Applicant proposes 55+ land-lease Planned Unit Development at 965 South Street in New Haven

The Town of New Haven Development Review Board heard an informal presentation on May 4 from applicant Bridget Preston on a proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) at 965 South Street that would create a 55-and-older land-lease community on a portion of a 50‑acre parcel.

Preston told the board that 11 acres of the parcel have been determined as "developable" and that the proposal would cluster development within the RA-10 zone to preserve open space. The plan calls for thirteen 0.5-acre lots clustered in the developable area and a total of 17 residential units ranging from about 900 to 1,100 square feet. Preston described the unit mix as including two two-bedroom duplex rental units and nine resident-owned one- and two-bedroom single-story homes sited on leased land owned by Full Circle Properties.

The applicant said 39 acres — roughly 78% of the parcel — would be preserved as open space, and that utilities remain to be finalized: the plan identifies a shared leach field of about 1.2 acres, but "wastewater and potable water considerations" will be determined after engineering survey results are available in the coming weeks. Preston also reported plans for an 18-foot-wide driveway and noted that right-of-way and road access were granted when Lot #3 was previously subdivided.

Preston said the developer will pursue state and nonprofit housing programs to reduce costs, specifically naming the Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program (MIHDP), the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), and the Vermont Housing Improvement Program 2.0 (VHIP). No specific grant awards or loan terms were presented at the May 4 informal review.

Zoning Administrator Peggy Connor told the board that site-plan review must comply with Section 334 of the New Haven Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, which requires a scaled site map showing existing and proposed structures, building envelopes, streets, driveways, parking and loading areas, walkways, utilities, and landscaping and screening plans. Connor said DRB approval is contingent on the applicant obtaining all required state permits and that the application has been warned for a formal Site Plan hearing on Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at the Town Office. If the DRB requests more information at that hearing, the hearing may be continued to a firm date.

The board did not take substantive action on the PUD at the May 4 informal discussion; Don Johnston disclosed he is the project surveyor and stated he will recuse himself from voting at the upcoming hearing. Kathy Barrett disclosed a familial connection (a nephew submitted a bid on the parcel) and asked whether she should recuse; the board recorded "no objection" and she remained participating.