Mystic — The Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission's unanimous approval of the site plan for a second 124-unit luxury apartment building last week marked the final approval for the $185 million Perkins Farm project, the most expensive development in the town's history.

The project now includes the 50,000-square-foot Hartford HealthCare medical building that opened in January 2020, as well as 121 luxury apartments known as Harbor Heights and 50 townhouses. Those projects are all complete and open.

In December, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans for a 72,000-square-foot expansion of the Hartford HealthCare medical building.

Developer David Lattizori said Tuesday that he expects to begin construction on the second apartment building by the end of the year, as there is demand for the units by empty-nesters and young professionals. He said the new apartments will have even higher end finishes than the first apartment building, including fourth-floor penthouses with lofts. 

Lattizori said he could not comment yet on the construction timetable for the Hartford HealthCare expansion. He added he also will continue to rebuild the stone walls along Jerry Browne Road and will be further improving the landscaping on the site. 

During the several-year approval process, Lattizori's project received overwhelming support from residents, business owners, town officials and neighbors who live across Jerry Browne Road at the Stone Ridge retirement community. Lattizori said the key to that support was the countless meetings he held with community members to explain the project, listen to their concerns and incorporate them into the design. He said that process balanced both the interests of the community and the developer.

Lattizori added he has been very surprised by the immediate success of the project and the demand for what it offers.

j.wojtas@theday.com