There’s no disputing that David Lattizori, as well as his father before him, demonstrated a tremendous amount of stick-to-itiveness and flexibility in working with both neighbors and town officials over nearly two decades to arrive at an appropriate development proposal for the former Perkins Farm site in Mystic.

Because of this perseverance, the town, neighbors and developers, to say nothing of the new Perkins Farm residents, will be soon collecting the rewards of these efforts. Lattizori deserves praise for continuing to refine and adapt the development of this parcel — a wedge of land that abuts Jerry Browne Road and backs up along I-95 — long after others would have walked away.

Lattizori deserves credit, also, for the professionalism he demonstrated through the long and arduous land use regulatory process and for including attractive amenities, such as a public trail system through a large segment of open space at the site. Still, the housing needs ultimately met by Perkins Farm are narrow and leave many segments of Stonington’s and the region’s population with little to cheer about.

The town of Stonington and its taxpayers are among the big winners in this development. Perkins Farm’s three phases, two residential and one office park featuring a flagship $24 million Hartford Healthcare medical building, will produce a huge payout. The total development is likely to outstrip the neighboring StoneRidge community for senior citizens as the town’s largest taxpayer. Lattizori estimates Perkins Farm will provide a net gain of $1 million annually in terms of tax potential to the town. The 36-lot single home development approved for the 71-acre site in 2011 would have resulted in an estimated $260,000 net annual tax loss, largely because of the cost to educate children who might have moved into houses there.

Also positive is the fact the current development preserves about half of the site as open space with the planned public trail system. The developer expects to donate the open space to Avalonia Land Conservancy.

Lattizori told our editorial board he was just a week away from selling the land and its approved 36-lot subdivision plans to another developer when he began meeting with StoneRidge residents, many of whom loudly objected to various earlier development proposals. They wanted to see it developed with, in part, a range of health care services, including medical specialties focused on meeting the needs of a geriatric population.

The upscale residential units at the site — a cluster of 50 townhouses and 121 rental apartments — are most likely to attract downsizing empty nesters and young professionals. The open space and trail system, along with amenities for the apartments that will include a pool and clubhouse, will help lure these groups. Lattizori notes the medical services at the site will provide convenient one-stop health care for Perkins Farm and StoneRidge residents, as well as the general public.

Despite these positives, we remind Stonington officials there are many other residents in town not served by this development. Town planners should not ignore these people when assessing future development.

Many less financially fortunate seniors, for example, live in subsidized housing in Pawcatuck and will not realize any convenience by having more health care services in Mystic. Young teachers, public safety workers, tourism business employees and many young entrepreneurs also are unlikely to find the estimated $1,650- to $2,200-a-month rents at the Perkins Farm apartments within their financial means.

Plenty of attention is being focused on the young engineers who will be hired by Electric Boat in the upcoming years. The EB expansion, however, will also attract — directly and indirectly — other workers to southeastern Connecticut who will not have as deep pockets as the engineers.

While the Perkins Farm development will prove popular, smart development also means providing housing for an economically diverse population.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.