And now join us for: THE CONTINUING SAGA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CHESHIRE.

On last months episode, you saw the proposed 20 unit affordable housing development to be located on Rumberg Road in front of Beachport-defeated by Planning and Zoning because of setback issues.

So now, our main players, To Design LLC, have re-submitted the plans and adjusted the setback from 12 feet to 17 feet away from the main Beachport Building.

But remember, the project NEEDS TO HAVE 20 UNITS IN ORDER TO BE PROFITABLE. (Boy, I hope my shift key never breaks or I am OUT OF BUSINESS)!!

There are already 6 units on the property at the Foote House which is that large white house right on West Main Street-so 14 more units in three buildings are still being proposed.

I have no problem with affordable housing-NOT AT ALL-IT DOESN’T BOTHER ME-I know what some people think-that it will attract “THE WRONG CROWD” whatever that means-but again I will re-iterate-I LIVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN I FIRST ENTERED THE JOB MARKET.

Cheshire cannot deny this application in its purest form because the town has LESS than 5 percent of affordable housing units. I believe the town has somewhere in the area of 3 percent of its housing units designated as affordable, thus disqualifying them from denying the application based on just the affordable housing aspect.

I mean the project does have to conform to setbacks and other P &Z regulations-but just flat out denying it because it is affordable housing will not fly.

I do feel for the neighboring homeowners on West Main Street because I DO BELIEVE PARKING WILL BE A PROBLEM-it will be high density.

And I don’t care who says what, trying to get in and out of there at the WRONG time of the day-like during rush hour-4 and 5 p.m.-will be TRICKY.

The residents in that area deserve to be heard and they deserve to be respected. I do not envy the P and Z at this time-THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION they must make with literally one hand tied behind their backs.

I did find an interesting article from HOMECONNECTICUT that made this analogy:

An analysis of 2007 data by HOMEConnecticut shows that, in spite of recent declines in sales and prices for single family homes in Connecticut, most of its towns and cities – 142 – remained unaffordable for the majority of their families in 2007.

Click here for the rest of the HOMEConnecticut article

IN OTHER NEWS:

I am still hearing feedback about this proposed age restricted housing between Wiese and Bradford Roads.

One thing I did want to state: ahem-yeah, this development will be high density in a nice area of town-TRUE-but it’s funny-I guess where I reside must not be a nice area of town because we have a high density development off Dundee Drive-I mean it is nice and houses are well kept-but it is high density and would have been even higher is a certain woman in our neighborhood who is an environmentalist had not fought tooth and nail about 15 years ago to preserve much of the open space and wildlife in this area.

When she asked my spouse and I to help her and we accompanied her to a P &Z hearing, this woman nearly got laughed out of the room!!

And speaking of this Richmond Glen/Serenity Ranch development–

Sound familiar?

And I know there has been TALK of some states allowing younger people to reside in age-restricted housing.

Well, here is one community that had other thoughts

Click here

Notice the line in the article:”“I didn’t hear any answers to how homeowners’ association would enforce this,” said Jen Terrasa, a King’s Contrivance Democrat.

Exactly!!

Putting responsibility that would normally belong to A TOWN OR CITY into the hands of a HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION is derelict to put it mildly and at the least-hoping for the best!!

And FINALLY:

The following link to this video I will bet is what SOME people who run this town WISH they could do to me and a few others that speak out in this town!!

click here

OMG!! IT LOOKS LIKE THE BASEMENT IN THE TOWN HALL!! I WONDER WHO IS BEHIND THE MASK??