Waterford — The Planning & Zoning Commission shot down a controversial proposal to build a multifamily housing complex on the site of the former Cohanzie School by a 4-1 vote Wednesday night.

Developer Harold Foley and Attorney Bill Sweeney declined to comment after the meeting on whether the proposal is dead or if they plan to appeal decision. But the approximately 100 Waterford residents sitting, standing and lined up along the walls during the public hearing were ecstatic with the decision.

For more than two years, attempts to develop multifamily housing at 48 Dayton Road have been stonewalled. The state’s Department of Economic and Community Development awarded a grant to Waterford to help fund the demolition and remediation of the now-defunct Cohanzie School — added wings were demolished, but the original 1923 portion was kept intact. The town and state have spent more than $900,000 on the 10.6-acre site.

Foley and his Georgia-based HF3 Group LLC appeared sensitive to residents' concerns, especially because the last bid to build multifamily housing on the site proposed a much higher density — 154 units rather than Foley’s 44.

During his presentation to the commission, Sweeney said Foley was willing to build 40 apartments instead of 44. This would mean the four proposed apartments in the former school would not be built, only the four apartment buildings on site. Sweeney acknowledged this was a gesture of good faith, and it likely wouldn’t persuade residents to accept the plan.

The sometimes loud, rowdy showing from residents against the proposed project made the hearing a contentious one. About 14 townspeople offered their thoughts to the commission, and only one, Robert Nye, was in favor.

Nye is a municipal historian concerned primarily with the preservation of the former Cohanzie School. He also said Waterford “needs affordable housing” and that the opposition to the proposal is “based in fear.” He was supportive of restoring the school and using it as some sort of community space. When he concluded his testimony, he faced jeers and cries of “go home” from attendees.

Others who spoke to the commission raised concerns about issues such as community character and increased traffic. Shawn Monahan, who lives on Dayton Road, said he thinks property values would decrease if the apartments were built. And Cohanzie Fire Chief Todd Branche said the housing doesn’t make sense in the neighborhood.

“Additional occupancies are going to strain some of the services that we currently have,” Branche said. “Certainly, you have the right to approve the project, but for the sake of these people, do the right thing.”

Each comment against the project was met with rapturous applause.

Another Waterford resident, Racheal Norman, made an emotional appeal not to build the multifamily housing.

“I stayed in the area because of family, because of location, and because it’s Waterford,” Norman said through tears. “When you think of Waterford, you think of these small communities. I just don’t want you guys to approve this, and I think everybody here feels the same way.”

During his presentation, Sweeney reminded commission members that if the proposal were approved, Foley would renovate the school at his own expense. He argued, based on an MIT study, that the project wouldn’t decrease property values. And he talked specifically about the intent of Section 18A in Waterford’s zoning code, which regards adaptive reuse development for multifamily or mixed-use development.

Commission member Gregory Massad said repeatedly that he felt the housing would change the fabric of the community — he argued that having a school, a firehouse and a park in the neighborhood didn't make it mixed-use, it just made it a neighborhood.

Massad also said that Foley’s group couldn’t do both adaptive reuse and development, that if they were to develop, they may have to destroy the Cohanzie School, an even less attractive option to residents.

But during his presentation, Sweeney had submitted a letter from Dennis Goderre, the former planning director of the town of Waterford, who said he was "closely involved" in drafting Section 18A. Goderre wrote, "In no instance does this definition refer to the need to demolish a building in order to construct new 'development' or be considered 'development' as recognized by zoning regulations."

Citizens and planning & zoning members accused the developers of using the proposed renovation of the Cohanzie School as leverage to shoehorn in multifamily housing.

Commission member Tim Bleasdale was the only vote in favor of the project.

Amid the applause and celebration after the vote, Nye lamented Waterford’s continued lack of affordable housing and the now-uncertain future of the former Cohanzie School.

Commission members said they decided the development didn’t fit with the surrounding environment. It’s within their rights to base their vote on that thinking.

s.spinella@theday.com