Town officials say the school must provide a bed for every student regardless of their decision to live off-campus.
Quinnipiac University has filed a lawsuit against the town of Hamden in a zoning violation dispute. The move follows a zoning board decision to deny the university’s appeal of a recent finding that the school violated a zoning deal for its York Hill dormitory project.
The New Haven Register reported that according to terms of the zoning deal approved in 2007, Quinnipiac was required to provide one bed for every undergraduate student. The university has not done so, but argues that it met the terms of the deal by providing a bed for every student who wants one.
According to 2013 data from U.S. News and World Report, 25 percent of Quinnipiac students do not live in university-owned housing. The university argues that by providing a bed for all students who choose to live on-campus, it has fulfilled its end of the deal.
Town officials disagree, saying that the school must provide a bed for every student regardless of their decision to live off-campus.
The lawsuit filed in New Haven Superior Court asks the town to reverse the zoning board of appeals’ decision and waive all fines relating to the violation. The university faced a $150-a-day fine following the zoning board's decision earlier this year.
Charlie Smart is an intern at WNPR. This report contains information from The Associated Press.