Milford board denies request to keep gravel parking at 18 Delaware Avenue

The Milford Board of Adjustments on a 3-2 vote denied a request to allow a 40-by-40-foot gravel parking area behind a single-family home at 18 Delaware Avenue, a decision that means the property owner must either pave the area or provide parking off Dixie Avenue via a recorded cross-access agreement. Ron Rizzo and Joe Wiley voted to grant the variance; Ron Mascola, Miss White and Mister Warfel voted to deny it. The applicant, Joseph Ashley Wolf, told the board he installed stone at the rear of the new house during construction and is seeking the variance because he wants space for family gatherings and possible future use of the basement as an accessory apartment. "I put stone down in that area, not realizing what the city requirement was for that," Wolf said. Neighbors and nearby residents submitted written objections saying the area is being used in effect as a used-car storage and sales area, and they expressed concerns about traffic, safety and dust. The board and staff clarified that the variance before them applied only to the surface material of the parking area, not to the use of the property. The staff report and the board noted the property had previously received a citation for an unapproved parking surface and for unregistered vehicles. Planning staff explained the zoning requirement the applicant sought relief from: Milford City Code chapter 230-20(b)(2) requires residential driveways to be constructed with a dustless surface such as asphalt, concrete or pavers. The staff report also noted the property had to be reduced to a 40-by-40 area to meet lot-coverage limits; the applicant is not seeking a lot-coverage variance. Several neighbors provided written comments stating they believe the gravel enables expanded vehicle sales and increases truck traffic on narrow Dixie Alley and Delaware Avenue. Felicia Tyrell, who lives at 17 Nelson Street, wrote that the property is not appropriate for business activity and asked that the variance be denied. Jack and Faye Eisenbrae and Kim and Joanne Carter submitted similar objections citing safety and neighborhood character. During the hearing, staff clarified that if the variance is denied the applicant could still surface the 40-by-40 area with asphalt or concrete or place parking off Dixie Avenue if a properly recorded shared-access agreement is submitted. Pierce, the planning staff member presenting the case, said the city’s code allows shared driveways when documented and recorded. "If this gets approved," he said, "he would have to get that properly recorded." The board’s denial leaves the applicant with two permissible paths: pave the area with an approved dustless surface or pursue parking off Dixie Avenue backed by a recorded cross-access agreement. The board directed staff to follow the usual permitting and recording steps should the applicant pursue either option.