Stonington -- A developer is proposing to construct a 130-unit housing project, that would mix affordable and market rate units, on the vacant lawn in front of the Brookside Village complex in Pawcatuck.

The town's Architectural Design Review Board reviewed the preliminary plans for the four-story Brookside Villages II project on Monday. The owner, Brookside Association Limited Partnership and the applicant/ developer, Gilbane Development Co. of Providence, have not yet filed an application for zoning approval for the town.

Architectural renderings show a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units in two four-story buildings.

Gilbane built the original Brookside Village project in 1980. It contains 160 family and elderly affordable apartments under the Section 8 Housing Assistance program. Gilbane also was the construction manager for the Stonington High School, Deans Mill School and West Vine Street School renovation and expansion projects.

Project attorney Bill Sweeney could not be reached for comment Monday.

Based on the description of the units in documents filed with the Architectural Design Review Board, the project with a portion of the units dedicated as affordable would be different than first phase of Brookside Village which have subsidized rents.

At a recent online forum, the town explained that affordable housing is often incorrectly confused with federally subsidized public housing.

Instead, "affordable housing represents quality living options for residents spanning the economic spectrum." 

These units are priced below market rate and are aimed at residents such as teachers, firefighters, service workers and others who work in the community but may struggle to afford high rents.      

"By offering a diverse range of housing options, a community can help attract new, younger workers, provide an opportunity for retirees to remain in the community, and ensure those who work in our community also have the option to live there," the town stated about its plan to create a Housing Affordability Plan, which officials say will guide the actions needed to achieve affordable housing goals.

About 6% of housing here is dedicated as affordable, short of the 10% goal set by the state. When communities have less than 10 percent affordable housing, developers do not have to conform to zoning regulations when they submit projects that have an affordable component

The Brookside project would become the latest project with affordable units in Pawcatuck, which has become a hotbed for affordable housing over the past several years. 

Currently there are four projects recently completed, under construction or approved in the village. 

These include a total 126 units at the Spruce Ridge, Spruce Meadow and Birchwood Farms projects, all located a short distance from Brookside Village. In addition, a project with 82 units, 70% of which would be affordable, has been approved for the former Campbell Grain building site in downtown Pawcatuck.