Zoning board approves septic variance for live-work unit at 1175 South Broad Street

The Wallingford Zoning Board of Appeals on July 20 approved a variance permitting septic service where public sanitary sewer is required for a proposed live-work (middle-housing) unit at 1175 South Broad Street.

Chair Tom Wolfer opened the public hearing and said the board would publish decisions and record certified copies; staff noted an interoffice memorandum from the water and sewer division was on file. Applicant Cheyenne Lincoln told the board, “we're looking to build an attached dwelling unit,” and said the property already has an existing septic system and will be connected to public water via an existing easement.

Staff summarized the regulatory issue: Section 6.38 of the zoning regulations (middle housing) requires lots in the CB-40 district that include residential components to be served by public water and sanitary sewers to permit construction of a live-work unit. Secretary (staff) told the board that PZC site-plan approval will be required after any favorable ZBA determination and that staff had attached comments from the water and sewer division.

Harold Lincoln, speaking for the household, described past service arrangements and the limits on sewer access in the neighborhood, and said the sewer department had previously indicated extending sewer and pumping equipment would be expensive; in the hearing he stated, “he said it'd be between 4 and $500,000.” He also said Mike Flannery had indicated in a letter that the proposed water tap would not be an issue.

After closing the public hearing with no speakers for or against the application, a board member moved to approve the variance for septic service for the live-work unit at 1175 South Broad Street (plans received 06/11/2026), subject to comments from Thomas Flannery, water and sewer division (dated 07/10/2026). The motion was seconded. The roll-call vote recorded LaRocque Yes, Gross No, Ray Rice Yes, Karen Raditz Yes, and Chair Tom Wolfer Yes; the motion passed 4–1. The chair announced, “The application's been approved,” and the applicants thanked the board.

The board's approval does not remove subsequent approvals required by other bodies; staff said the applicant still must seek PZC site-plan approval and comply with the water-and-sewer division's conditions. The statutory 15-day appeal period will expire Sunday, Aug. 9, and the effective date noted by the board is Friday, July 24.