SEYMOUR — An Oxford developer has proposed building 34 market-rate apartments on Roosevelt Drive.
The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal at 7 p.m. Thursday (March 10) at Town Hall.
The proposal from Oxford-based 589 Investments, LLC, calls for construction of a three-story apartment building at 336 Roosevelt Dr., across from the Housatonic River. The property is located along a stretch of Roosevelt Drive — also known as state Route 34 — that is home to nearby Dunkin Donuts, Walsh’s Country Store, Villa Bianca and Olives and Oil Restaurant, along with many residential homes.
The building would be situated on 3.75 acres, with a footprint of 12,500-square feet per floor. The 34 units would be broken down into 18, one-bedroom apartments and 16, two-bedroom apartments. The site would be served by public water and a private septic system, according to PZC meeting minutes.
The project’s senior architect Susan Odell, a senior associate with Paul B. Bailey Architects in New Haven, said a typical one-bedroom apartment would be about 700 square-feet and a typical two-bedroom apartment would be about 1,000 square-feet. The building would also feature a community room and an exercise room.
Odell said the building’s exterior would feature vinyl-siding resembling wood clapboard, double hung windows and be fully handicapped accessible. She said the firm has designed similar apartment buildings in Clinton, Fairfield and Hamden, and the building proposed for Roosevelt Drive will tie in nicely with the area.
“It is the design philosophy of Paul Bailey Architects to fit within the existing surroundings,” Odell said. “That’s our highest goal; to design buildings that look like they fit the neighborhood.”
According to Sheila O’Malley, Seymour’s Economic Development Consultant, the property is zoned RC-3, or recreational/commercial. Both O’Malley and Town Building Inspector Jim Baldwin said the proposed apartments are a permitted use in that zone with a special permit, which the applicant has applied for, and is seeking approval for from the town.
According to town records, 589 Investments, LLC purchased the property in Nov. 2015 for $400,000. Owner Mark Oczkowski was not immediately available for comment.
O’Malley believes apartments are a good fit for the area.
“I think there is a demand for market-rate apartments in Seymour,” O’Malley said. “They are going to be market-rate apartments and it appears they will be a good fit based on the needs of the community. It’s a rural area that is set back, and will provide a nice dwelling.”
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis was told by town building officials the apartments are considered “luxury” apartments.
“The builder does a great job and pays a lot of attention to detail from what I’ve heard,” Drugonis said. “I think they will fit in nicely on Route 34, which is a main, state road with easy access to nearby Monroe and Route 8. They would be located across from a new restaurant going in right on the river. We do see a need for housing in that area. Seymour is really a bedroom community, with lots of people working outside the community. We are always getting inquiries from people looking for one and two bedroom apartments, and these apartment are going to be really nice, right across from the river.”
According to Inland Wetland meeting minutes, town officials said the apartments would have no significant impact to wetlands.