Commission advances CommLinc�27s Majestic Place: text amendment, zone change and site plan approved with conditions

The Stratford Zoning Commission on April 24 moved forward on CommLinc27s Majestic Place District proposal for 520 Success Avenue, approving a revised text amendment, a zone change and site plan under a mix of standard and project-specific conditions.

Attorney Steven Bellas, representing CommLinc, told the commission the application had been revised since earlier hearings: a deed now incorporates off-site parking previously in Bridgeport, and the Stratford portion of the project is 32 units (with eight units in Bridgeport). Bellas said the planning commission had reviewed an older version of the application and issued an unfavorable report based on outdated materials; he argued the 8-30g standard requires the zoning body to weigh health and safety concerns against the public need for affordable housing rather than strict plan-conformity.

Engineer Chris DeAngelis presented plan revisions showing additional parking on the newly combined parcel (he stated the plan provides more spaces on-site than required and revised impervious-area and drainage calculations). DeAngelis also described drainage design prepared to Bridgeport standards because runoff ultimately discharges to Bridgeport and said the plan shows updated water-quality calculations and catch-basin revisions.

Commissioners and staff reviewed the text amendment line-by-line and the applicant revised or clarified sections on density, setbacks, parking, and administration of affordability restrictions. The applicant confirmed the Stratford portion will include 32 units and that the 30% affordability set-aside equates to 10 affordable units in Stratford under the statutory math discussed on the record.

The commission conditioned approval on the April 12, 2024 submittal (to ensure the correct, latest text amendment is used) and on site-specific conditions recommended by the planning and town engineer: submission of revised plans reflecting the correct base zone and development table, a licensed-engineer letter confirming MS4 compliance, measures to reduce impervious area to the level specified in staff comments, updated drainage documentation, required siltation and erosion controls, on-site bicycle racks, EV-charger provisions as proposed, repaving and striping of the parking area, removal of razor wire and cleanup of blighted conditions prior to permit issuance, and conservation-superintendent sign-off on planting.

Bellas repeatedly referenced 8-30g standards and the project27s goal of producing affordable housing in a community where the town is below statutory thresholds; the commission debated several conditions (for example, an impervious-area target and charging-station requirements) before adopting the staff-recommended package.

The motions to approve were passed by roll call. The commission also closed the public hearing portion after taking the vote; one earlier concern about whether the planning commission had reviewed the latest materials was resolved by conditioning approval on the April 12 submittal.

Next steps include the applicant filing the final revised plans and the required compliance letters with the Planning & Zoning office for staff verification before issuance of permits.