Neighbors raise concerns over QU’s new development plans, delaying vote

The Hamden Planning and Zoning Commission pushed the vote on Quinnipiac University’s South Quad development plans after residents voiced concerns at the public hearing portion of the meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Attorney Bernard Pellegrino spoke on behalf of Quinnipiac University, presenting the updated changes to the South Quad plans and Planned Development District (PDD) application. These changes included the removal of several properties included under the university’s rezoning application, downsizing the acreage. 

The $244 million South Quad expansion is part of Quinnipiac’s 5-year “Master Plan” and the main reason why the university is seeking to become a Planned Development District (PDD) from their current R-2 zoning, which is mainly for low-density residential properties. 

A PDD is “an alternative zoning approach intended to encourage and accommodate unique and desirable development that is not able to be accommodated by Conventional Zoning,” according to the Town of Hamden’s website.

The “Master Plan” includes new academic facilities, living and learning spaces, on-campus housing and social hubs, according to QU.edu.

The university’s application says the PDD would “allow for the future development and redevelopment of the property in accordance with the Master Plan of the University.”

Sal Filardi, vice president for facilities and capital planning, spoke to the commission regarding the demographic makeup of the construction companies and workers involved in the South Quad project. 

Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission Brack Piotier questioned the university’s hiring practices regarding local and minority-owned businesses.

“The truth is I’ve been in the business for 45 years, and not one person has told me–a smaller contractor–has told me they worked for Quinnipiac University. Not one. So I’m asking you: why not?”

Brack Piotier

The commission also questioned the racial demographics among different management levels, to which Filardi explained demographics are collected based on labor hours. He also said the contractors the university hired were challenged to hire diverse and local businesses.

General Counsel and Vice President for Human Resources Elicia Spearman and Provost Debra Liebowitz from Quinnipiac University were also present and spoke in favor of the university’s PDD application approval.

The meeting also served as a public input session for Hamden residents. Nearly 30 people spoke during the public hearing portion, with about half speaking for its approval and the other half against it.

Mayor Lauren Garrett also spoke in favor of the application and explained why Quinnipiac’s renovations and additions would benefit the community.

“I applaud Quinnipiac for being academically competitive and drawing in high achieving students,” Garrett said. “High achieving students mean that we have a good community of students in our neighborhoods.”

Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Dudchik was also among those who spoke in favor of the PDD application approval and said that students living on campus positively impact local businesses.

“Businesses throughout Hamden benefit from students, faculty and staff who study and work at Quinnipiac,” Dudchik said. “They shop in Hamden, they dine and when they’re residing on campus, they’re residents of our community.”

Hamden resident Calvin DeMarsilis was among those against the approval of the application and voiced his concerns over the safety issues locals face from neighboring Quinnipiac University.

“We have a problem on Mount Carmel,” said DeMarsiliis. “It was a disaster. You can’t walk your dog. There’s neighbors of mine–presently and in the past–they couldn’t walk their children on the street whenever Quinnipiac’s in session.”

Local attorney and Hamden resident John Parese also addressed concerns with Quinnipiac’s potential change to a PDD.

“Everything that the university proposes to do can be done without the radical measures or amending and rezoning the entire 223 acres on Mount Carmel campus,” Parese said. He suggested the commission could adjust the R-2 zoning regulations for larger areas, such as those over 100 acres, like Quinnipiac.

After the meeting, Nancy Dudchik remains hopeful that a decision will be reached that can benefit all.

“The university’s extremely prepared,” Dudchik said. “They only want to do what’s right for the town. I’m hopeful that there’s going to be a great resolution going forward.”

Bethany Zemba, Quinnipiac’s vice president and community chief of staff, explained the hopes the university has going into the next commission meeting.

“Hopefully we can address those concerns and the commission will decide to approve the planned development district, that would be the hope and the goal of the meeting,” Zemba told HQNN. “And once that happens, then the university will still need to go through the site plan approval process.”

The Planning and Zoning Commission will reconvene Tuesday, Nov. 15 after election day to allow Quinnipiac University to make final remarks and answer questions from the commission before the vote.