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Planning staff expands monthly report, says formal zoning orders low amid understaffing
Summary
Meriden planning staff presented expanded monthly land‑use statistics, reporting six formal zoning orders since Aug. 19 and year‑to‑date approvals of 18 single‑family and 63 multifamily units; staff said the low formal‑order count reflects informal resolutions and a part‑time enforcement officer.
Planning staff presented an expanded monthly report to the Meriden Housing and Zoning Committee, saying the city will now track land‑use agency activity (planning commission, zoning board of appeals and inland wetlands) since the last meeting and provide more comparative and year‑over‑year metrics.
"What we're going to report on each month is whatever has occurred at the land use agency meetings," the planning staff member said, noting a few slides were still in progress. The report listed applications and enforcement activity since the committee last met and highlighted staffing constraints.
Staff said six formal zoning violation orders have been issued since Aug. 19, but added that the count only includes cases that reached the formal‑order stage. "Typically the zoning enforcement officer first tries to get the issue resolved without having to issue an order at all," staff said, and that the city currently has one zoning enforcement officer who is also a planner and is not full time in enforcement.
The report gave year‑to‑date enforcement totals of 61 zoning violations, three property maintenance violations and two new blight violations and noted the next code walk is scheduled for Oct. 3.
On land‑use applications, staff said the Quarry Lane subdivision was tabled to allow review of complex issues and will return to the planning commission at the next meeting. A small addition to the bank at 285 and 299 Broad Street (rear drive‑through ATM lanes) was approved with conditions.
Housing approvals were summarized as 18 single‑family homes and 63 multifamily units approved so far this year; staff reported two single‑family demolitions and described the year‑to‑date net as a gain of 79 approved residential units. Staff proposed a working definition for reporting: 2–9 units as "middle housing" and 10 or more as "multifamily."
Committee members asked for comparative metrics with similar cities and for building‑permit turnaround time (application to issuance) so Meriden can benchmark staffing and performance. Staff agreed to compile comparative data, year‑over‑year housing trends and potential staffing options for permit processing.
The committee will receive an update after the Oct. 3 code walk and on the continued Quarry Lane application at the planning commission's next meeting.
