Morgan Point Development, Two Developers, One Big Headache

Our little secluded neighborhood of Morgan Point has had it's rebuilding projects from hurricanes Sandy and Irene over the past decade. Neighbors trying to save their properties from further storm damage have been happening quite regularly. Our neighbors have made the investments in to their homes and deserve a fair shake at trying to preserve their nest eggs. So we applaud them for making our neighborhood of Morgan Point a safer and better place to live.

What is of great concern in Morgan Point are several "little projects" that are attempting to get off the ground. If you don't read the East Haven Courier and pay close attention to the the public notices section please do. This week's edition has two notices in the paper. The first is the notice of appeal of a violation against Ralph Mauro. Ralph is a full time developer who has several projects in the Town of East Haven. The most controversial is the old DC Moore School where he is trying to build several units near protected lands. Just recently he also acquired the old Longs Florist property on Dodge Avenue and is trying to build a 6 lot development there. The violations that Mr. Mauro has to answer to the Zoning Board of Appeals involve his continued disregard for zoning regulations on Morgan Terrace. Where he is seeking to build a home on a vacant lot.

The second application of appeal is from John Miessau, a resident of Morgan Point and who is part owner of the Lighthouse Marina. Mr. Miessau is seeking to build a home at 5 Pequot Street between Morgan Avenue and Hampton Road. This parcel of land is a triangle shape lot with little rear setbacks and a minimum frontage on Pequot Street. If granted another house would rise on land that is cluttered with homes. The lot Mr. Miessau is planning to build on is non-conforming and according to the application was out rightly denied by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. Joseph Budrow. Both applications are on the public hearing docket for Thursday July 15, 2021 at 7:00pm at the East Haven Senior Center or if you'd like to Zoom in you can do that too.

Although character and personalities are never apart of the application process nor should ever be decided that way it is important to know who are the people behind these projects. What is their history with land development and what kind of neighbor will they be? Although it may be subjective to the viewer, facts about the past don't lie.

Mr. Ralph Mauro, people maybe familiar with Ralph from East Haven Town Hall. He served as Mayor April Capone's Director of Administration during her two terms in office. Ralph, a Branford resident, knows the Town of East Haven very well and has a keen eye for property development. His projects are always built nicely but has been known to ruffle the feathers of neighbors with some of his proposals such as the DC Moore Project. The DC Moore project remains undetermined but I'm sure it will be before the East Haven public shortly when he finishes the Dodge Avenue project.

Mr. John Miessau, if you live in Morgan Point you probably know John or have seen him around. John works full time at a local utility company and is trying to break into the world of property development. John's resume of construction is no where near the skill or deep pockets of his fellow developer Ralph Mauro although he does have his brother in law's (Joseph McDonald Jr.) business McDonald Construction of Branford backing him if he is granted the application to build. McDonald Construction is a long time reputable construction business that have completed many projects around East Haven.

Both of these men are family men. They have wives, children and grandchildren and they are trying to earn a living. No one is trying to deny them of this. However, just because they have the land doesn't mean that everyone that is around these properties has to lay down and allow them just to do whatever they want. There are rules, laws and ordinances they must follow. One more than the other seems not to believe that those pertain to them. As we have said history means everything here and both men have a public past that the reader needs to know about so they can decide if they would support or deny their efforts at the next Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.

Mr. Miessau as stated above does have a history with the Town of East Haven with his properties. Land research has shown that he has or has owned several properties throughout town. The most controversial property is the Lighthouse Marina on Old Town Highway off of Sibley Lane. Just this past fall there was a big incident with road millings from the Town of East Haven being dumped on to a portion of Sibley Lane so that Mr. Miessau and his Brother in Law Joseph McDonald could spread the remnants across Sibley Lane (access road) to the Lighthouse Marina. This complaint came from a local neighbor to the Connecticut DEEP and there were notices of violations issued. These millings came from the Town as they were reconstructing Morgan Avenue. You the reader may say what's the big deal? Well here is the deal. No permits were pulled, no meetings were attended. No notices to any officials or residents were given. No person can just do what they want especially with Town owned property as the millings were. The area around Sibley Lane and Old Town Highway are protected inland wetlands and tidal wetlands. Now what becomes of that water that comes off this land? Do you own a well? See the point? See the concern of Mr. Miessau's application before the Zoning Board of Appeals? Although he has a right to appeal it's the defiance that he's being told "no" that makes you wonder what kind of neighbor will he be on Pequot Street?

Mr. Mauro, while much more politically savvy and experienced in the world of development has taken a nasty approach to the events down in our neighborhood and by his actions he is doing what he wants when he wants because the Town is also telling him no. The property lot on Morgan Terrace has been vacant for years and he's looking to build on the land. It too is a non conforming lot and since he wasn't given the authority to do so he has now parked a large mobile camper on the property which is also a violation of our Town regulations and ordinances. Also he has parked his construction vehicles right in front of another property he owns and is rebuilding on Morgan Avenue. Does this seem like good intensions from a prospective new neighbor to our community? Ralph Mauro's fight with the Town of East Haven is making everyone in the Morgan Point neighborhood suffer and we've done nothing but keep our properties to the highest standards and highest property values. Why does this neighborhood have to be subject to the antics of two developers who seem to ignore the law to get what they want? I say we show up at the hearings on July 15, 2001 and let our voices be heard. We want common sense development not greed and spot zoning that has been East Haven's past practice.

We will continue to post more stories as we dig in deeper. This is our neighborhood we all must stand together and make though who do not follow rules and regulations comply.