Montville ― The Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the phased construction of a 22-unit townhouse style condominium project on Route 32 while tabling discussion of a proposed 16-unit apartment complex on Route 32.

The commission last week unanimously approved a request by Western Group LLC, to build the 22 condominiums in four phases, with no other changes to its final plan. Though the commission already approved the development at its March 22 meeting, it needed to approve the new conditions.

The housing complex is set to be built on nearly two acres of land at 245 Route 32 in Uncasville. Western Group LLC member John Eoanou told the commission in March that the condos would be approximately 1,500 square feet and priced about $300,000 each.

Something new

The commission also received an application for a two-building apartment complex with 16 units. Because the developer still needs to address comments on the plan, the commission voted to table discussion on the application until its next meeting, at the applicant’s request.

Lombardi Gravel, LLC is looking to convert two old commercial buildings at 303, 307 and 309 Norwich-New London Turnpike ―directly across the street from Town Hall ― into apartments. The one-story building at 303 is it’s own building while numbers 307 and 309 share the same two-story building.

The buildings on the one-acre lot have previously been used as warehouses, shops and offices in the Route 32 Overlay Zone (OZ), which allows commercial and residential use. The buildings are currently vacant.

The preliminary building plans show two, two-bedroom units between 886 and 934 square feet and 14 single-bedroom units range in size from 629 to 746 square feet.

Plans call for the roofs and vinyl siding to be redone. Each doorway will have a new canopy above and new windows adjacent. There are 38 parking spaces detailed in the plans as well as signage and landscaping.

Commissioner Anthony Siragusa asked where the sidewalks and handicap ramps were shown on the plans. Planning Director Liz Burdick said they are not shown, but will need to be addressed.

Commissioner Wills Pike asked, from a commercial land use standpoint, if this the best use for this property. Burdick responded that in her opinion, there is a need for rental housing in town.

She added that a property that has been vacant for at least 10 years will be developed and that having the residential use may help local businesses. She stated that when the commission approved the overlay zone, it agreed that residential uses were appropriate along Route 32.

k.arnold@theday.com