Milford planning commission recommends denial of 40-unit Truett Avenue subdivision over floodplain and wetlands concerns

The Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Milford voted on Aug. 19, 2025, to recommend denial of a preliminary major subdivision application (MJSP0042024) from Carlisle Lane LLC that would consolidate five parcels on Truett Avenue into 39 townhouse lots and one single-family lot.

The commission’s recommendation followed public comment and a multi-part review of waiver requests. Planning Director Rob Pierce presented the application and staff report, which noted requests to reduce street pavement and right-of-way widths, to plat portions of rear yards into the 100-year floodplain and within 25 feet of delineated wetlands, and to provide cash in lieu of required on-site recreational open space.

The commission’s recommendation matters because the proposal raises multiple code and environmental issues and will now be considered by City Council. The staff packet and public comments flagged potential conflicts with Milford’s subdivision code and the city’s comprehensive plan, concerns that several commissioners cited when voting.

Carlisle Lane LLC’s design representative, Gary Smaglia, described the project layout and engineering approach during the hearing. Smaglia said the plan calls for a new 30-foot-wide internal street, four stormwater management ponds to meet DNREC sediment and stormwater requirements, water and sewer laterals to each unit and an 18-foot one-way alley. He told the commission that "the proposed subdivision meets the City Of Milford off street parking requirements through each unit having enough driveway space for 1 and a half vehicles and then the garage space with each vehicle is another 1 totaling 2 and a half parking spaces." The applicant requested five specific waivers summarized in the staff report.

Matt Fint, who identified himself…