Neighborhood Grocery Store Being Pursued For Downtown Milford

MILFORD, CT — Milford officials and a major developer confirmed that efforts are underway to bring a small grocer to the downtown area.

The topic of a small grocer was discussed as part of the mixed-use application proposed by Robert Smith Jr. at 44-64 River Street. The plans were approved by the Planning and Zoning Board in May.

Smith, who is executive managing director and managing member of Metro TOD, LLC, reviewed the history of the city’s purchase of the parcel with the result of MetroStar submitting the winning proposal and purchased the property with the added requirement of adding a municipal garage.

He discussed research done regarding Transit-Oriented-District planning as it applies to downtown Milford. He said the building had coastal-inspired architecture and features apartments, ground-floor retail, and municipal spaces in the lower garage forming a true mixed-use, commuter-centric community. He said the initial targeted tenant for the retail space will be a "neighborhood grocer."

Redevelopment plans consist of a 12,325 square-feet of commercial space on the ground level along with 50 apartments on the second and third floors. The units will be 40, 1-bedroom, 6, 2-bedroom, and 4 efficiency units. The parking structure will add 120 spaces.

Architect Ray Oliver said the project would replace a mixed-use building with another mixed-use project. He stressed that certain elements will not be visible, namely the below-grade parking garage for the benefit of Milford public use. He said the garage space will be leased back to the city for a dollar per year. He reviewed the garage layout including an elevator, handicapped and bicycle spaces with the main entryway on River Street.

He said shared the at-grade floor plan featuring parking spaces available to stores and residences a terrace and handicapped access on Darina Place.

He said the terrace can be used for dining outdoors and other gatherings that that a large space at this level can be used for a farmer’s market or other activities. He displayed elevations
incorporating the nautical history of the city and featuring fieldstone work that evokes the Taylor library and tower bridge. He said the residential units will have access to a tenant fitness center at the opposite end of the tower side of the building. He noted that the railroad-facing side of the building is fully detailed as well as the rear elevation.

Ron Wassmer said he worked closely with the City’s engineering, fire, and police departments to be sure that any of their potential concerns with the building were addressed.

Pete Smith, Downtown River Development Committee, discussed the project, saying he was appointed to chair the committee from 2016-2019 and that the committee was tasked to provide a Transit-Oriented District review to identify the best use of the parcel, which had been acquired by the city via a state grant. He said 25 meetings and public hearings were held to that end. He
said the height of the building was limited to reduce density and that the MetroTOD, LLC, proposal fit all the key requirements of the study. He said there is an attempt underway to find a small grocer for the first floor.

He noted that the underground parking was unique among the plans reviewed and that selecting the best parking proposal was important to the committee.

Chairman James Quish said in the recent past, large impactful downtown projects were opened to public hearings, but this proposal was vetted at a different level and would not be opened.

PZB member Carl S. Moore asked if spots were available for electronic vehicle charging or for
metered parking; he was advised that parking meters are controlled by city and one electric charging station was planned with the provision to add more in the future.

PZB member C. Robert Satti discussed the traffic patterns for ingress and egress as well as how traffic might be affected by the parcel delivery kiosk.

Wassmer said current parallel parking spaces will be removed and the street widened to
25’. Satti confirmed that Railroad Avenue is owned by the State of Connecticut and that the owners are in the process of requesting an easement from CT DOT and that deliver truck maneuverability had been reviewed by the police and fire departments.

Quish asked if there will be a sidewalk; Wassmer said the grade prohibited the installation of a
sidewalk without steps; Quish further discussed foot traffic around the area and that he agreed with Moore that about adding more charging stations.

Smith said his projects always meet or exceed Energy Star certification levels and he is
open to more charging stations. The PZB approval required two charging stations.