Oct. 26, 2018— Branford State Representative candidate Robert Imperato [R] today was highly critical of yesterday's court decision to deny property owners their right to be heard in zoning proceedings that impact their neighborhoods.

"This decision is just plain wrong," Imperato said. "The protest petition is a legal procedure that gives property owners some voice in this process."

Imperato was also critical of the current affordable housing law.

"We have a law here that allows for-profit out-of-state developers to steamroll local decision-making and local control of our neighborhoods and that needs to change now."

The judge's decision is based on an appeal of the Branford Planning and Zoning Commission's decision on the application by Beacon Communities and the Branford Housing Authority to enlarge Parkside Village and remove the requirement that certain residents. 

"Parkside Village was built specifically to meet the needs of single seniors, veterans and disabled citizens. Branford continues to have a shortage of this type of housing. Any project that changes that mix of residents is ill-advised and contrary to what the Town intended to be built at that location," Imperato said.

The Zoning Commission approved the application with conditions, including a requirement that the RTM approve an access road off Melrose Avenue, but the application failed because it fell short of the 4 votes needed under a successful protest petition filed by area neighbors. The court ruled that the protest petition does not apply to housing authority projects because the intention of the affordable housing law is to override any other zoning law that frustrates or interferes with the goal of increasing affordable housing.

"This is exactly what we have been fighting against, an unfair affordable housing law that is used to override the rights we have under the zoning statute," Imperato said. "The first bill I will introduce when I am elected is one to remove the deed-restriction requirement in the current law and to clarify that valid protest petitions still apply to affordable housing projects under the state's affordable housing law."

The court also ruled that the conditions imposed by the Commission remain in place, including RTM approval of the Melrose Avenue access road. "The RTM has rightly rejected the Melrose Avenue access road and so this decision doesn't change the fact that the project as it was proposed is dead," Imperato stated. Imperato said he hopes Beacon and the BHA come forward with a new plan. 

"The only projects that should be considered for Parkside are ones that would improve the wellbeing of that demographic. Changes made should be of a design that fit the neighborhood as it is now."

Bob Imperato is a 30-year resident of Branford with a long career in banking and financial services. He and his wife raised his family in Town and Bob has been an active member of the community, volunteering for local sports organizations and serving on the RTM, the Board of Finance and the Water Pollution Control Authority.

The 102nd district serves most all the residents of Branford.

Imperato is the Republican candidate, cross-endorsed by the Independent party, running for the General Assembly 102 District State Representative Seat in the Nov. 6, 2018 State Election.