At the request of the applicants, two zoning public hearings of interest, both on the January 5 agenda, now have new dates set by Branford’s Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC).

At its regular meeting of Thursday, Jan. 5, the PZC continued to Thursday, Jan. 19 a public hearing opened Dec. 8 on constructing three 2-family duplexes on property at 94 East Main St. behind a circa 1790 home. Additionally, a public hearing set to open January 5 on a proposed 11-lot resubdivision at 175 Cherry Hill Road was tabled by the PZC to Thursday, Feb. 2.

PZC meetings take place at 7 p.m. and are currently being conducted via Zoom. Agendas and meeting details, upon becoming available, are posted at www.branford.ct-gov

94 East Main Street Duplex Units Hearing Continued to Jan. 19

On Dec. 8, the PZC opened a public hearing on an application to construct three 2-family dwelling units on property located behind the circa 1790 Samuel Beach House at 94 East Main St. The hearing, which was continued to Jan. 5, received significant comments and questions raised by the public, including area residents and others.

At the Jan. 5 PZC meeting, Town Planner Harry Smith noted the Town had received a written request from the applicant to continue to hearing to the PZC’s meeting of Thursday, Jan. 19.

The application, made by 94 East Main Street LLC, c/o Stacy Ruwe-Applicant and Owner 94 East Main Street, seeks zoning approval for a special exception and coastal site plan for construction.

At the PZC’s opening of the hearing on Dec. 8, project engineer Jim Pretti of Criscuolo Engineering (Branford) described the proposal to bring in three 2-family homes, designed by Branford architect Joseph Sepot, to a section of the property to the rear of the existing house. Some widening of an existing driveway and the addition of a parking area with 17 spaces and garage are included in the plan. Pretti also noted that a large rock outcropping of about 40 feet in height makes more than 50 percent of the lot unusable or inaccessible.

Sepot said the townhouse units will be 2-bedroom units of roughly 2,700 square feet each; with units to include a back deck and entry to a basement area.

“We’re trying to keep with the aesthetic character of the neighborhood, something that would fit in with other buildings,” said Sepot, speaking to the PZC on Dec. 8.

On Dec. 8, the PZC then heard from 7 members of the public, including several area residents, all who stated concerns about the proposal. Their concerns ranged from density of the development to issues with potential flooding, traffic safety, and lights from vehicles infiltrating neighboring homes. Additionally, questions were raised by a member of the public, Matt Radulski, who noted the Samuel Beach House is a contributing property listed on the national register of historic places (listed in 1988) and the type of development proposed is not in keeping with the significance of the historic place. In his staff report, Smith also sought more information with regard to what impact the new development would have as a backdrop to the historic Samuel Beach House.

175 Cherry Hill Road Resubdivision Hearing Tabled to Feb. 2

At the applicant’s request, a hearing that was to open on a proposed 11-lot resubdivision at 175 Cherry Hill Road was tabled by the PZC on January 5 to instead open on Thursday, Feb. 2.

In addition to 3 related applications already submitted to the Town for the resubdivision, an additional special exception is required and will be applied for so that it can be considered at same time, said PZC chair Charles Andres, in discussing the matter during the January 5 PZC meeting.

Smith also noted on January 5 that the applicant’s engineer wants to address comments returned to the applicant by Town Staff. The applicant is BC Investment Properties LLC c/o Bruno Ciccone.

Full broadcasts of Branford Planning and Zoning Commission meetings are available to view on BCTV/Facebook.