On Nov. 21, Branford's Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) voted not to appeal an Oct. 24 Hartford Superior Court decision in which the judge sided with Branford Housing Authority (BHA) and developer Beacon Communities Inc. (Boston MA) to overturn the PZC's denial of a 2018 Parkside Village I application.

As previously reported, on Oct. 24, Judge Marshall Berger's written decision overturned the PZC's January 25, 2018 vote which served to deny　BHA/Beacon's application to redevelop and expand Parkside Village I under CT General Statute (CGS) Section 8-30g affordable housing [§ 8-30g] (see related document).

According to the minutes of the PZC's special meeting on Nov. 21, the five commission members in attendance – chairman Charles Andres, commissioners John Lust and Joseph Vaiuso, and alternates Paul Higgins and David Dyer – voted unanimously not to pursue an appeal. The vote came following a half-hour executive session to discuss strategy with Town Attorney William Aniskovich and Town Planner Harry Smith.

After the group returned from executive session, Andres noted the group had held a "...thorough discussion of possible strategies regarding the court's decision," according to the meeting minutes. By roll call vote, the PZC then voted unanimously not to submit a petition appealing the Oct. 24 Superior Court decision.