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Gave Preferential Treatment

The Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) has failed neighbors and East Haven taxpayers by granting special exception for operation of a rooming house in a residential neighborhood.

Recently our next-door neighbor applied to PZC for a special exception to operate a two-bedroom rooming/boarding house. A public hearing was held on Aug. 3, which many of our neighbors attended to express their opposition to allow a rooming/boarding house in their neighborhood. We were unable to attend the public hearing, but sent a certified letter to the PZC expressing our opposition to this special exception.

According to our neighbors in attendance, our letter was not read during at the public hearing, but an email was read from a current Town Council member, former PZC member, and longtime friend of the applicant encouraging the commission that this was the right thing for East Haven.

The PZC decision allowing the operation of a rooming/boarding house in our residential neighborhoods will change the character of our neighborhoods and the quality of life for East Haven residents and taxpayers. I am disappointed that PZC, under the ruse of having inadequate regulations, granted that special exception, and gave preferential treatment to someone’s personal friend and a self-serving property owner out only for financial gain at the expense of her neighbors.

A proper action by the commission should have been to table the application until zoning regulations for these types of establishments could be developed and set in place to address where these types of establishments could be located.

I encourage your readers to remember this during the next election and to vote out the members of this commission who voted for this change and elect members who will serve the community and not just the special interests.

Carl J. Florio, Jr.

East Haven