Residents urge sidewalks and tougher short‑term rental rules during Milford public comment

Residents and neighborhood association leaders used the board's public comment period to press for action on sidewalks, short‑term rentals and local quality‑of‑life issues.

Seventh grader Anusha Khan of East Shore Middle School told aldermen she and neighbors feel unsafe walking where sidewalks are absent and presented a signed petition calling for sidewalks on Rose’s Mill Road, Wildflower Drive and Peck Lane. "No one should feel unsafe simply trying to get exercise from one place to another in their own community," she said.

Multiple speakers urged the board to address short‑term rentals. Bob Dickinson said Milford had experienced a large year‑over‑year increase in short‑term rentals and described party activity, noise, parking problems and a loss of neighborhood housing stock. Curran Bishop said he came into the meeting skeptical but had come to agree there is a problem; he urged that regulations focus on owner‑occupied limits and enforcement of existing ordinances to avoid harming small, local hosts. Simon McDonald, president of the Walnut Beach Association, and Pasquale Civettella, representing the Silver Beach Association, described parking, trash, blocked beach access and speeding tied to investor‑owned rentals in shoreline neighborhoods.

Other public commenters thanked the city for prompt snow clearing and raised concerns about property value and tax messaging and the presentation of the coastal resiliency plan.

What’s next: Several aldermen and the mayor signaled they are studying short‑term rental options such as registration, owner‑occupancy requirements or local controls; no ordinance was before the board this evening.