Stonington — A four-story, 100-unit apartment complex that contains 30 percent affordable units but does not meet many local zoning regulations is being proposed for Route 1 in Pawcatuck.

The proposed project, called The Glennon, would be located on the large grassy area in front of the existing 160-unit Bookside Village subsidized apartment complex and close to three other new affordable developments with a total of 126 units and a 76-unit senior housing development. 

Over the past year, some Pawcatuck residents have criticized plans for more affordable housing in the village and convinced voters to reject a tax break for an 82-unit affordable apartment complex proposed for the former Campbell Grain site on Coggswell Street. That vote likely derailed the project, which town officials said was important for the revitalization of downtown Pawcatuck.

Brookside Associates Limited Partnership has filed an application for a special-use permit for the project, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will now set a public hearing on the application. 

The application states the project's design and layout attempts to provide a high-quality residential product in a new energy-efficient development to meet the community need for expanded, inclusive housing.

The 84,600-square-foot building, which would be more than 48 feet high to the middle of the roof, would be located on a 2.4-acre parcel of land that borders Route 1 just east of the high school and across from Dunkin'. There would be 33 studio units, 43 one-bedroom apartments and 24 two-bedroom units along with 146 parking spots. The application also states that a traffic study shows the project would have no adverse impact on the nearby intersection or on overall traffic congestion and safety.

The application states that 70% of the units would be leased at market rate, 15% would be leased to people who earn 80% or less of the area's average median income of $92,700 and another 15% would be leased to those who earn 60% of the median income. That mix would stay in effect for 40 years.

The town is subject to the state's affordable housing law because just 5.75% of its housing stock, according to the application, is dedicated as affordable. The state requires municipalities to have 10% of affordable housing stock to be exempt from the law.

Under the law, proposed residential projects that contain an affordable component do not have to comply with local zoning regulations. A municipality can only reject a project if it can show a denial is needed to protect the health, safety or welfare of the community and those concerns outweigh the need for affordable housing. It also has to show that the health, saferty or welfare of the community cannot be protected by reasonable changes to the development.    

According to its application, many aspects of the plans for The Glendon do not meet local zoning regulations. Non-age-restricted attached housing is not allowed in the general commercial zone where the site is located unless it is part of a mixed-use development, which it is not. The project's density and number of units exceeds that which is allowed. It also does not conform with building setbacks, parking and landscaping requirements as well as other bulk and dimensional standards.  

j.wojtas@theday.com