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Shelton zoning enforcement reports new online portal, staff additions and backlog reduction
Summary
Zoning enforcement officer Ron Baez reported new online reporting, a public kiosk, recent hires, a shrinking complaint backlog and active construction sites during the April 16 Shelton Planning & Zoning meeting.
Zoning enforcement staff told the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission on April 16 that the department will introduce a new online portal and has added personnel that have reduced the complaint backlog and improved inspection capacity.
Ron Baez, Shelton’s planning and zoning enforcement officer and wetlands enforcement officer, briefed the commission on a roughly one‑year tally of permitting and enforcement activity, staffing changes and plans for expanded online services. Baez said a kiosk on the third floor of City Hall has been installed to help applicants navigate the online permitting portal and that the city will roll out an online reporting portal for resident concerns about city buildings, parks, roadways and general issues “early this summer.”
Baez thanked recent hires — land use assistant Ava Martino and staff member Nicole Guzman — and said a professional engineer, Dominic DeGangi (listed earlier in the meeting), will add technical capacity. He told commissioners the office inherited a backlog of more than 300 complaints when he started about two and a half years ago; staff have resolved 64 complaints and currently have five open complaints in the queue.
The report covered the types of cases handled by the office (business occupancy, home offices, DBAs, sign permits and zoning violation complaints) and common complaints, including junk cars, unpermitted accessory structures, animals, unpermitted work and prohibited signs. Baez said staff perform an initial, informal visit on first complaints, leave a door tag and work with residents and other city departments, including police, where needed.
Baez listed active construction and oversight sites across the city, including projects on Veil River Road, Oliver Terrace (mulch/vehicle issues), Bridgeport Avenue (gas station work), the condominiums near Under a Road, Todd Road (McDonald’s) and a landscaping project on 75 Corn Road that he described as substantially complete. He also noted a storage building on Black Veil Road and ongoing construction tied to a Constitution Boulevard project; several commercial renovations and sign enforcement actions were reported.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the online blight reporting feature and how complaints are assigned and inspected. Baez said complaints continue to be submitted via the city’s OpenGov system and when they are assigned to him he performs site visits and documents findings. He said an increase in staff has allowed the office to start tackling enforcement items postponed in 2024 and improve overall response time.
Ending
The commission thanked Baez and staff for the update and invited further comments and suggestions as the online systems and enforcement efforts continue to roll out.
