Planning Board grants conditional approval for Stone Ledge 70‑unit townhouse development

The Milford Planning Board on April 15 conditionally approved a major site‑plan application from Bulldog Holdings LLC (formerly Loyal Holdings LLC) for the Stone Ledge development: 70 multifamily townhouse‑style units proposed near Nathaniel Drive and South Street, subject to a set of conditions addressing traffic monitoring, water‑main work, sidewalks and required state permits.

Matt Peterson of Keach Norsham Associates, representing the applicant, updated the board on items the applicant had been asked to resolve since earlier hearings. He told the board the team had refined traffic‑monitoring language, reached agreement with the Milford Water Department on a new water main down Webster Street to Gilson Street, revised street names and addressed fire‑department requests for addresses and sidewalks. "We have now done that," Peterson said, describing the remaining items as administrative and coordination details.

Traffic monitoring: the applicant agreed to periodic post‑occupancy traffic monitoring at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth anniversaries tied to an occupancy milestone. The board read into the record the monitoring language: a project traffic monitoring report will include total average daily trips measured at the Stone Ledge community entrance and seven consecutive days of AM and PM peak period counts; the applicant or successor will pay reasonable costs for a third‑party review arranged by the town.

Utilities and construction: Peterson said the developer is coordinating with the Milford Water Department to install a new main along Webster Street and Gilson Street, replacing an aging main that will remain in place but “crushed in place” after the new main is online. Water Utilities Director Jim Pollard estimated main installation would likely start in about a year and take one to three months; he said property owners on Webster and Gilson streets would be notified and the water department would set up temporary water service if needed. Pollard told the board the existing 6‑inch sewer line in Webster Street had been reviewed by engineers and is sufficient for projected additional flow.

Sidewalks and voluntary contribution: the developer proposed roughly 2,000 feet of sidewalk within the project and offered a voluntary financial contribution to advance sidewalk improvements offsite. Board members discussed how the town would hold and account for a voluntary contribution and whether to index the contribution for inflation; the applicant said it had included a 10% contingency in its estimate.

Public safety and blasting: the board noted state and town blasting regulations apply. The town planner said notice and adherence to state and local blasting rules would be included in the notice of decision.

Board action: following discussion, one member abstained and the remainder voted to grant conditional approval with conditions that include completion of the water‑main agreements, the traffic‑monitoring schedule and language, the voluntary sidewalk contribution arrangement, and an explicit requirement that blasting follow state and local rules and notification. The applicant reported it has received its AOT permit and expects a sewer discharge permit within about two weeks.

Why it matters: the approval allows construction to proceed toward 70 new units in the northeast section of town while preserving the town’s ability to monitor traffic impacts and coordinate utilities and public‑safety safeguards as the project proceeds.

What remains: the developer must finalize the utility agreements, provide the periodic traffic‑monitoring data on schedule and supply any outstanding state permits before full build‑out proceeds.