On Thursday night, Sept. 5, New London’s Planning and Zoning Commission should deny the R-2 to R-3 zone change application for Shiloh Baptist Church’s 23.57-acre property located behind Williams and Briggs streets. This zone change would “favor” the applicant so that the church can sell its land and Vessel can build four-story, 55-foot high apartment buildings. There is no “hardship” factor. This property was already zoned R-2 when the church bought it 25 years ago. It has not been developed because this forested land is too expensive to build infrastructure and R-2 one- and two-family houses with wetlands, steep slopes, Briggs Brook and ledge.

There is no contiguous R-3 zoned property adjacent to this applicant’s land to extend it to. New London’s zoning map incorrectly identifies CL&P’s abutting power line property as R-2 and R-3. It is not. City records identify this as R-2. The applicant’s zone change is not in compliance with New London’s Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). This property was not designated for higher density residential housing; whereas, Hodges Square, downtown and Fort Trumbull are (NL POCD, p.39). This zone change is about money, not what is in the best interest of the community, or in compliance with its POCD, which can be downloaded from the New London website.

Sue Weintraub

New London