Milford Planning Board approves ADU with conditions, grants one-year special-permit extension and forwards ZBA recommendation

The Milford Planning Board on June 16 approved three agenda actions: an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 26 West Walnut Street with conditions, a one-year extension for a special permit at 0 East Main Street, and a favorable Zoning Board of Appeals referral for 53-55 Congress Street with a safety-related parking condition.

Chair Jose Morais called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.; members present were Joseph Calagione, Marble Mainini III, Martha L. White and Christopher Wilson. The board first voted to approve the minutes of its June 2 meeting (motion by Marble Mainini III; second by Martha L. White). Joseph Calagione abstained from that vote.

On the 0 East Main Street special-permit extension, Attorney Rob Knapik told the board the project remains engaged in state permitting processes with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which delayed final approvals. Town Engineer Elizabeth Mainini and Town Planner Matthew Benoit described the state permitting as lengthy. The board voted unanimously to grant a one-year extension (motion by Joseph Calagione; second by Martha L. White).

The board then considered a site-plan application for an ADU at 26 West Walnut Street. Project manager Stephanie Mysiuk told the board the applicant is waiting for Sewer Department direction on whether the new unit will connect to the street or to the primary house. Town Planner Matthew Benoit said the submitted plans did not show the required dedicated ADU parking space and did not include the 4,000-square-foot open-space calculation required in the RA district. Marble Mainini III moved to approve the ADU with the condition that the final plans show the ADU parking space and include open-space calculations; Martha L. White seconded. Christopher Wilson voted no; the motion carried.

On a ZBA referral for 53-55 Congress Street, Benoit said the application would convert a former dentist's office plus a two-family dwelling into a multi-family unit. The use requires six parking spaces; the plans show eight, including two spaces located on Congress Street. Benoit recommended a favorable referral to the Zoning Board of Appeals provided the two spaces on Congress Street are removed for safety reasons. The board voted to make that favorable recommendation with the stated condition (motion by Marble Mainini III; second by Martha L. White).

Other agenda items were procedural or informational: the board continued both the site-plan and stormwater-permit hearings for 225 West Street to the July 14, 2026 meeting at the applicant's request, and Town Engineer Elizabeth Mainini reported on signage changes at 31 Beaver Street intended to improve traffic visibility. The board set its next meeting for July 14 and adjourned at 8:02 P.M.

Votes at a glance - Minutes (June 2, 2026): Approved (Calagione abstained). - 225 West St. site plan: Continued to July 14, 2026 (unanimous). - 225 West St. stormwater permit: Continued to July 14, 2026 (unanimous). - Special permit extension, 0 East Main St.: One-year extension granted (unanimous). - ADU, 26 West Walnut St.: Approved with conditions to show ADU parking and 4,000-sf open-space calculations (Mainini yes; White yes; Morais yes; Calagione yes; Wilson no). - ZBA referral, 53-55 Congress St.: Favorable recommendation with condition to remove two Congress Street parking spaces for safety (unanimous).

The board did not take final votes on zoning bylaw language; rules and regulation updates remain with Town Counsel for review.