The Milford Planning and Zoning Board on Jan. 7 voted to adopt four proposed regulation amendments to bring the city’s zoning regulations into compliance with Connecticut statutes and the state building code. The changes were proposed by the board’s Regulation Subcommittee and will take effect Jan. 31, 2025.

City planning staffer David Sulkes summarized the package. Amendment 24‑6 revises Article 6, Section 6.3.6 (restoration) to mirror state statutory language governing the right to rebuild structures destroyed or damaged by fire, explosion or other casualty. Sulkes said the language aligns local rules with state law so owners may, under specified conditions, restore a preexisting nonconforming structure without penalty.

Amendment 24‑7 removes local text that created expiration conditions for variances inconsistent with state statute. Amendment 24‑8 (Article 9, Section 9.4) revises revocation and rehearing language for appeals to conform to state case law and statutory limits on municipal revocation authority. Amendment 24‑9 removes local minimum unit‑size requirements where state law and the Connecticut building code govern allowable unit sizes.

Board members discussed the policy tradeoffs. One member asked whether the restoration language effectively perpetuates nonconformity; Sulkes said the change implements state law and that in some cases owners may restore a preexisting nonconforming structure within its original footprint, but may not expand the nonconformity. Another member asked whether the regulation package would create legal exposure if the board rejected the changes; staff said the package aligns local rules to state law and declining to adopt the amendments could create conflict with state statutes.

All four amendments were moved, seconded and approved by the board with the stated effective date of Jan. 31, 2025.

Ending: The four amendments standardize Milford’s zoning regulations with Connecticut law and the state building code; staff will update the regulations and communicate effective‑date procedures to applicants and enforcement staff.