Church neglected to consult Bridgeport neighborhood
Zoning battles are nothing new in Bridgeport.
Well-connected applicants, developers and lawyers are pitted against unrepresented neighborhood groups, trying to convey the message that one’s home is his castle.
One battle is garnering attention these days. Connecticut Post scribe Brian Lockhart has been covering Bishop Caggiano’s plan to transform the Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Center on Jewett Avenue into a two-year college, Bellarmine College. Nearby residents oppose this project citing congestion and traffic issues.
The center is located in a Residence A zone in the City’s North End, District 134. City Council Member Michelle Lyons, who represents this district on the City Council, has been leading this battle.
On Dec. 29, attorney Ray Rizio, on behalf of Bishop Caggiano, filed an application with the Planning and Zoning Commission seeking a special permit to change the use of the center from administrative headquarters into a twoyear college to serve underprivileged Bridgeport students.
The application states that Bellarmine College would deliver a Jesuit education in association with Fairfield University. The bishop’s Bellarmine campus fact sheet states “no more than 100 students on campus at a time ... the campus will not have overnight residency.”
Longtime North End residents remember that Sacred Heart University was promoted years ago by Bishop Curtis as a “commuter college.” How did that turn out? Caggiano and his staff have been working on this plan for years. However, the neighborhood did not learn of this effort to place a college in their dense and congested neighborhood until the application appeared on the P&Z agenda in February.
While waiting for a P&Z public hearing on this application, attorney Russell Liskov, a former associate city attorney turned consultant, issued a two-paragraph opinion to city zoning official Dennis Buckley. Liskov stated that he had “reviewed the application” for use of the property by Fairfield University. He also represented that he had reviewed “prior approvals” which allowed the property to be used as an educational site.
He concluded that Bellarmine College could be approved as a matter or right. Translated, this means there was no need to hold a public hearing and listen to the neighbors defend their property values in order to green-light the project.
In Bridgeport zoning matters, the insiders never do in the clear light of day that which they can accomplish without public input or scrutiny.
Buckley accepted Liskov’s opinion and contacted Lyons to notify her of his ruling. He said that the matter would be “withdrawn from the P&Z agenda.” In other words, no hearing would be held.
Fortunately, the neighbors fought back.
Lyons, and Lisa Williams, a neighbor, appealed Buckley’s ruling to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Buckley, the official who issued the ruling, is also the clerk of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the agency to whom the appeal is addressed. The ZBA will render a decision on his ruling.
Conflict of interest? Compounding the issue, Liskov is the legal counsel for both the P&Z and the ZBA.
City Attorney Christopher Meyer weighed in on the controversy on the last business day before the scheduled public hearing. He issued an opinion overruling Liskov. Meyer’s opinion agreed with the analysis contained in Lyons’ appeal to the ZBA. He opined that the zoning regulations in effect at the time of the application prohibited the use of the property as a college or university.
However, the issue has not been resolved and the application has not been withdrawn.
The bishop has continued his campaign of not-so veiled threats directed at the neighborhood. At the bishop’s information session, the neighbors were repeatedly informed that the diocese cannot afford to maintain the property in its limited use. It needs funds to move forward.
If we are not allowed to proceed with this plan, we will have no choice but to develop this land with a 300 condominium housing project, the diocese has threatened.
In other words, we can make it worse for you if you don’t cooperate.
In a 2019 Accountability Report to the diocese, paid for by the diocese, retired judge Robert Holzberg, of the law firm Pullman & Comley, made reference to the total amount paid by the diocese as settlement for the acts of errant priests towards minors. As painful as it may be to remember, the people in the pews of this diocese were asked to fork over $56 million in settlements of claims filed by victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy.
Sadly and tragically, the Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocese faces serious financial challenges. It is true, the diocese, like every enterprise, needs funds to continue operating. Fairfield University’s plan to renovate the property and obtain funds to cover the expense of daily operations through Pell Grants to disadvantaged Bridgeport students sounds like a win-win situation.
It is too bad no one considered the neighbors, the people who live there, the people who will be directly impacted by the traffic, the lack of open space and the violation of their right to quiet enjoyment of their property.
But that is the way it is when folks in power make decisions for those without the necessary resources to defend themselves. It just hurts a little more when those making the decisions are holding themselves out as “Standing with Christ.”