Former Pfizer day care will become hotel for addicts
Groton — Stonington Institute is converting the former Pfizer Inc. day care facility at 40 High Rock Road into a 180-bed hotel for addicted people enrolled in the institute's clinic programs.
The facility, called High Rock Inn, would serve clients enrolled in the Stonington outpatient clinic at 618 Poquonnock Road, according to the site plan.
Living areas would be arranged in 16 suites, with 12 on a corridor for men and four on a corridor for women. Work on the facility would not change the size of the building.
Access to the building would be controlled by a keyed and staffed entry system, with Stonington staff present 24 hours a day, according to a site plan approved by the Planning Commission on Jan. 12.
Bill Savinelli, clinical director of Stonington Institute, said Friday that the inn would open in early September.
"We're going to provide a safe, secure, respectful environment," he said.
The institute submitted its application under the terms of a settlement agreement between Stonington Institute and Groton Zoning Board of Appeals, which had denied the variance.
Stonington Institute had applied in 2014 to the zoning office for a change of use for the property, saying its plan to provide “temporary supportive housing for addiction-disabled individuals” at the property satisfied the definition of hotel/motel as a permitted use of the site.
Stonington Institute in 2015 filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the town was violating federal and state Fair Housing Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Included as plaintiffs were the seller of the property, Bright Horizons Children’s Center LLC, and John and Jane Doe, unidentified clients who were potential residents of the facility.
The federal complaint indicates that numerous adjoining property owners spoke in opposition of the plan at the March 11, 2015, Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing, claiming the facility would lower property values.
Multiple neighbors also expressed concern about having addicts live in their neighborhood.
The case initially was assigned to U.S. District Judge Michael P. Meyer, who recused himself based on a potential claim of conflict of interest. The judge’s father, J. Edward Meyer, had defeated William Aniskovich, the chief executive officer and managing director of Stonington Institute, in the 2004 race for the 12th Senate District.
The lawsuit was dismissed in March 2016 after the parties reached a settlement.
“The settlement states that Stonington may be issued a zoning permit for the change in use as ‘an authorized hotel/motel’ use under the zoning regulations,” according to a site plan modification application submitted on Jan. 6.
The settlement specified that Stonington could not conduct licensed clinical treatment activities on the property, and that residents would not be allowed to use or park their cars on the property.
In addition, the settlement capped occupancy at 180 residents, and specified that Stonington not sponsor or hold formal activities for residents on the outdoor part of the property after 9:30 p.m.
“Residents of High Rock Inn would participate in the outpatient program six hours a day, five days a week, with structured activities on the weekends,” the plan said.
“For the remainder of each day, the residents will remain at High Rock Inn, and will complete homework assignments, tend to daily needs, eat meals and engage in supervised personal and group social and recreational activities,” it said.
The average length of stay, which is driven by insurance, is about 28 days, though it could be longer or shorter depending on individual circumstances, the plan said.
Staff would include reception and intake workers, facility managers, dietary staff, resident assistants and a supervisors including a designated administrative director, the plan said.
Stonington plans to build a volleyball court, basketball court, horseshoe pit and bocce ball court on the southwest corner of the property.
Plans also call for 20 evergreen trees to be planted and additional fencing near the northeast area of the building.
Day staff writer Karen Florin contributed to this story.
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