoom. Among several public hearings on the agenda, the meeting will include a hearing on a master plan and site plan for a multi-family residential development at 61 Burban Drive; and a hearing on the site plan/special exception applications for an approved mixed-use development (marina and residential) at 61, 65-71, 67 & 73 Goodsell Point Road.

All Jan. 20 public hearings were planned by the PZC during a brief meeting on Jan. 6, in which the PZC also confirmed upcoming dates, in February, for some other public hearings which are likely to be of interest among the many items on the PZC's burgeoning agenda. One such item is the proposed Amazon "last mile" facility on Commercial Parkway, for which the PZC has scheduled public hearings to open at the PZC's meeting of Thurs. Feb. 17.

PZC public hearings invite comments from the public to be taken into consideration as part of the commission's application review process. Those seeking to participate in the Jan. 20, 7 p.m. PZC Zoom meeting and public hearings can access the full agenda, together with instructions on how to view/participate, to be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting at the Town of Branford website www.branford-ct.gov

Plans for the Burban Drive development, dubbed "The Views" according to documents filed by applicant 61 Burban Associates LLC, call for converting an existing, 45,000 square-foot former monastery building into a 59-unit building for ages 55-plus, to create a multi-family residential development in a currently-zoned residential (R4) district. The proposal shows 58 studio units and one 1-bedroom unit to be established by redeveloping the interior of the existing building. It notes only cosmetic changes will be made to the building's exterior, which will not be expanded. The application also notes that the development is not being proposed as an affordable development under CT General Statues 8-30 g but will offer "very competitive rental rates."

Also going into public hearing on Jan. 20 is applicant Goodsell Point, LLC/Sal Marottoli's submission of a site plan/Coastal Area Management (CAM) application and special exception application for grading; in connection to a previously approved Plannned Development District (PDD) for a mixed-use development (marina and residential) at 61, 65-71, 67 & 73 Goodsell Point Road.  The PDD, as approved by the PZC in March, 2021, allows for "15 single family detached residences, a private community pool, a new service building for a preexisting marina on the property to be renovated, and a new office/community building with lounge to serve both the marina and the residences as well as a small passive recreation area and dedicated parking to be open to the public."

Coming in February

A Thurs. Feb. 3 public hearing has been set to review applications submitted by 375 Metro LLC and 383 Metro LLC for the PDD/master plan-mixed use development at 367,373-375 & 377,383 East Main St.; as well as an application for a PDD site plan modification-mixed use development at those addresses; together with a special exception for grading at 383 East Main St. (submitted by 383 Metro LLC). The applications involve adding a building at 383 East Main St. to the mixed-use (residential/commercial) development currently under construction at the former Days Inn site (367,373-375 & 377 East Main St.).

Additionally, the PZC has set Thurs. Feb. 17 to open public hearings, at the applicants' request, for three applications tied to the proposed Amazon "last mile" delivery center at 81-111 Commercial Parkway and 49 Commercial Parkway. The applications are for a Zoning Regulation amendment to add a local business hybrid rear (BL-HR) zone to the table; a special exception for grading; and a special exception for warehouse distribution, e-commerce and fulfillment centers. The applicants/owners involved are FSI Acquisitions LLC (c/o John Knuff, applicant); Hamilton Branford LLC (owner of 81-111 Commercial Parkway) and 49 Commercial Pkwy LLC (owner of 49 Commercial Parkway). The PZC has also accepted the necessary application review time extensions given by applicants.