Proposal for 57‑unit PDD at 74 Todd Road draws affordability talk, noise concerns over transfer station

At its Oct. 8 meeting the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission opened and closed the public hearing on application 25‑15, a petition by J & L Enterprise LLC to change 74 Todd Road from IA‑3 to a Plan Development District to allow a four‑story, 57‑unit multifamily building on roughly 1.77 acres.

Attorney Benjamin Prodo told the commission the plan had been scaled back from an earlier 87‑unit, five‑story proposal: “We reduced the project size by one floor … eliminated the under‑building parking, and reduced the number of units to 57,” he said. Engineer Jim Swift described site‑level work, retaining walls, a widened driveway approach onto Todd Road, and a parking program using a sliding scale by unit type that yields 93 spaces overall.

Commissioners and nearby residents pressed the team on compatibility with an existing recycling/transfer station upslope of the site. Commissioner questions and public comments focused on noise from trucks and early‑morning operations; applicant representatives said the recycling facility handles construction and demolition debris inside the building, pointed to existing tree buffering, and proposed additional mitigation if needed (sound‑deadening windows and added screening).

The applicant also discussed affordable housing commitments. Project representatives said the plan would include workforce housing — referencing a 20% set‑aside under state programs — and indicated the mix would likely include units targeted at 60% and 80% AMI depending on financing and program details. Commissioner questions centered on administration and monitoring: applicants said affordability rules and reporting would be submitted to the city and state as part of final agreements.

After questions the commission voted unanimously to close the public hearing; commissioners said they will discuss the application at an upcoming meeting before any zoning or final site approvals.