Stratford Apartment Complex Could Be Approved Next Week

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford officials could determine the fate of a 100-unit apartment complex planned for Main Street as soon as next week.

At a recent meeting, the town zoning commission heard a presentation from developer Kaali-Nagy Properties and talked about resistance from residents who oppose the project, called The Village. Commissioners expressed differing views on the proposal, with one commission member calling it “a beautiful-looking building” and another saying it would “tower over any other structure.”

Early in the May 27 discussion, which took place via GoToMeeting, commissioner James Vigliotti said he had received a mailing indicating he was being watched and should consider his vote on the project carefully. Vigliotti said he would make his judgments based on the merits of the presentation.

“I’m going to keep an open mind,” he said.

Kaali-Nagy Properties plans to build a four-story residential building in the 2000 block of Main Street after purchasing an approximately 3-acre site from Christ Episcopal Church. The proposed structure would be 93,000 square feet, with a roughly 5,500-square-foot amenity area and 97 apartments. The project would also have a 6,500-square-foot two-story building with an additional six units. The apartments would rent at market rate, and include studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, plus 116 parking spaces.

The Main Street site falls within Stratford's transit-oriented development overlay district, about a half-mile from the downtown train station. The district allows for larger scale projects than would typically be permitted, in order to encourage public transit use and mixed-use development.

Projects in the district are subject to a 45-foot height restriction, but the developer is requesting the zoning commission grant the four-story building its proposed height of 50 feet in order to accommodate a gabled roof. The two-story building, the most visible part of the development from the street, will be scaled to resemble nearby homes.

Commissioners expressed concerns at the meeting about the proposed height of the main building, as well as traffic from the project.

“There is a height situation here,” Commissioner Dion Francis said.

Commission Chairman Christopher Silhavey noted vehicles exiting the complex to the left would have to cross Main Street, a comment that resulted in discussion of whether the Main Street median would need to be reduced. Traffic engineer Mike Dion said the development is expected to generate 38 trips during the morning peak hour and 46 trips in the afternoon peak hour.

“It doesn’t generate enough traffic to impact the signals,” he said.

Commission Vice Chair Michael Henrick spoke favorably of the proposal.

“I think this would be a great asset to Stratford,” he said. “… It would reduce some of the need for parking at the train station.”

Not all Stratford residents shared Henrick’s view.

Planning & Zoning Administrator Jay Habansky told the commission he had received several template letters opposing the project as well as two independently written letters. Silvahey also got three template letters. The template letter, posted on the town website, took issue with the height and location of the complex.

Managing Partner Damien Kaali-Nagy said his company met with neighbors and made modifications to better align with their suggestions, but abutting property owner Kent Wahlberg was not appeased, according to a letter on his behalf by attorney Jonathan Klein. The letter complained that the proposal is too tall, out of character with the area and a light pollution hazard.

Francis said he had received a few phone calls from constituents worried about traffic congestion.

Residents have until 7 p.m. Monday to email their input on the project to Habansky, in anticipation of the commission’s deliberation and possible vote Wednesday.