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Shelton commission continues hearing on proposed age-restricted overlay after questions on scope
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission heard a proposal to add an age-restricted residential overlay allowing 55+ developments near major corridors; commissioners asked staff for parcel mapping and guidance and continued the hearing after a 5-1 vote.
Attorney Steven Bellis presented a proposed zoning text amendment Wednesday that would create an age-restricted residential overlay permitting 55-and-older developments in R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones within a quarter-mile of specified major roadways. Bellis described the proposal as an alternative to 8-30g or large PDD applications, limiting eligible parcels to between 1.5 and 6 acres and capping density at seven units per acre.
The commission asked for more mapping and data before acting. Chair Virginia Harger and several commissioners said the map provided by the regional council (Naugatuck Valley COG) did not make parcel-level impacts clear. Commissioner Christiano voted no on a motion to continue the hearing and asked staff to generate GIS-based parcel overlays to show which individual parcels would be eligible if the amendment passed.
Why it matters: The amendment, if adopted, would change where higher-density, age-restricted housing could be proposed across Shelton. Proponents and a lobbyist for the developer argued such housing frees up single-family stock and counts toward state affordable-housing moratorium scoring, in part because elderly units carry partial point credit under Connecticut’s 8-30g scoring system.
Outstanding items: Commissioners asked staff to provide an empirical list of parcels along the named corridors that meet the proposal’s acreage, zone and distance criteria so the commission could evaluate how broad the change would be across the city. The commission also requested legal review on how such deed restrictions and homeowners association enforcement would be administered and enforced.
Outcome: The commission voted 5-1 to continue the public hearing and asked staff to prepare parcel-level GIS materials for the next meeting. Commissioner Christiano cast the lone dissenting vote.
