Milford special meeting explores zoning changes for CDD 3 to encourage housing and mixed-use reuse

Participants at a special Milford meeting on Wednesday, May 28 discussed possible zoning changes for the city’s CDD 3 district to encourage housing, mixed-use development and other economic activity in a largely underused strip along Bridgeport Avenue and the Boston Post Road.

The meeting focused on high-level goals and a work plan rather than drafting ordinance text. Attendees identified large underutilized parcels — including the former Stop & Shop site, an old Fairchild trailer/yard and several former auto dealerships — and suggested allowing mixed-use, live-work, maker-space/light industrial reuse, hotels and limited residential in parts of CDD 3. The group also agreed staff should prepare parcel-size analyses and that the commission should hold a public engagement session before making regulatory changes.

The discussion matters because CDD 3 currently prohibits most housing and contains several large, vacant or underused properties that proponents say could support new economic activity if zoning rules were broadened. David Salkas, who presented maps and zoning context, said the district “currently doesn't allow any housing” and noted that housing had been permitted only through a prior, site-specific regulation for the Kmart parcel. Participants raised concerns about spot zoning and favored drafting district-wide standards rather than parcel-specific carve-outs.

Speakers outlined several redevelopment opportunities: converting large parking areas or floor space at big-box parcels into village-style housing and retail, encouraging maker or artisan space that could reuse existing light-industrial buildings, allowing limited hotel development to support restaurants and entertainment, and creating better pedestrian and bicycle connections that would be justified if more residents lived in the area. Jim Sennett and others suggested borrowing elements of the MCDD (Milford City Design District) regulations — or creating a named variant such as “MCDD plus” — to create a consistent district identity while allowing uses that reflect CDD 3’s existing industrial and auto-related uses.

Participants also flagged constraints that would affect redevelopment: grade changes and flooding near the railroad and former industrial yards, potential wetlands and environmental cleanup needs at sites like the Fairchild property, and state Department of Transportation jurisdiction for certain street improvements. David Salkas said some parcels may be preexisting nonconforming uses and that a parcel-size analysis (similar to the work done for CDD 2) would help shape what regulatory tools are appropriate.

The group discussed outreach steps. Several members advocated a public engagement session or special meeting with developers, local landowners and civic groups (one attendee specifically mentioned All in for Milford) so stakeholders could react to a preliminary framework rather than final text. The meeting’s organizers agreed to prepare a short list of preferred uses to share publicly and to schedule follow-up meetings; no formal motion or vote was taken at the May 28 session.

The meeting also touched on unrelated upcoming items on the planning agenda, including special-permit applications for 50 Daniel Street (outdoor entertainment), a proposed indoor-soccer use at 282 Quarry Road, and a two-story daycare at 708 Boston Post Road proposed for roughly 160 children. Attendees noted a House bill reported in news coverage (referred to in the meeting as HB 5002) that, if enacted, could affect municipal housing requirements; the bill was described as pending further legislative action and was not the subject of a staff presentation at the meeting.

Without objection, the chair adjourned the meeting after roughly an hour of discussion. Staff said they would prepare a one-page summary of the session and a parcel analysis for future meetings.