Council approves sale of unbuildable lot at 37 Myrtle Avenue to Shippey estate for $15,000

The West Haven City Council voted to sell a city‑owned vacant lot at 37 Myrtle Avenue to the estate of Richard Shippey for $15,000.

The sale was recommended by the council's public lands committee and carried at the full council meeting. Committee members and council discussion noted the parcel is zoned R‑3, is not buildable in its current configuration, and measures approximately 8,000 square feet — below the R‑3 minimum lot size of 16,000 square feet, as stated in the meeting record. The parcel has been in city ownership for about 20 years after foreclosure, members said.

Councilman Gary Donovan, chairing the public lands committee, presented the item and moved it out of committee. A staff member identified in the transcript as Mike Ojelo answered committee questions and said, "This lot is not buildable. It's a R 3 zone. This is an approximately 8,000 square foot lot, and minimum lot size for R 3 is 16,000 square feet. So in its current state, it's not a buildable lot."

During public comment before committee action, resident Robert Witkowski said the property should have been put up for bid and that he would offer $60,000. The council considered that argument but recorded that the lot's limited legal buildability reduced marketability to the general public and that the primary value was to adjoining property owners in the Shippy family.

At final vote the motion carried; the meeting record notes one opposing vote and one abstention. The minutes do not list a full roll‑call tally in the transcript excerpt.

The resolution authorizes Mayor Dorinda DeBoer to execute the documents necessary to complete the sale on behalf of the city.