Shelton planning commission denies zone change for 74 Todd Road; cites traffic, noise and affordability gaps

The Shelton Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 22 unanimously denied a request to rezone 74 Todd Road from industrial IA‑3 to a Planned Development District that would have allowed a four‑story, 57‑unit apartment building.

Chair Virginia Harger summarized staff findings that the 1.77‑acre site abuts a private school, a licensed recycling and transfer facility and a commercial parking lot, and that the proposed residential use represents a “substantial departure” from the existing industrial land‑use pattern. The written findings read into the record said the absence of an updated traffic study “prevents adequate evaluation of vehicular impacts and sight line safety,” and cited unresolved grading, stormwater management and access concerns.

Commissioners raised several compatibility and livability concerns during discussion. Commissioner Kelly said she did not “see any compelling need to change the zone” for the last industrial parcel in the neighborhood. Other commissioners noted the site’s early‑morning truck activity and the risk that future residential occupants would file nuisance complaints against a long‑established transfer operation. One commissioner framed the noise problem bluntly: “I would hate to … live in an apartment … I could not open my windows to get fresh air in because of the noise,” the commissioner said.

Staff described the proposed project as a roughly 50‑foot (about 3½‑story) building with 57 units — 2 studios, 41 one‑bedroom units and 15 two‑bedroom units — and 93 surface parking spaces, and said utilities are available on Todd Road. The applicant had proposed mitigation measures including resilient wall assemblies, a line of pines for buffering and the option of a future sound barrier, but commissioners said those measures were not sufficient given the site’s context.

After staff presented a draft resolution reflecting these concerns, Commissioner Kelly moved to deny the zone change; the motion was seconded and the commission approved the denial by roll call vote, 6–0. The resolution cited Section 34 of the Shelton zoning regulations and listed the unresolved issues — access and traffic impacts, noise compatibility with adjacent industrial operations, and inadequate infrastructure and affordability commitments — as the basis for denial.

The denial applies to the zone change request; it does not by itself preclude the filing of a different application or revised proposal. The commission directed staff to place the denial in the record; no further action on this application was taken at the meeting.

The commission scheduled other pending items and adjourned at 6:39 p.m.