Huntington Village gets OK from P&Z

SHELTON — After more than two years of heated public hearings, an initial Planning and Zoning Commission denial and a court appeal, Huntington Village is now officially a reality.

The Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Wednesday voted 4-1, with commissioner Jimmy Tickey opposed, to approve final design development plans for the development of 16 single-family homes behind the Huntington Congregational

“I believe what has been created here is a single-family village concept with pedestrian walkability that is unrivaled.”

Dominick Thomas, attorney for developer Primrose Development

Church adjacent to Ripton Road.

“I believe what has been created here is a single-family village concept with pedestrian walkability that is unrivaled,” attorney Dominick Thomas, representing the developer, John Guedes of

Primrose Development, told the commission moments before the final approval.

Wednesday’s vote brings closure to the controversial proposal that was first submitted in 2018, denied by the commission and the denial appealed by Guedes who, while the appeal was still in court, filed a new project on the site for a massive 84-unit development with an affordable housing component.

The commission and Guedes reached a settlement in October 2019. At that time, the commission voted 4-2, with Tickey and fellow commissioner Mark Widomski opposed, to approve the deal that allowed for 16 singlefamily homes on approximately 6.15 acres behind the church.

“Throughout the public hearing process, the commission heard loud and clear from residents — they did not support this zone change,” Tickey told Hearst Connecticut Media after Wednesday’s meeting.

“This proposal is on 6.1 acres, less the 1.4 unbuildable acres, leaves 16 homes for 4.7 acres in an R-1 zone, not to mention in an already crowded Huntington Center,” Tickey added. “I do not believe this is good or balanced development, and do not support it.”